SPECIAL FOCUS ON FAVOURITE GENRE OF OUR CINEMA!

Cute Sonu & great Balraj Sahni as/in film 'Kabuliwala' (1961).

Recently there was a birth anniversary of our great Indian Author and Poet.. Rabindranatha Tagore! There are some classic films made on his literature!

So today's sixth picture is from a film based on his sensitive story..'Kabuliwala'! 
It's not exactly related with Muslim Social genre but its protagonist..Afghan Pathan was from such background! In 1892 Tagore wrote this story which is about Hazara merchant who comes from Kabul to Calcutta for selling dry-fruits and while living in India he becomes a friend with little girl Mini!

In 1961 legendary Bengali filmmaker Bimal Roy produced this film and Marathi author- filmmaker Vishram Bedekar wrote it's screenplay with S. Khalil. And Hemen Gupta directed this film. Bimalda's master cameraman Kamal Bose cinematographed this film & Madhu Prabhavalkar did editing.

Balraj Sahni, Usha Kiran & Sonu on poster of Bimal Roy's 'Kabuliwala' (1961).

In this film great actor Balraj Sahni portrayed title role Abdul Rehman Khan sensitively and Sonu acted as little Mini cutely! Marathi actress Usha Kiran did girl's mother's role. Sajjan, Baby Farida were also there!

Music was also important part of this film..which contributed in expressing emotions! Prem Dhawan & Gulzar wrote the lyrics for it and Salil Choudhury composed..like a mixture of Bengali & Afghani tunes. One side Hemant Kumar sung "Ganga aaye kahan se.." and another side Manna Dey sung "Aye mere pyaare watan.." In that he used instrument Rabab also!

In this, away from home..Kabuliwala sees his daughter in Mini. His emotional - involvement in her touched the hearts! Balraj ji just lived this character as usual!

I still get emotional while watching it!!

- Manoj Kulkarni