Sahara (1958 film)

Sahara is a 1958 Indian Bollywood film directed by Lekhraj Bhakri. The film stars Meena Kumari in the lead role of Leela and relates her life story.

Plot
Orphaned Leela (Meena Kumari) lives with her cruel aunt, Rangilibai (Leela Mishra); cousin, Kaushalya (Kammo); and uncle Vikram Singh (Badri Prasad). When Rangilibai arranges Kaushalya's marriage to Chhote Thakur (M. Rajan), the son of a wealthy landlord, Leela agrees to go with her as a maid as part of her dowry. But things change when the landlord rejects Kaushalya and decides to marry Leela. After marriage, Leela is accused of having a lover and is thrown out of home by her husband, who later understands his mistake as he was misled by his sister. Leela goes to Rangilibai's house, but she firmly refuses to accept her. Alone and desperate, Leela meets a distant relative named Gaman Singh (Kanhaiyalal). He takes her in to live with him and his wife, Swarupbai (Kuldip Kaur). When Leela refuses Swarupbai's demand to beg for alms, the latter blinds her with special eye-drops. Having lost her vision, a blinded Leela is led daily through the streets and is forced to sit near the steps of a temple singing and begging for alms. Soon Leela develops a loving mother-son relationship with another beggar of Swarupbai, a boy named Panna (Daisy Irani). This relationship carries the narrative forward.

Cast

 * Meena Kumari ... Leela
 * M. Rajan ... Chhote Thakur
 * Daisy Irani ... Panna
 * Kuldip Kaur ... Swarupbai
 * Kanhaiya Lal ... Gaman Singh
 * Kammo ... Kaushaliya
 * Manoj Kumar ... Shyam
 * Leela Mishra ... Rangilibai
 * Badri Prasad ... Vikram Singh

Soundtrack
The music of the film was composed by Hemant Kumar & Bharat Vyas.

Sound tracks :


 * 1) So Ja Dukhiyare Dukhiya Ke Pyare, By: Lata Mangeshkar
 * 2) Nache Bandriya Lahnga Daal Ke, By : Lata Mangeshkar, Aarti Mukherjee
 * 3) Ban Ke Suhagan Rahi Abhagan, By: Lata Mangeshkar
 * 4) Ek Baat Kahu Tumse, By: Pratima Bannerjee
 * 5) Andhon Pe Daya Karna Data, By: Lata Mangeshkar
 * 6) Mujhe Tarke Talluk Ke Liye, By: Sudha Malhotra
 * 7) Har Dukhra Sehne Wali, Muh Se Naa Kuch Kahne Wali, By: Bela Mukherjee, Hemant Kumar
 * 8) Chham Chham Chham Chham Chale O Maa, By: Lata Mangeshkar
 * 9) Aaghaz Ka Mohabbat Ki Baate, By: Aarti Mukherji, Hemant Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Sudha Malhotra

Awards
Meena Kumari received a Filmfare nomination for Best Actress for her performance, the only nomination for the film.