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Encyclopedia

On This Day

10 Aug, 1908

Cinemaazi remembers Wali Sahab aka Wali Mohd Khan on his birth anniversary

10 Aug, 1916

Cinemaazi remembers Prem Adib on his birth anniversary

10 Aug, 1940

Cinemaazi celebrates 85 years of Bandhan

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films

Saheli (1942)

S M Yusuf

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Release Date1942
FormatB-W
LanguageHindi
Shooting LocationJyoti Studios, Bombay

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Youth! The fountain source of surging desires hopes and aspirations! The Dawn of life when one is indiscriminately actuated by multifarious ambitions solely for self-complacency, creature comforts and self-aggrandisement attaining irrespective of causing pain and suffering to other human beings.

Paradoxically to prove an exemplary exception one girl proved angelic at this very threshold of life, in fully understanding others, sympathising with their feelings and for their happiness-unflinchingly sacrificing her wealth and even the most precious-most cherished of all-by a woman-Love!

Chandra and Lila had grown up together as pals and playmates from childhood and blossomed into womanhood.

Chandra goes abroad for obtaining degree as a Doctor of Medicine, whilst Lila after finishing her education starts a model school for girls without any body's help by her own funds, excepting her generous maternal Aunt. During this spell of time she is betrothed to Chandra's brother Mohan, rather a conveniently arranged match.

On her return, Chandra is surprised to find only her bosom friend Lila to receive her, and not her brother Mohan also. Lila gives a grand party in honour of Chandra's- arrival and graduation, inviting all folk, including the head master Mr. Kishore, of the village.

At this function fate plays a strange prank when Chandra beholds Kishore and is smitten by love, without knowing that he is already in love with her comrade Lila.

Master Kundan gets jealous of Kishore being the admired cynosure of the village folk-and bides his time for an opportune moment to stigmatise his fair name and fame.

On going to meet her brother Mohan, Chandra is terribly shocked to find him deep in the dregs of liquor depraved, debauched and hypnotised by a singing girl Mohini.

She feels pity for his sodden plight-but he thinks she is just a girl of the same sort of butterflies. Chandra drags Mohan aside, reproaches him for his If misconduct, and pleads for Rs. 10,000/ - for a Nursing Home, instead of squandering money on worthless pursuits, for a just and noble cause for alleviating sufferings of mankind. But Mohan not only refuses help of any kind-but scoffs and mocks at her human object. Poor Chandra returns disappointed to Lila, informs about Mohan's refusal and requests her for the needed aid. For the sake of her true friend, Lila begs help of her Aunt for Rs. 10,000/ - who infuriated retorts the Chandra's brother Mohan has already ruined one innocent life-but for her sake, whatever• remains, she promises to willingly give her ornaments and be relieved for ever.

Selling the Aunt's ornaments Chandra starts a Nursing Home-the ambition of her life for easing the pains of fellow creatures.

On a romantic rainy night-Kishore, enamoured if Lila-was pouring forth his sentiments and emotions into a song celestial-a Melody of Love-which Chandra overhears from her nearby Nursing Home rushes up to him-which he does not relish and compels her to return.

Accompanied by Kishore, Chandra is espied by Kundan who instantly in cites Mohan by tarnishing Kishore.

In a fit of frenzy Mohan comes running wild and strikes innocent Kishore Lila hears this, comes upon the scene and takes wounded Kishore to his house. After his recovery, he proposes to Lila-but she refuses to marry him, knowing that her pal Chandra was in love with him.

This breaks Kishore's heart and he decides to leave the village.

Meanwhile, Mohini, Mohan's sweetie, takes a mean advantage of his weakness and gets a document signed, assigning a large building to her.

The vigilant Police following the trail of Kishore being wounded by Mohan-rush up to arrest Mohan but he deludes them and runs away from Mohini's house chased by the Police.

Embittered-disillusioned-broken hearted Lila bears that Kishore is leaving the train and heedlessly, she runs barefooted to stop him at any cost-at any personal risk. Even running after the train in motion- like a haunted woman- just to stop her beloved.

Kishore sees this pathetic sight-pulls the chain and the train stops.

What thrilling incident happened next?
What happened to broken hearted Lila?
What reward she got for her supreme sacrifice?
How vicious Mohan got reformed?
What retribution followed?
Whom did our hero Kishore marry?

See and hear the unfolding of this dramatic episode and denouncement on the silver screen.

[From the official press booklet]