Chaudhvin Ka Chand

Chaudhvin Ka Chand
Theatrical poster
Directed by	M. Sadiq
Written by	Saghir Usmani
Screenplay by	Abrar Alvi
Produced by	Guru Dutt
Starring	Guru Dutt Waheeda Rehman Rehman Johnny Walker
Cinematography	V. K. Murthy
Music by	Ravi
Production company	Guru Dutt Films
Distributed by	Guru Dutt Films
Release date	1960 (1960)
Country	India
Language	Hindi

This film was a super-hit at the box-office, and became one of the top-grossing films of 1960. A production of Guru Dutt, the film centers on a love triangle between Dutt, Rehman and Waheeda Rehman, and features music by Ravi. After the disastrous box office performance of Kaagaz Ke Phool, Guru Dutt ventured into the idea of producing a commercial project to protect his studio from ruins. The next commercial venture by the studio was Chaudhvin ka Chand, which was a successful comeback film for Guru Dutt and saved Guru Dutt's production studio from ruins.

The film is considered a notable Muslim-social. It was ranked #28 in 2003 Outlook Magazine poll of 25 Leading Indian Directors for "Best Bollywood Movies of all time". Filmfare listed it among "Seven Muslim socials you must watch".

Its music album was ranked #30 in Top 100 Bollywood Albums by Film Companion website. The film's title track "Chaudhvin Ka Chand" became especially popular and is noted for picturization of the song sequence. The song is regarded as one of the most acclaimed romantic ballads in India and one of the most loved filmi songs of all time.

In 2014, the film's screenplay was published as a book, titled Chaudhvin Ka Chand: The Original Screenplay, by the film historians Dinesh Raheja and Jitendra Kothari.

This film also entered into the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival.

The setting is the city of Lucknow in northern India, where Islamic culture flourished. Aslam and Nawab are two best friends looking for a wife and end up in an accidental love triangle.

At a gathering they attend, the ladies exchange veils for fun. This causes the two best friends who live in this city to accidentally fall in love with the same woman named Jameela. Jameela is in love with Aslam and marries him. After marriage, Aslam figures out that his friend Nawab had fallen in love with Jameela as well. However, because the veils had been switched by the girls earlier he was unaware of this. Aslam wants nothing but his friend Nawab to be happy and tries to act in a way that would cause Jameela to divorce him, so that Nawab can then marry her. However, Jameela loves Aslam despite this and will not leave him. Eventually Nawab realizes the misunderstanding and is overcome with grief to cause his friend so much sorrow. He is devastated and commits suicide knowing this will ensure there are no obstacles in the way now for Aslam to love Jameela.

• Guru Dutt as Aslam
• Waheeda Rehman as Jameela
• Rehman as Nawab Pyaare Miyan
• Farida Jalal
• Johnny Walker as Mirza Musarraddique Shaida
• Minoo Mumtaz as Tameezan
• Mumtaz Begum as Nawab's Mother
• Tun Tun as Naseeban

Guru Dutt's music composer of earlier films S. D. Burman had warned him not to make Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), which resembled his own life. When Guru Dutt insisted on making the film, Burman said that would be his last film with Guru Dutt. Hence, the music composing of this film was offered to composer Ravi and was critically acclaimed, and the lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni. The title song is sung by Mohammed Rafi. The other hit songs from this film are "Mera Yaar Bana Hai Dulha", also sung by Mohammed Rafi, often played in wedding ceremony and mujra song "Dil Ki Kahani Rang Layi Hai", sung by Asha Bhosle.

Track listing

Ravi has composed the music of the film and Shakeel Badayuni wrote the lyrics.

8th Filmfare Awards:

Won

• Best Lyricist – Shakeel Badayuni for film "Chaudhvin Ka Chand"
• Best Male Playback Singer – Mohammed Rafi for film "Chaudhvin Ka Chand"
• Best Art Direction – Biren Nag

Nominated

• Best Supporting Actor – Rehman
• Best Music Director – Ravi
• Best Story – Saghir Usmani