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Madhumati 1958

Past forward Stills from “Madhumati” and (left and right) Dilio Kumar and Vyjayantimala as they are now

Salil Choudhury was reportedly preparing for a recording and was joined by Dilip Kumar. Also present was well-known Bengali singer-composer Shyamal Mitra, humming. It caught the imagination of Dilip Kumar, who insisted Salil Da compose a song to that tune. Thus was born the evergreen haunting melody, “Aaja Re Mai To Kabse Khadi Is Paar”…....and Madhumati, a classic made 50 years ago.

Madhumati, with nine mellifluous numbers, a dream cast of Vyjayantimala, Dilip Kumar and Pran, and an impeccable director in Bimal Roy, captivated the nation with its story and music, setting benchmarks for quality in India’s cinema history. It is a gripping tale of rebirth and revenge that unfolds in a remarkable tribute to the legendary Bimal Roy’s reputation as a director of rare brilliance.

There is not a moment of ennui in the three-hour movie. From the opening shot of a car weaving its way in blinding rain in hills to the closing frame of the leading pair embracing on a railway platform, Madhumati stands out for some scintillating stuff. Flawless performances by Dilip Kumar, then 36, and Vyjayantimala, a cameo by the inimitable Johnny Walker, and Pran, mean as ever, add lustre to the movie.

It was a black and white movie and the effect even more gripping, making Vyjayantimala, then 22, look just right for the title role. Some great camera work by Dilip Gupta captures incredible outdoor locales, not to forget the use of light and shade to make Pran look so shaken in the climax.

Released in 1958, the film bagged numerous film awards and reconfirmed the incomparable Dilip Kumar and the gorgeous Vyjayantimala as the overwhelming favourite pair of the masses. The soul of the movie was Salil Da’s music – enchanting and timeless. The music grows on you as the movie progresses.

The story revolves around Devendra (Dilip Kumar) and his memory from an earlier life, when he is Anand, who falls in love with Madhumati (Vyjayantimala). They are separated when Madhumati embraces death to escape a rape by Ugranarayan, played to perfection by Pran.

Fate brings Madhavi, a replica of Madhumati and she helps Anand extract a confession from Ugranarayan. In a chilling sequence, Anand discovers that it is the ghost of Madhumati, who returns to seek justice. (This ending was seen in Om Shanti Om).

Madhumati was an instant hit, riding on the terrific vocal support of Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi and Mukesh, coming up with songs that have stood the test of time. Melody then was supreme and remixes, thankfully, unheard.

Madhumati, boasting some exceptionally elegant acting, had lyrics by Shailendra that touched your heart. Tight editing by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and flawless screenplay by Ritwik Ghatak left the audience in a trance. Bimal Roy’s brilliant direction in his first stint with commercial cinema after having dished out unforgettable masterpieces like Do Bigha Zameen (1953), Biraj Bahu (1954) and Devdas (1955) stood out as a striking feature.

The fact that it scored over movies like Kala Pani, Sadhana, Phir Subah Hogi, all released the same year, speaks for its power to captivate the audience and hold its attention for long. More than anything, Madhumati, forever, will be remembered for its music.

Think of gems like ‘Suhana Safar Aur Ye Mausam Hasin’, ‘Dil Tadap Tadap Ke Keh Raha Hai’, ‘Aaja Re Mai To Kabse Khadi Is Paar’, ‘Chadh Gayo Paapi Bichua’, ‘Zulmi Sang Aankh Ladi’, ‘Toote Hue Khwabon Ne’ and ‘Ghadi Ghadi Mera Dil Dhadke’, and you know instantly what melody stood for.

As a complete package, Madhumati is a movie to cherish for all times.

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