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Dastak (1970 film)

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Dastak
Directed byRajinder Singh Bedi
Screenplay byRajinder Singh Bedi
Produced byRajinder Singh Bedi
StarringSanjeev Kumar
Rehana Sultan
Anju Mahendru
CinematographyKamal Bose
Edited byHrishikesh Mukherjee
Music byMadan Mohan
Majrooh Sultanpuri (lyrics)
Release date
  • December 31, 1970 (1970-12-31)
Running time
140 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Dastak (knock on door) is a Hindi film made in 1970. It was written and directed by Rajinder Singh Bedi and was his directorial debut.

The film is known for its performances by its leading cast, Sanjeev Kumar, and the newcomer, Rehana Sultan, and for its memorable songs by Madan Mohan. He won his first National Film Award for it and the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri. Hrishikesh Mukherjee, the film director-turned-editor of this black-and-white film and won a Filmfare Award, his second after Madhumati in 1958.[1]

Awards

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Overview

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Dastak presents an expanded version of Rajinder Singh Bedi's radio play, Naql-e-Makaani (Moving to a New House), first performed on All India Radio, Lahore in 1944.[2]

Upon release, the film established Rajinder Singh Bedi as an important force in Indian Parallel Cinema, as Dastak is considered an important film of the decade.[3] In 1972 the director was awarded the Padma Shri.

The director Hrishikesh Mukjherjee once said, "Rajinder Singh Bedi was an extraordinarily gifted writer. Indeed, I feel privileged that I could edit his maiden venture as writer-director 'Dastak' in stark B&W starring Sanjeev Kumar and Rehana Sultan. Rehana won the 'Urvashi' award then the term for the National Award for Best Actress and I won the coveted Filmfare award for my first love - editing!"[4]

Critical reception

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Dastak was featured in Avijit Ghosh's book, 40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed.[5] In a retrospective review, Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com wrote, "It [Dastak] rejects conventional ideas of filmmaking to produce a nuanced, uncompromised vision, which slams the inconsistencies and ethics of social structure through ordinary, imperfect people. Yet shows how it’s these very ordinary, imperfect people who battle it in spirit till the very end."[5]

Synopsis

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The film was known for its unusual story line set in a red light area. A newlywed couple, Hamid (Sanjeev Kumar) and Salma (Rehana Sultan), unwittingly rent a flat, and thus begins their daily turmoil at the knocks (dastak) on their door. The previous occupant was Shamshad Begum (Shakeela), a mujrewali (nautch girl).

Cast

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Music

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The film's music director stood his ground as a maestro of classical rhythms on the dholak and raga based melodies. The music of Dastak stood out for its allegiance to the classical traditions of raga-based melodies by its music director Madan Mohan, who managed to get from Lata Mangeshkar, ostensibly her best performance as a playback singer.[6]

Lyrics

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The film is known for its poignant lyrics by lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, especially in capturing the painful state of the story's female protagonist, Salma — be it a dramatic statement about the society: "Hum hai mataye koocha bazaar ki tarah, Uthti hai har nigaah kharidaar ki tarah" or the silent pain of "Mai Ri mai ka se Kahoon peer apne jiya ki..."[7]

Songs

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  • "Baiyan Na Dharo" - Lata Mangeshkar - (based on Raag Charukesi)[8]
  • "Hum Hain Mata-e-koocha-o-bazaar" - Lata Mangeshkar
  • "Mai Ri Main Kase Kahoon" – Lata Mangehskar/Madan Mohan
  • "Tumse Kahoon Ek Baat" - Mohammed Rafi

References

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  1. ^ "Hrishikesh Mukerjee". Archived from the original on 15 October 2007.
  2. ^ The Films of Rajinder Singh Bedi Archived 16 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Annual of Urdu Studies. v. 5, 1985
  3. ^ "Parallel Cinema". Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  4. ^ "Hrishikesh Mukherjee remembers Dastak". Archived from the original on 15 October 2007.
  5. ^ a b Verma, Sukanya. "Revisiting Sanjeev Kumar's masterful, must-watch Dastak". Rediff. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  6. ^ "The Incredibly Sweet Sound - Madan Mohan". Archived from the original on 25 October 2007.
  7. ^ "Dastak (1970)". Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2007.
  8. ^ "Film Songs on Ragas". Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
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