Khazanchi (transl. Cashier) is a 1941 (pre-partition) blockbuster,[1] directed by Moti B. Gidwani, starring M. Ismail, S. D. Narang, Ramola Devi, Manorama and Durga Mota in lead roles. M. Ismail played the title role of a cashier. The movie was the biggest hit[2] and the top earner[1] of 1941. This film also made Shalwar kameez dress, worn in the film by the lead actress very popular. The film was remade in Tamil as Moondru Pillaigal (1952).[3]

Khazanchi
Poster
Poster
Directed byMoti B. Gidwani
Produced byD. M. Pancholi (Pancholi Productions, Lahore)
StarringM. Esmail
S. D. Narang
Ramola Devi
Durga Mota
Manorma
Ajmal
Khairati, Jankidas, Pran, Madan Puri
CinematographyBadri Das
Edited byShaukat Hussain Rizvi
Music byGhulam Haider
Production
company
Pancholi Art Pictures
Release date
Running time
171 minutes
CountryBritish India
LanguageHindustani
Khazanchi

Synopsis edit

Khazanchi is a murder mystery. Shadi Lal is a Khazanchi (Cashier) in a bank in Lahore. His son Kanwal wants to marry Madhuri, the daughter of a rich man, Durga Das.

 
Ramola Devi as Madhuri

A wicked wealthy, Ajmal, also wants to marry Madhuri. One day, Shadi Lal goes to Bombay for some bank work and the news comes from the city that Shadi Lal has murdered an actress and stolen her jewellery and money.

A clever woman, Tarawati, tricked Shadi Lal in a night club and stole his money, but her two accomplice men murdered her while snatching the money from her and when intoxicated Shadi Lal wakes up, he finds himself with her dead body and his money stolen. Seeing this, he runs away and on the next day, the newspaper headlines say: Khazanchi killed actress. He spends some very bad days of his life during this period.

Later, he gets caught and his son, Kanwal (an advocate now), fought the case from his side. Meanwhile, the newspaper reporter stumbles upon important facts regarding the stage actress' murder and got kidnapped by the villain, but manages an escape and reaches the court, revealing the truth. Thus Shadi Lal gets acquitted.

Cast edit

  • Ramola Devi as Madhuri[3]
  • S. D. Narang as Kanwal[3]
  • M. Esmail as Shadilal
  • Manorma as Asha, Shadi Lal's daughter and Kanwal's sister[3]
  • Madan Puri as Kanwal firend
  • Janki Dass M.A. as (Ram Das)
  • Ajmal as (Ramesh)
  • Durga Mota as (Durga Das)
  • Khairati as ( Maddan ) Durga Mota house servant
  • Nafees
  • Kamla
  • Fazal Shah
  • Dev Datt

Music edit

The music director Ghulam Haider made an experiment by combining popular Raags of Indian classical music with Punjabi folk music[2] and revolutionalized[4] the film music industry. The film songs were hits. The playback includes Shamshad Begum and Ghulam Haider.[5]

Song Title Singer
"Diwali Phir Aa Gayi Sajni"[3] Shamshad Begum
"Laut Gayi Papan"[3] Shamshad Begum
"Mohe Bhabhi La Do Bhaiyya" Shamshad Begum
"Mori Chudiya Aayegi Aali" Shamshad Begum
"Naino Ke Baan Ki Reet Anokhi" Shamshad Begum, Ghulam Haider
"Pine Ke Din Aaye Piye Ja" Shamshad Begum
"Sawan Ke Najare Hain"[3] Shamshad Begum
"Man Dhire Dhire Rona" Shamshad Begum

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Box Office 1941 - Top Earners". BoxOfficeIndia.com. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b Karan Bali (16 April 2023). "Ghulam Haider (profile)". Upperstall.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Guy, Randor (22 January 2011). "Moondru Pillaigal 1952 (based on Khazanchi (1941 film))". The Hindu newspaper. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Vintage film : Khazanchi (1941)". IndianBaja.com website. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Khazanchi : Lyrics and video of Songs from the Movie Khazanchi (1941)". HindiGeetMala.net. Retrieved 16 November 2021.

External links edit