Mai Dil Hoon Ek Armaan Bhara

Mai Dil Hoon Ek Armaan Bhara-Talat Mahmood-Film Anhonee 1952-Satyendra Athaiyya-Music Roshan

The man, who directed the debut of Amitabh Bachchan in Saat Hindustani and wrote classics like Awaara, Shree 420 and Jaagte Raho -- Khwaja Ahmed Abbas -- also made an underrated gem featuring Nargis in a double role. Awara had become a box office successful film. A long time associate of Abbas and Gulshan approached Abbas for another film in line with Awara. Their only condition was that it should have Nargis and Raj Kapoor in lead roles. Abbas picked up the gauntlet again and launched a new film Anhonee . This was the first time in Hindi film indistry that same actor was cast in a double role. Nargis by her superb acting justified the prominence given to her roles in this psychological drama, using contrasting body language and personality traits to essay the two diverse roles. In a way, the film set the trend of double roles which was later tried by many to the hilt and it proved immensely successful as well.

At the outset,  it is a simple story of two sisters Mohini and Roop — the legitimate one brought up in the house of a courtesan, and the illegitimate one an heiress to the estate of Thakur Harman. It is love at first sight between Roop and a young lawyer, Rajkumar, a tenant when he comes to pay the rent to Harman but instead runs into his daughter. Soon the alliance transforms into deep involvement, and Roop takes her father into confidence who willingly accords sanction to their marriage.

And a party is organised to announce the wedding. In the process of discharge of his legal practice Raj runs into Mohini and soon discovers the truth about her being Harman’s real daughter. Mohini who has grown up in a prostitute’s house, is unable to get out of the claustrophobic situation. She also flips for the young lawyer. In time, Roop gets to know the truth, and in an attempt to rescue Mohini, swaps places. In time the marriage ceremony takes place, and unknowingly Raj weds Mohini instead of Roop. When the truth comes to light Harman suffers a heart attack and dies. And the narrative leads to the predictable climax. Nargis was hailed in the dual role, and Raj Kapoor was his usual competent self.

Unlike in his later films, Abbas wasn’t allergic to lyrics and music in his film. Some of Roshan’s compositions, sung by Lata Mangeshkar, like “Mera dil hai ek armaan bhara”; “Kasam hai tumhe tum kisise na kahna”; “Mere dil ki dhadkan kya bole”; “Is dil ki halat kya kahiye” still provide good company on a lonely evening.

This was also the first time that noted poet Ali Sardar Jafri contributed lyrics. Ramachandra’s black and white mood cinematography was the other highlight of this 155-minute long film. Although in time the theme of environment and heredity became passé, it was re-enacted by Nargis in “Raat aur Din”, and Raj Kapoor in RK’s “Dharam Karam”, directed by Randhir Kapoor without any acknowledgment to the original.

Nargis, The ethereal actress is equally adept at bringing out the conflicting qualities of both -- the gregarious courtesan Mohini as well as her dignified half-sister and heiress, Roop.

Here Raj Saxena, the lawyer sings the song, in  Roop's birthday party.The song is addressed to Roop to whom his marriage is fixed.

मैं दिल हूँ इक अरमान भरा

तू आके मुझे पहचान ज़रा

इक सागर हूँ ठहरा ठहरा 

तू आके मुझे पहचान ज़रा

मैं दिल हूँ इक अरमान भरा

ख़ुद मैने हुस्न के हाथों में,

शोखी का छलकता जाम दिया

गालों को गुलाबों का रुतबा,

कलियों को लबों का नाम दिया, नाम दिया

आँखों को दिया सागर गहरा 

तू आके मुझे पहचान ज़रा

ये सच है, तेरी महफ़िल में,

मेरे अफ़साने कुछ भी नहीं

पर दिल की दौलत के आगे

दुनिया के खज़ाने कुछ भी नहीं

यूं मुझसे निगाहों को ना चुरा  

तू आके मुझे पहचान ज़रा

ये झिलमिल कर्ते हुए दिये 

आखिर इक दिन बुझ जायेंगे

दौलत के नशे में डूबे हुए

ये राग रंग मिट जायेंगे

गूँजेगा मगर ये गीत मेरा 

ये गीत मेरा

Anhonee 1952
Starcast: Raj Kapoor,  Nargis, Om Prakash, Agha, Jankidas,David Abraham
Lyricist: Ali Sardar Jafri
Music: Roshan
Written by K.A.Abbas.
Directed by K.A.Abbas