Baaji (1963 film)

Baaji is a 1963 Pakistani musical romance film directed by S. Suleman. The film features Nayyar Sultana in the title role with Darpan, Zeba, Agha Talish and Lehri in pivotal roles.[1] The music of the film's soundtrack was composed by Saleem Iqbal. Baaji depicts the frustrations of a young widow due to her increasing age.

Baaji
Original titleباجی
Directed byS. Suleman
Screenplay byAnwar Batalvi
Story byAnwar Batalvi
Produced byAzizullah Hassan
Starring
Music bySaleem Iqbal
Production
company
Javedaan Productions
Release date
  • 3 May 1963 (1963-05-03) (Pakistan)
CountryPakistan
LanguageUrdu

The film didn't perform well at box office but received appreciable reviews, primarily due to Sultana's performance.[2] In 2018, the film was selected to screen at Lok Virsa Museum. It received 5 awards at 1963 Nigar Awards, including Best film.[3]

Plot

Farzana a.k.a. 'Fari' commonly known as Baaji in her circle of friends is a young widow, lives with some of her servants in a bungalow. Baaji lives a lonely life and has no family members living with her. One day, her cousin Nasir comes to meet her and she discovers that he lives nearby with a friend for his work assignment. Nasir then meets Seemi, daughter of Baaji's servant. They both fall for each other and decide to marry. Nasir returns home to bring his mother to send his proposal of marriage. When Baaji learns of it, he thinks that her mother is coming for her marriage. But when she arrives, she requests her to take Naisr's proposal to Seemi's parents. Baaji is shocked to hear it but controls herself and decides to arrange their marriage. After their marriage is settled, Baaji's health deteriorates and she is admitted to the hospital. In the hospital, one of Baaji's servants Zeenat tells Nasir that he is responsible for Baaji's condition because his friendly and caring behaviour towards her weighs on her. He then decides to call off the marriage and refuses to marry Seemi but agrees later when Baaji insists upon it. In this way, Nasir and Seemi gets married but Baaji dies sitting on the bench in her house's garden.

Cast

Soundtrack

All lyrics of the songs were written by Ahmad Rahi while music was composed by Saleem Iqbal.[4][1]

The film features a classical number Sajjan Lagi Tori Lagan Mun Maa by Noor Jehan and Farida Khanum, on which classical dance was performed by Zareen Panna and Emi Menuwala. Indian tabla player Usataad Allah Rakha provide the rhythmic support to the dance and song.[5] The song also features a number of cameos including, Noor Jehan, Sabiha Khanum, Santosh Kumar, Ejaz, Yasmin, Waheed Murad, Habib, Nazar and Sultan Rahi.

Track listing

Reception

Critical reception


While praising the Sultana's performance, The Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan wrote, "Nayyar was, however, at her best in Baaji. Playing the role of a love - starved woman, whose exterior conceals her frustrations and unfulfilled desires, Nayyar lent grace and dignity to the character assigned to her."[6]

In a review by Herald, the reviewer stated her performance as the strongest element of the film. The journal also praised the dialogues, and stated the film as the best of Suleman's career.[7]

The Outlook reviewing the film miscellaneously stating, "Likewise, half of ‘𝘉𝘢𝘢𝘫𝘪’ is devoted to getting it to us that the ‘𝘉𝘢𝘢𝘫𝘪’ in question—Nayyar again—is pathetically inhumane."[8]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Awardee Result Ref.
— Nigar Awards Best Film Azizullah Hassan Won [3][9]
Best Scriptwriter Anwat Batalvi
Best Playback Singer (Female) Naseem Begum
Best Editing Hameed Chaudhry
Best Sound Taj Malik

Legacy

Baaji topped the critics' poll of "Top Ten Pakistani Films" conducted by British Film Institute in 2002.[10] The film was also selected among the "Top ten films" of the Pakistani cinema by the critic Aijaz Gul, as published in "Asian Film Journeys: Selection from Cinemaya".[11]

The film's title inspired the director Saqib Malik to name his film Baaji.[12]

References
  1. "Baji (1963)". Pakistan Film Magazine website. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  2. "Baji (Pakistani film) (1st SAARC Film Festival, Colombo, 17 - 24th September 1999)". Government of Sri Lanka website via Google Books website. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  3. "Film 'Baji' to be screened on 29th (a film review)". The News International (newspaper). 27 December 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  4. "Four successful films that the newly-established Pakistani cinema produced (includes film review of Baji (Pakistani film)". Daily Times (newspaper). 7 February 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  5. Asif Noorani (9 September 2018). "FLASHBACK: TALES FROM THE PALANQUIN". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  6. Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan. Vol. 22. Pakistan Herald Publications. 1969.
  7. "The Herald". Pakistan Herald Publications. 1998. p. 144.
  8. "Outlook". 1963.
  9. "Pakistan's "Oscars": The Nigar Awards". The Hot Spot Film Reviews website. 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  10. "Top 10 Pakistani Films". British Film Institute. 2002. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  11. Asian Film Journeys: Selections from Cinemaya. Wisdom Tree. 1 May 2011. ISBN 978-81-8328-178-2.
  12. Muhammad Suhayb (25 April 2021). "IN MEMORIAM: THE MAN WITH THE MIDAS TOUCH". Dawn (newspaper).
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