Hanste Aansoo
Promotional poster (published December 1949)
Directed byK. B. Lall[1]
Screenplay byK. B. Lall[1]
Produced byK. B. Lall[1]
StarringMadhubala
Motilal
Gope
CinematographyKumar Jaywant[1]
Music byGhulam Mohammad
Release date
  • 1950 (1950)
CountryIndia
LanguageHindustani

Hanste Aansoo (transl. "Laughing Tears") is a 1950 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by K. B. Lall and starring Madhubala and Motilal, with Gope and Manorama appearing in supporting roles.[1][2] The music for the film is composed by Ghulam Mohammed.[3] The first Indian film to get an Adults certification, Hanste Aansoo was both a controversial and popular release, receiving praise for Madhubala's performance and notoriety for its bold storyline.[4]

Plot

Hanste Aansoo revolves around an educated girl, Usha (Madhubala), who is reluctantly married off into a family by her mercenary, drunkard father. Her illiterate husband, Kumar (Motilal), is jealous of Usha's intelligence and frank behaviour, and one day abuses her physically. Unexpectedly, Usha leaves his house, and begins battling for women rights alone. She gives birth to Kumar's son in between, and starts working in a factory, where her male co-workers ridicule her. After several comical scenes and melodrama, the film ends with Kumar apologising to Usha, and she returning to his house.

Cast

The main cast of the film included:[5]

Soundtrack

Reception

Release and controversy

Hanste Aansoo was theatrically released in October 1950.[6] It became the first Indian film to be awarded an Adults certification, following the amendment of the original Indian Cinematograph Act (1918) in December 1949.[7][8] The reasons behind such certification were the film's double-meaning title (laughing tears),[9] and its depiction of a modern age woman fighting for her rights, during the time when women were restricted to household chores, were expected to be completely submitted to their spouses, and had no freedom for education or were allowed to work outside.[10] Many contemporary audience deemed the film's storyline bold and immoral.[4]

Critical reception

In his filmindia review, Baburao Patel noted that "the picture has nothing objectionable in it to justify this classification but by classifying it this, the Censors have classified themselves as unnecessarily prudish and unintelligent."[11] Madhubala's comedic-cum-dramatic performance won her significant laurels from critics. Patel commented: "The versatility of this girl seems to endless. In this picture, in addition to her serious and pathetic work, she shows a rare talent for flirting. [...] It is not an easy job to steal a scene from these two seasoned artists (Gope and Motilal), but Madhubala does it."[12]

Box office

Due to the box-office popularity of Madhubala and the wide media attention she was receiving during this time, Hanste Aansoo was a popular release, running in packed theatres for several weeks.[13] However, the film did not become the kind of success it was expected to be, with trade journalists attributing its failure to the Adult certification.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Hanste Ansu (1950) Cast - Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director". Cinestaan. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  2. ↑ Akbar 1997, p. 137.
  3. ↑ "Ghulam Mohammad movies and filmography - Cinestaan.com". Cinestaan. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. 1 2 Deep 1996, p. 134.
  5. ↑ "Hanste Ansu (1950) Cast – Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director". Cinestaan. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Akbar 1997, p. 84.
  7. ↑ Sharma, Sampada (3 February 2016). "25 'Firsts' Of Indian Cinema We Bet You Didn't Know About". www.scoopwhoop.com. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Service, Tribune News. "Old and truly gold". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "इस फिल्म को मिला था पहला A सर्टिफिकेट, सेक्स सीन नहीं ये थी वजह". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 9 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Latest Bollywood News, Bollywood Gossip, Movies Reviews". Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  11. ↑ Akbar 1997, p. 101.
  12. ↑ Akbar 1997, p. 101—102.
  13. ↑ Akbar 1997, pp. 84; Deep 1996, p. 45, 134.

General sources

  • Akbar, Khatija (1997). Madhubala: Her Life, Her Films. UBS Publishers Distributors. ISBN 9788174761538.
  • Deep, Mohan (1996). The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala. Magna Publishing Co. Ltd. ISBN 1906574219.
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