Aan

{{Short description|1952 film by Mehboob Khan}} {{About|the 1952 musical|the 2004 drama|Aan: Men at Work|other uses|}} {{Use British English|date=April 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Aan | image = Aan 1952 film poster.jpg | caption = Film poster | director = Mehboob Khan | producer = Mehboob Khan | writer = S. Ali Raza | story = R. S. Choudhury | narrator = | starring = Dilip Kumar<br />Nimmi<br />Nadira<br />Premnath<ref name=TheHindu/> | music = Naushad | cinematography = Faredoon A. Irani | editing = Shamsudin Kadri | studio = Mehboob Productions | distributor = Mehboob Productions | released = {{Film date|df=y|1952||}} | runtime = 161 minutes | country = India | language = Hindi | budget = ₹35 lakhs | gross = ₹3.5 crore }} thumb|x150px|''Aan''

'''''Aan''''' ({{Translation|Pride}}; also released as '''''The Savage Princess''''') is a 1952 Indian adventure film, produced and directed by Mehboob Khan. It stars Dilip Kumar, Nimmi, Nadira (in her debut role) and Premnath.

It was India's first technicolor film, as it was shot in 16mm Gevacolour and was blown up in technicolor.<ref name=uiowa>{{cite web|url=http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/Aan.html |title=Aan (1952 film) - a film review|website=University of Iowa - Indian Cinema website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106222836/http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/Aan.html|url-status=dead |archive-date=6 January 2007|access-date=23 October 2023}}</ref><ref name=upperstall>{{cite web |title=Aan (1952 film) - a film review|url=https://upperstall.com/film/aan/ |website=Upperstall.com website |date=14 April 2005 |access-date=12 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207235137/https://upperstall.com/film/aan/|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 December 2023|author=Karan Bali}}</ref> It was the most expensive Indian film at the time subsequently becoming the highest grossing Indian film ever, both domestically and overseas,<ref name="boi50s" /> a record it held for several years.<ref name="Rajinder">{{cite book|last1=Rajinder|first1=Dudrah|last2=Jigna|first2=Desai|title=The Bollywood Reader|date=2008|publisher=McGraw-Hill Education|isbn=9780335222124|page=65|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Wz4AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA65|language=en}}</ref>

''Aan'' was the first Indian film to have a worldwide release in many countries, was subtitled in 17 languages and released in 28 countries,<ref name="Rajinder"/> including the United Kingdom,<ref name="moviemahal"/> United States, France,<ref name="filmfare"/> and Japan.<ref name="Japan"/> The film also received critical acclaim in the British press at the time.<ref name="gaur"/> In South India, it was also dubbed and released in Tamil with the same title.<ref name=Dhool>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfmdhool.com/sotd2/691.html |title=Aan (1952 film) - a film review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305221404/http://www.tfmdhool.com/sotd2/691.html |archive-date=5 March 2016|website=Dhool.com website|access-date=23 October 2023}}</ref>

==Plot== The plot centers around an Indian royal family, which consists of the Maharaj (Murad), his brother Shamsher Singh (Premnath) and sister Rajshree (Nadira). A local young man named Jai Tilak (Dilip Kumar) enters a contest to tame Princess Rajshree's horse, and after he is successful, Shamsher challenges Jai to a bout of fencing. Jai is declared the winner of the match after much dispute and Shamsher is enraged at losing to a poor villager. Jai falls in love with Rajshree and tries to woo her, but despite being attracted to him the princess's arrogance prevents her from revealing her true feelings.

Shamsher, who counted upon becoming the ruler after the Maharaj's death, becomes enraged when the Maharaj reveals that he plans to abolish the monarchy and make the kingdom a democracy.

Shamsher then plans to gain control of the kingdom by killing the Maharajah on the night before he is due to travel to England for a medical procedure. However, he is unsuccessful after the Maharajah escapes an attempt on his life by Shamsher's henchmen and disguises himself as a servant in his own palace.

Shamsher then sets his eyes on Mangala (Nimmi) who is a village girl and a childhood friend of Jai's. Mangala loves Jai, but her love is not reciprocated as he is in love with Princess Rajshree. Mangala is kidnapped by Shamsher Singh, who plans to keep her as his prisoner in his palace. Before he can assault her, Mangala commits suicide by drinking poison. Jai tries to kill Shamsher to avenge Mangala's death. After Shamsher apparently dies, Jai provokes Princess Rajshree to launch an attack on his village to avenge her brother's death. Jai manages to kidnap Rajshree in the confusion. He sets out to teach her a lesson by taking her to his village and forcing her to live as a peasant. Just when Rajshree begins to realize what a peasant's life is like and begins to admire Jai, Shamsher Singh reemerges and seeks to get revenge against Jai.

==Cast== *Dilip Kumar as Jai Tilak<ref name="TheHindu" /><ref name="Dhool" /><ref name="uiowa" /> *Nimmi as Mangala<ref name="Dhool" /><ref name="uiowa" /><ref name="TheHindu" /> *Nadira as Princess Rajeshwari<ref name="Dhool" /><ref name="uiowa" /><ref name="TheHindu" /> *Premnath as Prince Shamsher Singh<ref name="TheHindu" /> *Sheela Naik as Maid of the princess *Mukri as Chandan<ref name="Dhool" /> *Murad as Maharaja *Cuckoo as Dancer<ref name="Dhool" /><ref name="TheHindu" /> *Nilam Bai as Jai's Mother

==Production== This prestigious production was to be India's first full-length feature in Technicolor.<ref name=upperstall/> The film was made with an extremely large budget. Dilip Kumar, Nimmi and Prem Nath, then at the height of their popularity and success, were quickly signed on for starring roles, but the second female lead proved more troublesome to cast. Initially, Nargis was cast but left the film to concentrate on her association with R. K. Studios. For a time, Madhubala was considered, with considerable lobbying from Dilip Kumar who was romantically involved with her at the time, but for reasons unknown, she was never cast. Finally Mehboob Khan decided to launch a newcomer and selected the then unknown Nadira and promoted her as his new star discovery.<ref name="interview"/><ref name=TheHindu>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Aan-1952/article15922186.ece|title=Aan (1952) - a film review|date=19 September 2009|publisher=The Hindu newspaper|access-date=12 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612214946/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Aan-1952/article15922186.ece|archive-date=12 June 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref>

When a first edit of the film was shown to the film's financiers and distributors, they objected that Nimmi's character died too early. This was due to Nimmi's vast popularity as an actress. Therefore, a lavish and extended dream sequence was filmed and edited in to give Nimmi more prominence and screen time in the film.

The production cost of the film was {{INRConvert|35|l|year=1953|lk=c}}.<ref name="interview">{{cite web|title=Nadira – Interview|url=http://cineplot.com/nadira-interview/|website=Cineplot.com website|date=25 November 2012|access-date=20 November 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130094039/http://cineplot.com/nadira-interview/|archive-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> It was the most expensive Indian film ever at the time.

==Music== A major highlight of Aan is Naushad's music which was highly acclaimed.<ref name="Dhool" /><ref name="uiowa" /><ref name="upperstall" /> Both the music of film songs and the grand background score that was so innovative and played a key role in the box office success of this film. Reportedly, Naushad used a 100-piece orchestra while recording the music of this film, something unprecedented in those days. To create the sound effects that had better bass, Naushad had special rugs put on the walls of the sound studio. Finally, the film songs were mixed in London. Naushad worked very long hours for three whole months to complete this film's music. The symphony with the 100 musicians was much praised and even played on the BBC Radio.<ref name=upperstall/> {{Infobox album | name = Aan | type = soundtrack | artist = Naushad<ref name=TheHindu/><ref name=Dhool/> | cover = | alt = | released = 1952 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Feature film soundtrack | length = | label = | producer = | prev_title = Jadoo | prev_year = 1951 | next_title = Baiju Bawra | next_year = 1952 }}

Hindi/Urdu lyrics were by Shakeel Badayuni<ref name="TheHindu" /><ref name="Dhool" /><ref name="uiowa" /> {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length (m:ss) |- | 1 || "Maan Mera Ehsan, Arrey Nadaan"<ref name="TheHindu" /><ref name="upperstall" /><ref name="Dhool" /> || Mohammed Rafi<ref name="Dhool" /> || rowspan="10" | Shakeel Badayuni<ref name="Dhool" /> || 02:48 |- | 2 || "Dil Mein Chhupake Pyar Ka Toofan Le Chale"<ref name="TheHindu" /><ref name="upperstall" /><ref name="Dhool" /> || Mohammed Rafi || 02:55 |- | 3 || "Tujhe Kho Diya Hamne Paane Ke Baad" <ref name="upperstall" />|| Lata Mangeshkar || 03:14 |- | 4 || "Aaj Mere Man Mein Sakhi Baansri Bajaaye" <ref name="upperstall" /><ref name="Dhool" />|| Lata Mangeshkar<ref name="Dhool" /> || 03:55 |- | 5 || "Mohabbat Choome Jinke Haath"<ref name="upperstall" /><ref name="Dhool" /> || Mohammed Rafi & Shamshad Begum || 03:36 |- | 6 || "Gao Tarane Man Ke" || Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar & Shamshad Begum || 04:41 |- | 7 || "Takra Gaya Tumse" || Mohammed Rafi || 03:44 |- | 8 || "Khelo Raang Hamare Sang" || Lata Mangeshkar & Shamshad Begum || 04:18 |- | 9 || "Aag Lagi Tan Man Mein" <ref name="upperstall" />|| Shamshad Begum<ref name="Dhool" /> || 03:32 |- |10 || "Mein Raani Hoon Raja Ki" || Shamshad Begum || 03:10 |}

thumb|Aan Tamil-language film poster The Tamil lyrics were by Kambadasan. Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum rendered the Tamil songs also. However, it appears that the lyricist did not approve of their diction, and so songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar were recorded again with M. S. Rajeswari and songs sung by Shamshad Begum were recorded with Soolamangalam Rajeswari. While the film had the original recordings, the records (plates) had both versions. So, there are 14 songs recorded on the gramophone records.<ref name="Dhool" /><ref name="upperstall" />

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length (m:ss) |- | 1 || "Yetriduvaai Arul Thaan" || S. M. Sarkar || rowspan="14" | Kambadasan || 02:48 |- | 2 || "Manadhil Mei Kaadhal" || S. M. Sarkar || 02:55 |- | 3 || "Izhandhen Unai Anbe" || Lata Mangeshkar || 03:14 |- | 4 || "Izhandhen Unai Anbe" || M. S. Rajeswari || 03:14 |- | 5 || "Indru Endhan Nenjil Sakhi" || Lata Mangeshkar || 03:55 |- | 6 || "Indru Endhan Nenjil Sakhi" || M. S. Rajeswari || 03:55 |- | 7 || "Mohamuththam Tharum" || S. M. Sarkar || 03:36 |- | 8 || "Paadu Singara Paadalai" || S. M. Sarkar, Lata Mangeshkar & Shamshad Begum || 04:41 |- | 9 || "Sandai Moondathuve" || S. M. Sarkar || 03:44 |- | 10|| "Nagaru Nagaru Mel Jal Jal" || Lata Mangeshkar & Shamshad Begum || 04:18 |- | 11|| "Aah Sududhe En Maname" || Shamshad Begum || 03:32 |- | 12|| "Aah Sududhe En Maname" || Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi || 03:32 |- |13|| Naan Raaniye Rajavin || Shamshad Begum || 03:10 |- |14|| Naan Raaniye Rajavin || Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi || 03:10 |}

==Release==

=== International === ''Aan'' was the first Indian film to have a worldwide release in many countries with the English title - ''Savage Princess''.<ref name=upperstall/><ref name=Dhool/> It was subtitled in 17 languages, and released in 28 countries. Its distribution in the United Kingdom and Europe was handled by Alexander Korda.<ref name="Rajinder"/> The film had a lavish London premiere, attended by Mehboob Khan, his wife Sardar Akhtar, and Nimmi.<ref name="moviemahal">{{cite web|url=https://moviemahal.net/2017/01/11/mehboobs-aan-1952-indian-cinemas-entry-into-europe/|title=Mehboob's AAN (1952) – Indian Cinema's entry into Europe|date=11 January 2017}}</ref> The English version was entitled ''Savage Princess''. On the London trip, they met many Western film personalities, including Errol Flynn. When Flynn attempted to kiss Nimmi's hand, she pulled it away, exclaiming, "I am an Indian girl, you cannot do that!" The incident made the headlines, and the press raved about Nimmi as the "...unkissed girl of India".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606142410/http://www.cinestaan.com/articles|url-status=live|archive-date=6 June 2016|title=Cinema news and updates: latest Bollywood news, Tamil Cinema news, Movie reviews and Movie updates - Cinestaan.com|website=www.cinestaan.com}}</ref> The premiere was also attended by the British prime minister Lord Attlee, among other Indian and British elites at the time.<ref name="gaur">{{cite book|last1=Gaur|first1=Madan|title=Other Side of the Coin: An Intimate Study of Indian Film Industry|date=1973|publisher=Trimurti Prakashan [distributed through Universal Book Service, Delhi]|page=160|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LAAwAAAAMAAJ&q=mehboob+khan+aan+united+kingdom|language=en}}</ref>

Although Nimmi was not the romantic lead, she made a big impact on audiences, and her character, Mangala, emerged as the most popular in the film. This was to such an extent that, when the film was released dubbed in French in 1954, it was retitled ''Mangala, fille des Indes'' (''Mangala, the Girl of India'') and Nimmi was promoted as the main star of the film in the theatrical posters and trailers for the French language release. One reason for her popularity was the incident with Errol Flynn which made headlines. Nimmi further revealed in a 2013 interview, that at the London premiere of Aan, she received four serious offers from Hollywood, including from Cecil B. DeMille who greatly admired the production design and Mehboob's vision as a director. He was in fact, so impressed by the film, that he personally wrote a letter of commendation to Mehboob Khan praising the film and the performances of Nimmi, Dilip Kumar and Nadira in particular.<ref name="filmfare">{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/nimmis-filmfare-interview-11920.html|title=Dilip Kumar ke aashiq hum bhi the|website=filmfare.com}}</ref>

''Aan'' was also released in Japan in January 1954, as the first Indian film to ever release in Japan. ''Aan'' was accepted by audiences there, and it earned a considerable profit in Japan.<ref name="Japan">{{cite book | url=http://ir.minpaku.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10502/1140/1/SES71_011.pdf | title=Asia to Watch, Asia to Present: The Promotion of Asian/Indian Cinema in Japan | publisher=Senri Ethnological Studies, Reitaku University | last=Matsuoka | first=Tamaki | year=2008 | page=246 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722073202/http://ir.minpaku.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10502/1140/1/SES71_011.pdf | archive-date=22 July 2011}}</ref> In 1995, the film had its Bangladeshi television premier on Bangladesh Television on the occasion of a personal visit of Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu to the country.

== Reception == === Box office === Domestically in India, it was the highest grosser of 1952, grossing {{INR|link=yes}}2.5{{nbsp}}crore<ref name="boi52">{{cite web|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=158&catName=MTk1Mg==|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922022116/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=158&catName=MTk1Mg==|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 September 2012|title=Box Office India 1952|website=Box Office India|date=22 September 2012|access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref> ($5.88{{nbsp}}million).{{efn|name=Exchange|4.76 Indian rupees per US dollar from 1951 to 1965<ref name="sauder">{{cite web|title=Pacific Exchange Rate Service|url=http://fx.sauder.ubc.ca/etc/USDpages.pdf#page=3|website=UBC Sauder School of Business|publisher=University of British Columbia|page=3|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref>}} Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to {{US$|{{Inflation|US|5.88|1952}} million|long=no}} ({{INR|{{#expr:{{Inflation|US|5.88|1952}}*68.3978/10 round 0}} crore}}).<ref name="sauder"/> It was the highest-grossing film in India at the time, and the first to net {{INR}}1.5{{nbsp}}crore. It held the record for several years, until it was surpassed by ''Shree 420'' (1955).<ref name="boi50s">{{cite web|title=Top Earners 1950-1959 (Figures in Ind Rs)|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=122&catName=MTk1MC0xOTU5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919200259/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=122&catName=MTk1MC0xOTU5|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 September 2012|website=Box Office India|date=19 September 2012|access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref>

It was also an overseas success, earning considerable profit from overseas.<ref name="Japan"/> In overseas markets, the film was released in 28 countries and earned {{INR|773,060}}<ref name="Rajinder"/> ($162,410).{{efn|name=Exchange}} Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to {{US$|{{#expr:0.16241*(9.11/0.53) round 2}} million|long=no}} ({{INR|{{#expr:2.79*68.3978/10 round 0}} crore}}).<ref name="sauder"/> In Japan, the film earned {{JPY|2,386,032 }} in ten days following its release in January 1954, the highest for an Indian film in the territory at the time.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Matsuoka |first1=Tamaki |title=日本におけるインド映画の軌跡 |trans-title=The Traces of Indian Cinema in Japan |journal=南アジア言語文化 |trans-journal=Journal of South Asian Languages and Cultures |date=March 2006 |volume=4 |pages=85–117 (87) |publisher=Tokyo University of Foreign Studies |doi=10.15026/81562 |hdl=10108/81562 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10108/81562 |language=ja |access-date=19 March 2023}}</ref> ''Aan'' was the highest-gross Indian film overseas at the time, until it was surpassed by ''Awaara'' (1951) after its Soviet release in 1954.

Worldwide, the film grossed {{INR|{{#expr:2.5+0.7731}} crore}} ({{US$|{{#expr:5880000+162410}}|long=no}}). Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to {{INR}}{{#expr:376+19}}{{nbsp}}crore ({{US$|{{#expr:55+2.79 round 0}} million|long=no}}). It was the highest-grossing Indian film ever at the time, up until it was surpassed by ''Awaara'' after its Soviet release in 1954.

=== Critical reception === ''Aan'' received critical acclaim in the British press at the time. ''The Times'', for example, wrote a positive review of the film, comparing it favourably with Hollywood productions at the time. They stated that "Hollywood has nothing to reach up to handsome Dilip Kumar and seductive Nadira."<ref name="gaur"/>

Hollywood producer Cecil B. DeMille himself wrote a letter to Mehboob Khan saying, "I believe it is quite possible to make pictures in your great country which will be understood and enjoyed by all nations without sacrificing the culture and customs of India. We look forward to the day when you will be regular contributors to our screen fare with many fine stories bringing the romance and magic of India."<ref name=upperstall/>

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|0044318}} * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvuP_yzygEg Aan (1952)] on YouTube

{{Mehboob Khan}} {{Authority control}}

Category:1952 films Category:1952 Hindi-language films Category:1950s Urdu-language films Category:Films directed by Mehboob Khan Category:Films scored by Naushad Category:Indian action drama films Category:Indian war epic films Category:Indian swashbuckler films Category:1950s swashbuckler films Category:Indian action war films Category:Films about royalty Category:Indian historical adventure films Category:1950s historical adventure films Category:1950s action drama films Category:1950s action war films Category:Urdu-language Indian films Category:Indian action adventure films Category:Fencing films Category:Films about interclass romance Category:Films set in the British Raj Category:Indian war romance films Category:Indian historical romance films Category:Indian films about revenge Category:Films about suicide Category:Films about sexual abuse Category:Films shot in Mumbai Category:Films set in India