FilmIndia (1946)

OUR REVIEW "Zeenat" Presents Popular Emotional Theme Noor dehan Gives Rn Excellent Performance We have always held thai indepen dent producers give better pictures than several so-called experienced studio owners. "Zeenat" proves this state ment once again. "'Zeenat' is a very likeable picture which does not intrude or bore while entertaining throughout. It isn't a picture to go crazy over and yet there is nothing objectionable in it. It has a story with plenty of human appeal which succeeds in winning the sympathy and approval of almost everyone. FAMILIAR THEME In a way the plot is old and very familiar, having been shown on the screen in many pictures. Zeenat, a girl from a good Muslim family, gets married to a boy she loves. But on the wedding day itself, the bridegroom falls from the horse-back and is carried inside in a dangerous condition. The marriage is, however, consummated that night, with only the brother of the bridegroom having knowledge of this, and the next day the man dies leaving Zeenat an enceinte widow. Very soon people in her family come to know of her delicate condition but not accepting her version of the consummation, they brand her as being a bad woman and ZEENAT Producers: Eastern Pictures Language: Hindustani Scenario: Khadim M. Din Songs. Quadri, Nakhshbali and Shaven Music: Mir Sahib and another Background Music: Rahq Ghaznavi Photography: P. Issac Audiography: S. C. Patil Cast: Nur Jehan, Yakub, Shanta Rin, Karan Diwan, Dixit, Naseem, Shah Nawaz, etc Released at: Super, Bombay. Date of Release: 16th Nov. 1945 Directed by: SHAUKAT HUSSAIN chase her out of the house. Zeenat goes to her father's house and there gives birth to a daughter. Here again her step-mother makes it impossible for Zeenat to live. In desperation she takes the little one to the grave of her husband and leaving the child there goes to commit suicide. Her love for the child, however, makes her change her mind but when she returns to the grave-yard, she finds the child missing. She sets on a frantic search. The child is picked up by the brother of Zeenat's husband and later passed on for keeps to a Hakim's childless family. In the city garden Zeenat spots her baby and follows her ultimately to take post in the family as the nurse of her own baby. Years pass and the little one now grows into a woman. She is called Saida. Saida is now to be married to the son of Zeenat's husband's elder brother. In the midst of the festivities Zeenat is recognised and the old animosity against her is for a while revived. The younger brother of her husband, a cynical philosopher who knew of the consummation of Zeenat's marriage, turns up a bit too late and re-establishes Zeenat's character. Zeenai has by this time taken poison and is on her death-bed where Saida claims her mother before Zeenat dies in the midst of every one's repentance. The story has a pathetic ending. SHAUKATS GOOD WORK I he production values of the picture are mostly crude. The photograph\ is indifferent and the sound recording is also not good. Nur Jehan's songs have suffered considerably owing to careless recording. The technical work does not provide a good certificate to the Shree Sound Studios who were, till recently, known for good work. A couple of tunes are quite appealing see ing that they suit the situations well The song compositions, however, are combinations of ideas from elsewhere. And yet some of the lines succeed in taking the popular applause. Shaukat Hussain has handled the human story pretty well throughout but he seems to betray a lack of technical finish. He should study shot com positions and the use of the camera for accentuating psychological aspects of the drama. Seen as a whole, how ever, his direction must be said to be pretty satisfactory. NUR JEHAN SHINES From the players, Nur Jehan beat, every one hollow by carrying the pic ture to success on her formidable shoulders. In the main title role, Nur Jehan gives an excellent performance and takes all the sympathy till the end. Yakub has a small role to play and he does it very well as usual. Shah Nawaz has not much to do. Dixit, one of our first-class comedians, is wasted on a tiny deaf-and-dumb role. The rest in the picture are not bad. The picture has a good human theme, though familiar, and should appeal to almost every one. "Zeenat" is a picture worth seeing. 71