- Mujhe Jeene Do
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Mujhe Jeene Do 
Directed by Moni Bhattacharjee Produced by Sunil Dutt - Ajanta Arts Written by Aghajani Kashmeri[1] Starring Sunil Dutt
Waheeda RehmanMusic by Jaidev (Music)
Sahir Ludhianvi (Lyrics)Release date(s) 1963 Running time 180 min. Country 
IndiaLanguage Hindi Mujhe Jeene Do (Let Me Live) is a 1963 Hindi film directed by Moni Bhattacharjee. This dacoit-drama stars Sunil Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Nirupa Roy, Rajendranath and Mumtaz.
Shot in Chambal Valley ravines of Bhind-Morena under police protection in Madhya Pradesh state[2], and Mohan Studios, Mumbai[3]films highlights are acting talents of its star cast, Waheeda Rehman, and Sunil Dutt[4] and indeed the music by musical genius Jaidev. It went on to become eighth highest grossing Bollywood film of the year[5], and Official selection at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival[6] and also won a Palme d'Or nomination.[7]. The was also the second success in a row of actor Sunil Dutt's production banner, Ajanta Arts, after Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke, which had been released earlier that year. Mujhe Jeene Do was India's third 'dacoit' film, a genre loosely inspired by Hollywood Westerns but more so by the menace of dacoity in Central India in the early 1960s. The film was a major success, like the earlier two other big films in the same genre, Ganga Jamuna (1961) and Raj Kapoor’s Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960)[8].
Contents
Overview
Dacoits were traditionally shown as a rogue or menace to the society, especially in Hindi cinema, here for the first time film director, tried to show them in a fresh humanist perspective thereby giving the film its memorability.
Films humanist angle is credited to its director Moni Bhattacharjee who earlier assisted, realist cinema master, Bimal Roy in Do Bigha Zamin (1953) and Madhumati (1958), before turning director himself[9].
The film was film actor, Sunil Dutt’s second film as a film producer, after Ye Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke (1963)[10], through which he yet again tried to breakaway from the traditional romantic leads he was offered in the mainstream Hindi cinema. Though, here again, his role turned out to be that of romantic dacoit, though his acting received wide acclaim, and even Filmfare Best Actor Award of 1965.
Both, Mujhe Jeene Do and Ye Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke were written by Sunil's best friend and favourite screen writer, Aghajani Kashmeri.
Synopsis
Mujhe Jeene Do, is a classic dacoit drama, from the western films genre[11], a story about how love can lead to the redemption of even a hardened criminal[12] like, Thakhur Jernail Singh (Sunil Dutt) who is a noted dacoit in Chambal Valley.
One night he happens to meet Chameli (Waheeda Rehman), a courtesan, at a wedding she was performing. They elope and fall in love, later they have a son. But their romance is short-lived as he is about to be captured by the police, that is when Jernail sends Chameli away to a neighbouring village to raise their son, as he is sure of his end.
Unfortunately, the village she goes to as an old grudge with the Jamila to settle and attacks the hapless mother and son as a mob, but the police save them in time, and even promises them the seized property of Jernail.
Cast
- Sunil Dutt ...Thakur Jarnail Singh
- Waheeda Rehman ...Chameli Jaan
- Nirupa Roy
- Durga Khote
- Mumtaz
- Rajendranath ...Dara
- Manorama
Songs
The music of Jaidev, coupled with lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi, add to the tragic nature of the film. Also standout is the cheerful song, Nadi Naare sung by Asha Bhosle, noted for perfect rendition of high-pitched song[13]
- Nadi Naare Na Jao Shyam Pai Padoon - Asha Bhosle
- Ab Koi Gulshan Na Ujde - Mohd. Rafi
- Tere Bachpan Ko Jawani Ki Dua - Lata Mangeshkar
- Mohe Na Yoon Ghoor Ghoor Ke Dekho - Lata Mangeshkar
- Raat Bhi Hai Kuch Bheegi Bheegi - Lata Mangeshkar
- Moko Peehar Mein Mat Chhed - Asha Bhosle
- Maang Mein Bhar Le Rang Sakhi Re - Asha Bhosle[14]
Awards
- 1964 Filmfare Best Actor Award: Sunil Dutt - Won
- 1964 Cannes Film Festival: Palme d'Or: Moni Bhattacharjee - Nominated[7]
References
- ^ Other Crew
- ^ "Mujhe Jeene Do (1963)". The Hindu. May 13, 2010. http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article428970.ece.
- ^ Film locations IMDB.
- ^ Film Review Channel 4
- ^ Box Office India. "Top Earners 1963". boxofficeindia.com. http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=169&catName=MTk2Mw==.
- ^ Official Selection 1964 Cannes Film Festival
- ^ a b "Festival de Cannes: Mujhe Jeene Do". festival-cannes.com. http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/2951/year/1964.html. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ "THE REAL LIFE HERO". Screen (magazine). Jun 06, 2008. http://www.screenindia.com/news/THE-REAL-LIFE-HERO/318575/.
- ^ Moni Bhattacharjee at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Sunil Dutt Upperstall.com
- ^ Overview- Review New York Times
- ^ Review at mouthshut
- ^ Ranade, Ashok Da. (2006). Hindi Film Song: Music Beyond Boundaries. Bibliophile South Asia. p. 367. ISBN 8185002649. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=ZI1wqkWsIjYC&pg=PA367&dq=Mujhe+Jeene+Do&cd=7#v=onepage&q=Mujhe%20Jeene%20Do&f=false.
- ^ Songs of Mujhe Jeene Do
External links
Categories:- Hindi-language films
- 1963 films
- Indian films
- Black-and-white films
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