Shehar Aur Sapna

Shehar Aur Sapna (lit. 'The City and the Dream') is a 1963 Hindi film directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, about a young couple searching in vain for a home of their own in a metropolis, amidst the backdrop of rapidly developing city, and the many who flocked to it in hope of a better life.^[1] It won the 1964 National Film Award for Best Feature Film and was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Film.

Shehar Aur Sapna
Poster
Directed by	Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
Story by	Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
Produced by	Naya Sansar
Starring	Dilip Raj Nana Palsikar David .
Cinematography	Ramachandra
Music by	J. P. Kaushik
Release date	1963 (1963)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Synopsis and themes

It was based on Abbas's own story One Thousand Nights on a Bed of Stones, which describes the struggle in the life of pavement dwellers against the backdrop of rapid industrialization. The theme of the film signified a marked departure from the films made in the 1950s, the opening decade of independent India, as by now the euphoria seen in films such as Naya Daur (1957) and Boot Polish (1954) had been replaced by realism and the death of economic idealism. This was also seen in later films such as Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974) and Mani Kaul's Uski Roti (1969), as industrialization did not turn out to be a boon for the masses as promised.^[2]

Production

Abbas used his own experiences of sleeping on the footpath at one point in his life, as he had used in his three other films. To prepare for shooting the city "figuratively", he walked about the city under all weather, to be able to recreate the settings for the emotional landscape of the film. Though most scenes were shot outdoors, in Mumbai slums and on roads, on a shoestring budget, for crucial scenes, the cylindrical drainpipes were carried to the studios to recreate the life of the urban poor indoors, complete with slums and huts by the railway line.^[3][4]

Awards

• 1963: National Film Award for Best Feature Film^[5]
• 1964 Academy of Art award for Direction.
• 1964: Filmfare Awards
  • Best Supporting Actor - Nana Palsikar: Won
  • Best Film: Nominated ^[6]
  • Best Director: K.A. Abbas: Nominated
  • Best Story: K.A. Abbas: Nominated
  • Uttar Pradesh Film Journalist's Assn. Lucknow Award for Best Music/Director: J.P. Kaushik
  • Bengal Film Journalist's Assn. Calcutta Award for Best Music/Director: J.P. Kaushik

Cast

• Dilip Raj Son of P. Jairaj
• Surekha Parkaar
• Manmohan Krishan
• Anwar Hussain
• David
• Nana Palsikar as Jhonny
• Asit Sen
• Jagdish Kamal
• Rashid Khan
• Kamlakar Rele (Thief)

Music

1. "Hazar Ghar Hazar Dar Yeh Sab Hain Ajnabi Magar" - Manmohan Krishna
2. "Patthar Ka Bhagwan Yehan Hain" - Manmohan Krishna
3. "Pyaar Ko Aaj Nayi Tarh Nibhana Hoga" - Manmohan Krishna
4. "Yeh Shaam Bhi Kahaan Hui" - Manmohan Krishna

References

1. Dan Pavlides (2011). "Overview:Shehar Aur Sapna (1964)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011.
2. "Bollywood toasts the great Indian middle class". Sify. 28 May 2007. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016.
3. Manju Jain (2009). Narratives Of Indian Cinema. Primus Books. p. 142. ISBN 978-8190891844.
4. Georges Sadoul (1972). Dictionary of Film Makers. University of California Press. p. 1. ISBN 0520021517.
5. "11th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
6. 1965 Filmfare Awards IMDb

External links

• Shehar Aur Sapna
  (The City and the Dream) at IMDb
• Shehar Aur Sapna Trivia