indian cinema heritage foundation

Humsafar (1953)

  • Release Date1953
  • GenreDrama
  • FormatB-W
  • LanguageHindi
  • Shooting LocationModern Studio Ltd, Andheri
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Vir and Vivek, two young friends, were a striking study in contrast for, while Vivek the older of the two, was serious, quiet intellectual and physically weak; Vir, was full of an abounding energy and enthusiasm - bursting with life and new ideas, Vir was born to be a leader of men. The friends came to Bombay, Vivek to try and earn his living as a writer, Vir, characteristically, to make a fortune. But their hopes were destined to fail. Poverty and hunger stalked them. They were befriended by young Malti and her mother, who tried to help them, especially when they realised that Vivek was seriously ill with Asthma.

On Vir, fell the added burden of trying to support them, for Malti in helping her friends had also lost her own job.

In despair Vir turned bitter - full of hatred for the world that denied him the right to live. He determined to hit out against society. In this he was aided and abetted by Jaggu, a crippled beggar who had long been trying to get Vir organise a group of bold and desperate young men into a regular dacoits gang. 'If only I had your strength and brains and beauty, I would have carved an empire for myself, single-handed' he taunted Vir.

So, while Vivek and Malti worked and waited anxiously, Vir disappeared into the mountains, from where he soon grew to be dreaded as one of the boldest dacoits of this age.

"I only take from those who have themselves robbed the poor. I use no weapons. I do not evil and I am master of my own fate" he boasted. Could nothing redeem Vir from this rash step? Would the love of the beautiful dancer Radha 'kidnapped' during one of his raids not soften his heart? And Vivek? Would his and Malti's fight for their friends soul be doomed to failure?

NAVKETAN'S "HUMSAFAR" presents a forceful fascinating human drama based on newspaper reportings on the 'dacoit menace' sweeping our country to-day. "Humsafar" brings you a story real as to-morrows headlines - the problems are those that face you to-day.

[From the official press booklet]