Anjuman (1970 film)

Anjuman is a Pakistani colour film released on 31 July 1970, starring Waheed Murad, Rani, Deeba, Santosh Kumar, Sabiha Khanam and Lehri. The film was released during the hey days of Murad and became a milestone in his career.[1] The film was produced by Safdar Masud under the banner Ideal Movies and directed by Hassan Tariq, a well-known Pakistani film director.[2]

Anjuman
Directed byHassan Tariq
Written byAgha Hassan Imtisal
Produced bySafdar Masud
Starring
Edited byAl-Hameed
Music byNisar Bazmi
Distributed byEveready Pictures
Release date
31 July 1970 (1970-07-31)
Running time
approx. 3 hours
CountryPakistan
LanguageUrdu

The film was released at the worst possible political situation of the country with Bangladesh war of independence raging in former East Pakistan. Nevertheless, the film became a huge success, with famous tracks by Runa Laila and Ahmed Rushdi.[2]

The film won 8 Nigar Awards in the categories of best film, best director, best screenplay, best musician, best lyricist, best playback female singer, best editor, best art director and best comedian.[2][3]

Plot

The film is a tragedy based on a tawaif (courtesan) 'Anjuman' played by Rani,a "tawaiif" who flirts with the emotions of a wealthy Nawab Wajahat Ali (Santosh Kumar) and later falls in love with his younger brother Nawab Asif Ali played by Waheed Murad. In order to save his older brother's marriage, Asif decides to frequent Anjuman's "kotha" in an "exchange" demanded by Anjuman, although Asif being in love with another girl Nudrat (played by Deeba). Noorulain Zartaj (Sabiha Khanum), wife of Nawab Wajahat Ali, eventually implores Anjuman javed to forsake her own love so that Asif can live happily. At the end, Anjuman has to face a fate worse than death, where she is invited to sing at the wedding of her lover. Lovelorn and disappointed Anjuman offers a woeful song, as she has swallowed poison, and dies at the feet of her lover.

Cast

Music

The music was directed by Nisar Bazmi.[2] Songs of the film, especially sung by Runa Laila, became a huge success in Pakistan:

Release

Anjuman was released on 31 July 1970, at the worst political time of Pakistan, by Babar Pictures. The film ran for continuously 81 weeks at cinemas in Karachi. The film celebrated a Platinum Jubilee and became a huge success for the year 1970.[4][5]

Remake

It was remade as a television film in 2013 with the same name, which starred Imran Abbas Naqvi, Sara Loren, Alyy Khan, directed by Yasir Nawaz and produced by Tarang Housefull.[2]

Awards

Anjuman won 8 Nigar Awards in the following categories:

Category Recipient
Best film[2] Safdar Masud
Best director Hassan Tariq[3][2]
Best music Nisar Bazmi[3][2]
Best lyrics Masroor Anwar[3]
Best female playback singer Runa Laila[4][3][2]
Best editing Al-Hameed
Best art director Habib Shah
Best comedian[2] Lehri

References
  1. Omair Alavi (23 November 2018). "Waheed Murad's A-game". The News International (newspaper). Archived from the original on 24 April 2022.
  2. Film review of Anjuman (1970 film) on Dawn (newspaper) (scroll down to this title) Retrieved 20 December 2021
  3. "The Nigar Awards (1957 - 1971)". The Hot Spot Online website. 17 June 2002. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  4. "Anjuman (1970 film)". Pakistan Film Magazine website. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  5. "Sound of Lollywood: The tawaif song gets a twangy country music twist in 'Anjuman'". Scroll.in. 29 April 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
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