Mangala, fille des Indes

Watched #Aan (1952) : Brief Review -

Mehboob Khan delivers India's First Ever Magnus Opus in Technicolor. Aan was the first Technicolor film of Indian cinema but people rarely talk about it's big scale execution. Aan has a relatable story of emperor's regnal vs Emerging democratic ryots. But it all comes with Romance, Action, Drama and Big scale presentation. Lots of songs in the screenplay makes it quite slow but it wasn't a problem in early 50s especially if overall runtime is regular about 155 minutes. Mehboob Khan takes a dramatic path to run this heavy vehicle and everything remains steady when he's on driving seat. Dilip Kumar and Mehboob Khan's earlier combo before Aan was Andaz in 1949 which was also Record Grosser. May be that's something which brought people into cinema halls expecting too much when Aan somehow struggles to deliver something new. However, Aan still has it's own moments and epic grandeur scenes but if you're talking about iconic stuff then pocket seems empty. Dilip Kumar looks pretty and holds this narrative as a typical macho hero. Nimmi, Premnath and Nadira were fine. Aan might have blown away audience with certain cinematic cherries but it couldn't overtake it's typical ideology of retro Bollywood when Actresses had to deliver dialogues with streched big eyes. This one can be watched to relive India's first ever achievement in Technicolor version, for Dilip Kumar and for Mehboob Khan's big vision to make Indian Cinema grand on global level but just don't expect too much.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest

There is a community named Sang, lives in a village which is surrounded by the small hills. Their chief is Jai Tilak(Dilip Kumar). They are very open minded by nature as the agriculture is their main occupation. The Maharaj(Murad) admires the Sang people. He decides to transfer the power to the people of his kingdom. His brother Samsher Singh(Premnath) and sister Raj(Nadira) is against the decision. When everyone knows the Maharaja is out for treatment, he takes the disguise. And when Jai continuously tries to establish the inheritance in front of the princess Raj, immoral Samsher Singh captures Mangala who likes Jai, and throws her in Sikerwadi prison. She dies there and the people of Sang gathers to defend themselves. By the way Jai kidnaps the princess and they fall in love. In a dream sequence Raj mentioned herself as the princess of Tamle. Finally in the annual gathering Samsher tries to present himself as the king. But Jai again appears in front of him. Samsher Singh dies and Jai rescues the princess.

A good film from the 50's, approx 161minutes.

Just checked out Aan & was expecting the usual song & dance that you would expect in an Hindi film. But got more than i expected as there is more than meets the eye with Aan. The story of a privileged princess who when confronted with love does not comprehend its meaning & the impact it will have on her life. So she discards it, rejecting it in a statement of denial to her true feelings. She allows her pride ('Aan') to blind her to something that will make her vulnerable but will set her free from the shackles that bind her. The principles from which she has been raised have taught her not to associate with the working class, the people who are there just to serve & carry out her orders. Yet these are the people that have built her kingdom through their own hardship & suffering who without would be no monarchy. So when a peasant emerges who has the key to her heart. She instantly despises him even pushing herself to the verge of killing the thing that she loves most. A deed which she would never forgive herself for. She eventually undergoes a transformation & embraces the feelings she has for man who is willing to sacrifice his life to be with her. So, in short Love conquers all even in the most cold hearted of princesses...

Though I am not a big fan of old Indian movies, but old songs. This movie have some fantastic songs mainly by Mohammad Rafi, 1- DIL MEIN CHUPA KE PYAR KA TOOFAN LE CHALE 2- MAAN MERA EHSAAN ARRE NADAAN 3- TAKRA GAYA HAI TUM SE DIL HI TAU HAI 4- MOHABBAT CHOOME JIN KE HATH I watched this movie only for these songs, and was not disappointed, because was listening these songs for long, but seeing them was a treat, all were beautifully choreographed and what to say of Rafi voice from the heavens.

AAN was a rarity in the 50's, a splashy Indian epic that through its sheer spectacle gained theatrical release in Europe, albeit cut down to some 129 minutes (The original Indian print ran out at 189 minutes with a brief intermission) Surprising no-one has seen fit to comment on it in all these years!

Dilip Kumar was the flavor of the month in Indian movies during the early 50's and here he enacts a Tyrone Poweresque role as Prince Tilak who with his sister, are taught the wiser ways to gain power by a peasant and his girlfriend.

AAN was a costumer that had it all - melodrama, swashbuckling action and romantic drama to please the masses. Western audiences found the film a tad extreme but no one could fault its pedigree.

A remake is currently in production.