Saat Lakh
Directed byJaffer Malik
Screenplay bySaifuddin Saif
Produced bySaifuddin Saif
Starring
CinematographyRasheed Lodhi
Music byRashid Attre
Release date
1957
CountryPakistan
LanguageUrdu

Saat Lakh (lit. 'Seven Lakh') is 1957 Pakistani Urdu film directed by Jaffer Malik and produced by Saifuddin Saif. It stars Sabiha Khanum and Santosh Kumar in the lead with supporting role by Nayyar Sultana and guest appearance by Neelo. The film is primarily known for its blockbuster music composed by Rashid Attre.[1]

Based on Mr. & Mrs. '55, it is recognised one of the successful films of the 1950s with primary focus on "money" and other assets amounting to PKR700,000 of each asset including cash amounting seven lakh as described by the last will and testament.[1] According to that last will and testament of heiress's father, his daughter is only entitled to his property if she marries. Adhering to testator's last wish, the rich heiress betrays a poor man convicted of accidental killing and starts pretending to marry him.[2]

Saat Lakh is the first successful film of Jaffer Malik. It won the inaugural Nigar Award for best film, in addition to 4 awards in others categories.[3] In an article by BBC, the film was included in the list of 10 best films of the Pakistani cinema.[2] The film's success paved the way to establish the career of Talish, Neelo and Sultana.[4][5]

Plot

An heiress has to marry to spend her financial assets and physical possessions worth PKR seven lakh each such as a bungalow worth PKR seven lakh and other assets also worth seven lakhs as well as cash worth PKR seven lakh. As part of this condition, she makes a plan to marry a convicted man and takes him to her home at a hill station for honeymoon where she calls her lawyer to fulfill legal requirements of marriage. Some days later, she calls the police through her lawyer for the arrest of convicted man with whom she pretended to be a true spouse. However, when he is arrested, she falls in love with him. At the time of his arrest, he learns about her betrayal behaviour and his love for heiress turns into hatred.

She subsequently tries to prove his innocence and asks the police that he accidentally killed a man who tried to rape a woman for which he was convicted and is a runaway.[6]

Cast

Soundtrack

All lyrics are written by Saifuddin Saif; all music is composed by Rashid Attre

No.TitleSinger (s)[1]Length
1."Har Cheez Yahan Bik Jati Hai"Kausar Parveen[8] 
2."Sitamgar Mujhey Bewafa Janta Hai"Zubaida Khanum 
3."Ghunghat Uthoon Key Ghunghat Nikaloon"Zubaida Khanum 
4."Qarar Lootnay Waley"Munir Hussain 
5."Yaaro Mujhey Maaf Karo"Saleem Raza 
6."Too Chhuti Ley Key Aa Ja Balma"Zubaida Khanum 

Too Chhuti Ley Key Aa Ja Balma and Yaaro Mujhey Maaf Karo were the popular tracks from the film, where the latter was sold over 100,000 copies.[1][9][10]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Awardee Result Ref.
— Nigar Awards Best film Saat Lakh Won [1]
Best Music Rashid Attre
Best Scriptwriter Saifuddin Saif
Best Actress Sabiha Khanum
Best Supporting Actress Nayyar Sultana

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Gul, Aijaz (4 February 2016). "'Saat Lakh' to be screened at Lok Virsa on Feb 6 – Islamabad". The News International. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b "فلمی نقاد اعجاز گُل کی منتخب کردہ دس بہترین پاکستانی فلمیں". BBC News اردو (in Urdu). 5 September 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  3. ^ "'سات لاکھ' سے شہرت حاصل کرنے والے جعفر ملک کی برسی –". Urdu News. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  4. ^ Soonha Abro. "Timeline of Pakistani cinema". Dawn (newspaper). Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  5. ^ Mushtaq Gazdar (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947–1997. Oxford University Press. p. 66. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
  6. ^ a b "Sabiha Khanum, the First Lady of Pakistani Cinema, Passes Away". The Wire. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  7. ^ Remembering the ones we lost (scroll down to Sabiha Khanum obituary) The Express Tribune (newspaper), Published 24 December 2020, Retrieved 30 January 2022
  8. ^ "Kausar Parveen – a phenomenal singer who died young". Daily Times. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  9. ^ M. Saeed Malik (2006). Lahore: A Musical Companion. Baber Ali Foundation. p. 155.
  10. ^ Mushtaq Gazdar (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947–1997. Oxford University Press. p. 66. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.

External links

Nigar Award for Best Film (for Urdu films)
Categories