Gateway of India (1957 film)

Gateway of India[1] is a 1957 Indian Hindi-language comedy crime, black and white drama film directed and produced by Om Prakash and cinematographed by G. Singh. The film is edited by Dharamvir and music is composed and directed by Madan Mohan. It features Madhubala in the lead role. Bharat Bhushan, Pradeep Kumar, Johnny Walker, Anita Guha, and Master Bhagwan play supporting characters.[2][3][4][5]

Not to be confused with the Gateway of India, an arch-monument built in the early twentieth century in the city of Mumbai..

Gateway of India (1957)
Theatrical release poster
Directed byOm Prakash
Produced byOm Prakash
Written byJagdish Kanwal
Screenplay byJagdish Kanwal
StarringMadhubala
Bharat Bhushan
Pradeep Kumar
Johnny Walker
Anita Guha
Master Bhagwan
Music byMadan Mohan
CinematographyG. Singh
Edited byDharamvir
Color processBlack and white
Release date
1957
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

It was one of the first films of Bollywood whose story follows the incidents of a single night. Solva Saal, which too had a similar story was released a year later, in 1958. It starred Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman. Gatway of India was also mentioned in Deepa Gahlot's book '50 Films that Deserve a New Audience'.</ref>Gahlot, Deepa (October 2015). Take-2: 50 Films That Deserve a New Audience. ISBN 9789384544850.</ref>

Plot

Anju (Madhubala) overhears her uncle (Sham Lal) plotting to kill her, for her father's property, but before he does so he must find the all important documents, which she and her loyal servant have hidden.

The uncle kills the poor servant, and tells his minions to put the corpse in a box and deliver it the next morning to the Gateway of India.

He intends to imprison Anju too till she hands over the papers and then kill her, but she escapes. Her uncle sends two goons after her and she has to stay a few steps ahead of them. The adventure takes place over one night, as Anju flees from one tight spot after another, outwitting dangerous thugs and men, who are, to put it mildly, not gentlemen. And before she runs out again, she tells them all to meet her at the Gateway of India the next morning.

The suave bloke Kishore (Pradeep Kumar),who gives a ride in his car is a drug dealer and pimp. The next guy, Chandan (Chandrashekhar) whose car she slips into, takes her to a brothel run by his sister (Manorama). She gets out of there, and runs right into the home of a bootlegger (Johnny Walker) and his brother Tony. She pretends to get drunk, does a song and dance number and skips out again, tripping the guards.

This time she climbs over the gate into the window of a Bluebeard type (Bhagwan Dada), who has married half a dozen women and then killed them to collect insurance.

Now he wants to marry for good, settle down and have kids. Anju bats her eyelids at him too, promises to marry him (he gets to dance to a dream sequence dressed as a Chinaman), tells him to meet her at the Gateway of India and walks off only to run into a street don (Om Prakash) who takes a fancy to her. With him she switches to Bambaiya jargon and smooth talks him into a Gateway rendezvous.

The two goons are still snapping at her heels, when she encounters a poet Prakash (Bharat Bhushan). She goes to the Gateway of India where the rogue's gallery has congregated, taking the precaution of calling the police. Her uncle tells the cops that she is mad, but the box with the corpse arrives to prove she was telling the truth, and Prakash comes by to help. The criminals all end up in jail and in a move very bold for the time, she runs after Prakash and proposes him, giving him no chance to turn her down.

Cast

Soundtrack

The soundtrack of the film, specially the song Do Ghadi Voh Jo, became popular. The music was by Madan Mohan.

1. Hum Abhi Aata Tum Abhi Jata - Mohammed Rafi

2. Jalwa Jo Tera Dekha - Asha Bhonsle, Shamshad Begum, Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Mangeshkar

3. Dekhta Chala Gaya - Johnny Walker, Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi

4. Na Hanso Hampe - Lata Mangeshkar

5. Chal Mere Dil Ke Udan Khatole - Mohammed Rafi

6. Ye Raat Badi Mushkil Hai - Geeta Dutt

7. Sapne Mein Sajan Se - Lata Mangeshkar

8. Do Ghadi Voh Jo - Asha Bhonsle and Mohammed Rafi

Madhubala in Gateway of India.

Production

Omprakash had written the story of Gateway of India keeping only one name in his mind - Madhubala. When he finished writing the story, he approached Ataullah Khan, Madhubala's father. He had initially agreed on Madhubala's part but changed his decision when Omprakash told him that the shootings will be commenced in night. Her father had kept a rule that the shooting will begin at sharp 6 a.m. and will end at 6 p.m., and Madhubala would leave the sets after the given time. Being a stubborn since his birth, Omprakash sat down on the floor and refused to go and approach any other actress. This annoyed Khan and he started yelling at him. Madhubala, who was upstairs, heard the noise and came running. She made her father quiet and asked Omprakash what the matter was. When she heard the story of Gateway of India, she agreed to do the film and opposed her father's decision. She had also attended the premiere of the film.

The shooting of the film had began in late 1956 and was finished in early 1957.

Release

The film was released in 1957 with positive reviews but it underperformed at the box office.

References
  1. "Gateway of India DVD (1957)".
  2. "Gateway of India (1957) - BollywoodMDB".
  3. "Gateway of India (1957) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos".
  4. "Gateway of India Review /5 | Gateway of India Movie Review | Gateway of India 1957 Public Review | Film Review".
  5. "The Gone Girl Gang". Daily Hunt / Financial Chronicle. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
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