MAHAL (1949) MOVIE REVIEW

Storyline

Hari Shankar (Ashok Kumar) comes to claim his inheritance - a palatial building known as Shabnam Mahal. He does not see anything out of the normal, until he sees his portrait on the wall. The housekeeper tells him the background of the portrait and the tragic ending of two lovers. Later, Hari Shankar sees a woman singing and swinging in the garden swing, when he approaches, she disappears. Both the housekeeper and his lawyer friend, Shrinath, warn Hari Shankar, and ask him to stay away from this house, he does so, only to be drawn back. No one can help Hari Shankar now as he continues to be drawn deeper and deeper into the dark world of the ghostly apparition. "Ayega.. ayega... aanewala, aayega...." is still popular

Review

Suspenseful drama

This is classic in real sense of the word. A tight suspense from beginning to end. Mahal is one of the greatest films ever made in Bombay filmdom. Adding to the suspense is all time great song 'Aayega aane wala...'. See it for a very young Madhubala and highly expressive Ashok Kumar. Kamal Amrohi has not made any better movie than this one. Though his 'Daira' is another great hidden classic. He is primarily remembered for 'Pakeeza'. Very few films gained the status this film achieved. This is certainly one of the ten best from Bombay. The story has twisting end which will certainly surprise you and you will never be the same again. Most of the movie was shot indoors, one can easily tell that comparing it to modern standards, yet the directorial perfection is amazing. A must see. 

Directed by
Kamal Amrohi

Writing credits
Kamal Amrohi		(by)
Kamal Amrohi		(script) uncredited
Kamal Amrohi		(story) uncredited

Cast

	Ashok Kumar	...	Hari Shankar
	Madhubala	...	Kamini
	M. Kumar	...	Hari Shankar's Father (as Kumar)
	Vijayalaxmi	...	Ranjana
	Kanu Roy	...	Shrinath
	S. Nazir
	Eruch Tarapore
	Sheela Naik
	Leela Pandey
	Neelam
	Kaneez
	Jagannath
	Mohsin
	Laxman Rao
	S.A. Baker