indian cinema heritage foundation

Ek Jhalak (1957)

  • Release Date1957
  • GenreDrama
  • FormatPartially Colored
  • LanguageHindi
  • Length4422.03 meters
  • Number of Reels17
  • Gauge35 mm
  • Censor Certificate NumberB-18966
  • Shooting LocationSK Malik Studios, Mohan Studios, Jagriti Studios
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Pradip on his way to Bombay, halted at Mount ABu to meet his father's friend Rai Bahadur Shivaram Verma to consult him about a proposed business venture. There he learnt that Rai Bahadur's daughter eloped with Shekhar, a music teacher, in defiance of her parent pronounced dislike of the man. 

Rai Bahadur's wife considered Pradip's arrival a God- sent help intended to save them from irretrievable disgrace and dishonour. Being discouraged from reporting the matter to the police, she confided in Pradip and begged of  him to rescue the girl fromt the clutch of the designing enticer. Pradip, seeing them in distress, agreed to help them and decided to leave for Bombay, by the first train, the probable place of the couple's refuge. Pradip had seen Mala when she was just a child and in order to recognise her, he demanded Mala's photo. Rai Bahadur who had his own plan, gave Pradip a photo. Was it the right one? Let us wait and see. 

Pradip in Bombay, combed all the hotels and clubs and his strenuous search was finally rewarded, when he found the object of his search dancing and singing in the Wellington Terrace Club. Pradip joined in the dance much to the chagrin and concern of a millionaire prince Robin, who jealously watched the inroad that the stranger was making into the heart of her lady-love. 

Making full use of a handsome face and a suave tongue, Pradip persuaded his newly acquired girl-friend to accompany him to the Bombay Central Station, where he was supposed to see off a newly-married couple bound for their honeymoon. Robin followed them like a watch-dog upto the Bombay Central Station, and when Pradip tricked her into a train compartment, Robin also followed in. When the train was about to leave, Pradip suddenly pushed Robin out of the compartment and locked the door of exit. OUtraged and horrified, the captive lady demanded to know what was the motive behind this behavioiur of Pradip. The motive was not unfair, replied Pradip. It was to restore Mala Devi to her parents at Abu. Mala Devi? The girl wondered! Who was he addressing as Mala Devi? Her name was Shobha, she asserted. She admitted that Mala was her cousin-sister and the Rai Bahadur, her uncle. Pradip in reply 'admired' her enviable capacity in manufacturing lies, but at the same regretted that he was not to be fooled by them, since as a Police Officer (as he now introduced himself ) he was in full possession of irrefuatble evidence (here he produced her photo)which would go to prove that he had got hold of the right girl. All Shobha's protests and threats went in vain. She was advised not to be troublesome, since none would dare help a run-away girl when she was in the custody of a Police Officer. In impotent fury, Shobha is compelled to accompany Pradip........

Robin, despite outwitted at the Bombay Central Station did not give up. He qucikly collected four fierce looking ruffians- his active association in villainy- and drove in his car at high speed to catch up with the train in which Pradip and Shobha were travelling. How Robin catches up with Pradip, how he is again outwitted and mauled, how Shobha's repeated attempts at escape fail till she does not want to escape at all, how the captive Shobha turns the table on her captor, and how after many mirthful and thrilling sequences this run-a-round reaches a happy conclusion, should better be seen on the screen. 

 

(From the official press booklet)

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