Aah is a 1953 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Raja Nawathe and produced by Raj Kapoor and starring Kapoor and Nargis in the lead roles. This was Nawathe's first independent directorial venture. He had previously worked as assistant director to Raj Kapoor in Aag (1948), Barsaat (1949) and Awaara (1951).
The film was rated "Below Average" at the box office, but included hit songs such as "Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat", "Aaja Re Ab Mera Dil Pukara" and "Jaane Na Nazar". The song "Chhoti Si Yeh Zindagani" sung by Mukesh was also picturised on him. Subsequently, the film was later dubbed in Tamil as Avan (dialogues by S. D. Sundharam) and Telugu as Prema Lekhalu. Ah Bu Dünya, a Turkish remake by Nuri Ergün, was released in 1965, Boş Çerçeve directed by Ertem Eğilmez in 1969
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Plot
Raj Raibahadur (Raj Kapoor) lives a wealthy life with his widowed businessman father. He is sent to work in the countryside at Saraswati Dam, where his father later visits him and reminds him of his deceased mother's wish for him to marry Chandra (Vijayalaxmi), the daughter of a wealthy family friend. Raj writes to Chandra, but she ignores his letter. Her younger sister, Neelu (Nargis), replies in Chandra's name, and their correspondence gradually leads Raj and Neelu to fall in love, although Raj remains unaware of Neelu's identity.
Raj is subsequently diagnosed with tuberculosis, the same disease that killed his mother. Believing his illness will prevent them from having a future together, he pretends that he never loved Neelu and urges her to marry his physician friend, Dr. Kailash (Pran). He also flirts with Chandra to convince Neelu that his feelings for her are not genuine.
Seeing her sister's heartbreak, Chandra decides to put an end to her suffering. Once Neelu learns the truth, she accepts Raj despite his illness. Raj then miraculously recovers, allowing the couple to unite and live happily together.
Theme and plot change
The theme of the tragic hero and the sufferings of the heroine was inspired from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's famous novel Devdas, which has also served as an inspiration to various other Indian films.
The end of the film originally showed Neelu marrying Dr. Kailash at Raj's insistence; Raj dies while Neelu's wedding procession is passing by. But at the premiere, Kapoor realised that this film would not work. Kapoor said The atmosphere in an auditorium is like a living, palpitating thing. It told me again and again: "Your picture is a flop."
The end of the film was then changed from a tragic one to the happy one, but the change destroyed the thematic unity of the text. Bunny Reuben, who wrote Kapoor's biography Raj Kapoor, The Fabulous Showman, gives his rationale for the change: "The film had some of Shankar-Jaikishan's loveliest music, and a 'Devdas'-ian tragic ending which was changed to the conventional happy ending because the film didn't do well in its first release."
The Telugu dubbed version of the film Prema Lekhalu, was so well received that Raj Kapoor was elated and showed his gratitude for Telugu audiences by having a song in Shree 420 (1955) beginning with the lines "Ramaiya Vastavaiya" (Lord Ram, you will come).
Cast
Nargis as Neelu Rai
Raj Kapoor as Raj Raibahadur
Vijayalaxmi as Chandra Rai
Pran as Dr. Kailash
Ramesh Sinha
Bhupendra Kapoor
Leela Mishra as Mrs. Rai
Rashid Khan as Dr. Yusuf
Sohanlal
Kusum
Mukesh as Carriage Driver (Cameo role)
Music
Composed by the musical duo Shankar Jaikishan.
Hindi songs for the film are written by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri.
Tamil lyrics for the film are written by Kambadasan.
Telugu songs for the film are written by Aarudhra. Amongst them Panditlo Pellauthunnadi song is an evergreen track played at many marriage functions even today.