Raj Hath

Raj Hath, also called Rajhath (Devanagari:राजहठ; meaning "Royal obstinacy or stubbornness"), is a 1956 Indian (Hindi) romantic fantasy drama film directed and produced by Sohrab Modi.[1] It starred Madhubala, Pradeep Kumar, Tun Tun, Sohrab Modi and Ulhas in the main roles. The music for the film was scored by well known music directors, Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal and Shankarsingh Raghuwanshi, often credited as Shankar Jaikishan.[4][5]

Raj Hath
Original poster of the film
Directed bySohrab Modi[1]
Written byShams Lacknavi[2]
Screenplay byShams Lacknavi
Story byShams Lacknavi
Produced bySohrab Modi
StarringMadhubala
Pradeep Kumar
Tun Tun
Sohrab Modi
Ulhas[1]
CinematographyLateef
Bhandare
Edited byP. Bhalchandra
Music byShankar–Jaikishan
Production
company
Minerva Movietone
Distributed byMinerva Movietone[1]
Release date
  • 6 January 1956 (1956-01-06)
[1]
Running time
150 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Box office₹1.35 crore (equivalent to ₹154 crore or US$19 million in 2023)[3]

The story revolves around two neighboring empires with long-term mutual enmity, whose children turn their rivalry into love.[6]

Plot

The king of Jagmer, Maharaja Daljeet (Sohrab Modi), sends a marriage proposal to the king of a neighboring city, Sultanpur. In the proposal Maharaja Daljeet asks to marry his daughter, Raja Beti (Madhubala), to Kumar (Pradeep Kumar), the son of the king of Sultanpur (Ulhas). The king of Sultanpur strongly rejects the proposal and states that the long term rivalry between the two empires is the reason for his refusal; he is injuriously disrespected by the messenger, Sabgram Singh (Murad). Later, the king of Sultanpur also says that Daljeet has conspired against his empire, and by proposing the marriage he wants to take revenge. The disrespectful behavior of the king of Sultanpur makes Daljeet angry, and he orders preparations for a war against Sultanpur. Daljeet also provokes his daughter to take vengeance against the king of Sultanpur for the insult. The fortress of the king of Sultanpur is well known for a trap in which troops flounder. Daljeet learns of a map of the fortress, which will help troops navigate across the trap. While retrieving the map from the enemy camp, one of the Daljeet's important soldiers is caught and killed. Daljeet realizes the task is full of risk so he invites the bravest soldiers in the kingdom to try, but they all refuse. After the denial of the brave soldiers, Juhi (Kammo) and Raja Beti accept the task and dress up as men to infiltrate the enemy camp.[6] After much hardship, they at last get the map. While returning in disguise as a shepherdess, Raja Beti meets Kumar. Kumar at first meeting, begins to fall in love with her, but he is unaware that the shepherdess is actually the princess of Jagmer.[6]

Raja Beti gives the map to Daljeet. When everything is planned and the army is ready for the war, Daljeet orders an attack on Sultanpur. Raja Beti decides to take revenge for the insult by killing the king of Sultanpur's son, Kumar. But in the combat zone she finds herself in love with Kumar and unable to kill him. Although Kumar knows that the shepherdess is really Raja Beti, he doesn't stop loving her. Kumar asks his father for permission to marry Raja Beti, and after a long disagreement, Kumar's father agrees. But now, Daljeet refuses the proposal and shows disrespect. However, Daljeet soon realizes that Raja Beti is in love with Kumar and promises to allow the marriage. Daljeet overlooks past rivalries and asks the king of Sultanpur that the marriage should go ahead. At last they marry.[6]

Later, Daljeet regrets his action as he broke a royal promise and bowed down to fulfill Raja Beti's wishes. Out of extreme repentance, he commits suicide.[6][7]

Cast

Soundtrack

Rafi's partnership with Shankar Jaikishan was among the most famous and successful in the Hindi film industry. The song "Aaye Bahaar Ban Ke..." proved to be one of the hit songs of the partnership.[8]

Soundtracks
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Aaye Bahaar Ban Ke Lubha Kar Chale"Mohammed Rafi5:02
2."Ye Wada Karo, Chand Ke Samne"Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh4.59
3."Mere Sapne Me Anan Re Sajna"Lata Mangeshkar5:10
4."Naache Ang Ang Ang Tere Ang"Lata Mangeshkar5:22
5."Aa Gayi Lo Aa Gayi Mai Jhumti"Lata Mangeshkar5:07
6."Kaha Se Milte Moti, Aansoo Hai Meri Taqdeer Me"Lata Mangeshkar5:07
7."Sun Sakhi More Man Ki Baat, Nadiya Kinare Phiru Pyasi"Lata Mangeshkar4:50
8."Chale Sipahi Dhool Udate"Manna Dey4:33
9."Aaja Aaja Nadiya Kinare"Lata Mangeshkar4:00
10."Antar Mantar Jantar Se Maidaan Liya Hai Maar"Usha Mangeshkar and Lata Mangeshkar3:50
11."Pyaare Babul Se Bichhad Ke"Lata Mangeshkar3:00

Source:[9][10]

Crew
Sohrab Modi

The film was directed and produced by the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner Sohrab Modi under the Minerva Movietone banner.[1][11][12][13] He was also a member of the 10th Berlin International Film Festival.[14] Along with directing and producing, he played a significant role in the film.[6][15]

The lyrics for the songs were written by lyricists Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra.[10] The 2013 Dadasaheb Phalke award winner, Gulzar occasionally stated that Shailendra was the best lyricist in the Indian film Industry.[16] The story for the film was written by Shams Lucknowi.[2]

Music directors who wrote "everlasting" and "immortal melodies" in the fifties and sixties composed music for the film.[17] They are often credited as Shankar Jaikishan.[15][18] Shankar-Jaikishan were also honored with the Padmashri by the Government of India.[19]

Madhubala, one of the most influential personalities in the Hindi film industry,[20] is seen to be dressed up like a man in the film so that she can recover documents from the enemy camp.[21]

Reception

Critical reception

Raj Hath received mixed response from critics. Writing about the film, Cineplot said that the story is "well-developed" and has a "convincing effect" but criticized the way Madhubala's character was written. Further, it was written that songs are "ill-placed" and the screenplay is "cluttered up". It praised the film for its direction and performances of the lead actors.[22]

Box office

Raj Hath was the sixth highest-grossing Indian film of 1956, with a verdict of "hit". It grossed ₹1.4 crore, including a nett of ₹0.7 crore. Adjusted for inflation, its gross was equivalent to ₹152 crore.[3]

References
  1. "All information about Raj Hath". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  2. "Raj Hath the 1956 film info". ovguide.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  3. "Box office 1956". 21 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. "Crew and Cast of Indian hindi film Raj Hath". fridaycinemas.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  5. "Cast and crew (2) of Raj Hath". spicyonion.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  6. "Synopsis of the film Raj Hath". gomolo.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  7. "Informations about 1956 film Raj Hath". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  8. Ganesh Anantharaman (2008). Bollywood Melodies: A History of the Hindi Film Song. Penguin Books India. p. 30. ISBN 9780143063407.
  9. "Music of the film Raj Hath". hindigeetmala.net. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  10. "Music director and lyricist of Raj Hath". myswar.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  11. Gulzar; Nihalani, Govind; Chatterjee, Saibal, eds. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. p. 590. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5.
  12. "Raj Hath under Minerva Movietone banner". ibosnetwork.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  13. "All about 1956 film Raj Hath". gomolo.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  14. "Sohrab Modi, member of Berlin International film festival". berlinale.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  15. "Cast and Crew of 1956 film Rath Hath (3)". gomolo.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  16. "Gulzar on Shailendra in Naya Gyanodaya". scribd.com. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  17. "Everlasting and immortal melodies by Shankar Jaikishan". BBC (News). Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  18. Mark Slobin (2008). Global Soundtracks: Worlds Of Film Music. Wesleyan University Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-8195-6882-3.
  19. "Padmashri awards" (PDF). India.gov. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  20. "The great personality, Madhubala". The Hindu. 17 August 2007. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  21. "Bollywood actress Madhubala dressed up like man in Raj Hath". IBN live (News). Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  22. "Raj Hath (1956) – Cineplot.com". Retrieved 16 August 2020.
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