Coeur pur
(Pakeezah)
by Kamal Amrohi
India
Script: Kamal Amrohi
Cinematographer: Joseph Wirsching
Music: Ghulam Mohammed Naushad
Cast: Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, Raaj Kumar
Production: Kamal Amrohi
Distribution:
Films Sans Frontières
70, bd de Sébastopol
75003 Paris
France
Tel.: 0033 1.42.77.21.84
Fax: 0033 1.42.77.42.66
Mail: [email protected]
www.films-sans-frontières.fr
Year: 1972
35 mm, Colour, 125 min
OV Urdu with French Subtitles
For generations, courtesans have been living in Lucknow, renowned centre of the Muslim culture, poetry and Kathak dance. At the turn of 19th century, Nargis is a Tawaef dancer, 'a high rank courtesan', who is hoping to escape from her condition by marrying her aristocratic lover. Yet, his far too traditionalist family rejects her and she dies after giving birth to Sahibjaa ,a baby girl who is brought up by her aunt. In her turn, Sahibjaa is taught the art of singing and dancing and in her turn she falls in love with a man from a good family. Is she going to live the same destiny as her mother ? Will her father's noble descent save her from her condition ?
In this seminal film of popular cinema, the delicacy of colours and graceful representation of women, irresistibly bring back Indian miniatures. Meena Kumari, the great star of the 50ies and 60ies, is playing her last part..
