Movie – Ek Phool Do Mali (1969)
The song, O nanhese farishte, was featured in the Goel Cine Corporation’s blockbuster fam-socio-drama Ek Phool Do Mali (1969), produced and directed by Devendra Goel. The movie starred Balraj Sahni, Sadhana, Sanjay Khan, etc.
Kailashnath Kaushal (Balraj Sahni) loses his ability to become a father in an accident, after his wife and new-born die during childbirth. Looking for peace, he goes to the mountains. He begins to teach mountaineering to young men.
Amar (Sanjay Khan) from Africa is one of his students. This man picks up a fight with the village girl, Somna (Sadhana) and after a game of some one-upmanship between them, they fall in love with each other.
In the meantime, Kailashnath is lonely. His doctor (David) asks him to get married again to beget children. But, he tells the doctor in a roundabout manner that he cannot become a father any more. On being told that he could adopt a kid, he replies that he did not want his bad luck to brush off on someone else’s child.
Kailashnath realizes that Amar and Somna are in love and broaches the subject of their marriage to her mother (Durga Khote). Amar also gets the approval of his parents for the alliance. It is decided that they would get married after his up-coming mountain-climbing trip. However, fate has other designs on them. Amar and his team mates disappear in an avalanche, believed to be dead and meanwhile, Somna realizes that she is pregnant with his baby. In a fit of self-pity, Somna is about to kill herself when Kailashnath offers to marry her only to shield her from defamation that comes to an unwed mother. He promises that he would not touch her. In any case, he was impotent. We need to understand that during those times, women were expected to be chaste.
After the avalanche, a couple of ascetics find an unconscious Amar and take him to the hospital. Only amar is alive from the group. Amar recovers and his parents come down from Africa to be with him. He sends Somna a telegram that he is fine and will be there soon to marry her. Somna’s mother goes to the hospital and tells him that Somna died the moment she heard of Amar’s death. Amar returns to Africa and lives a depressed life, though his parents try to convince him to overcome his grief.
Somna gives birth to a son, who is the beloved of Kailashnath. The child Bobby (Master Bobby) grows up to a cute toddler. Amar is invited to lead another mountaineering expedition at the place he almost lost his life. Though his mother dissuades him, his father encourages him to go for it so that he gets the whole incident out of his system.
Amar meets Bobby at the village and when Somna sees her former boyfriend, she faints. Somna confronts her mother to ask her why she had not told her about Amar’s telegram. Her mother insists that it was for her good since she had already married Kailashnath. Bobby begins to see Amar uncle as a best friend. Kailashnath is not present in the village at this time. He is on a trip to Delhi and returns one day before Bobby’s birthday. Somna and her mother hide from him the fact that Amar is still alive.
On Bobby’s birthday, the little boy goes to Amar’s home to compel him to attend the birthday party. When Kailashnath sees Amar, he is not very pleased. Bobby now insists that Amar sing a song for the party guests. This is the song that Amar sings.
Song – O nanhese farishte
The song, O nanhese farishte, was written by Prem Dhawan and set to tune by Ravi.
The man says, “O little Angel, what kind of relationship do we have?”
Video – O nanhese farishte
Director of photography is Keki Mistry. Operative Cameraman is Rustam Engineer.
The video opens with Sanjay Khan beginning to play the piano. Balraj Sahni does not look very pleased. Sadhana looks out with a wooden expression. Durga Khote is sending up a silent prayer. Sanjay Khan begins the song and wishes Master Bobby a happy birthday. Master Bobby is cutely looking at him.
Other kids also wish Master Bobby in a chorus. Balraj Sahni and Sadhana also join in the chorus. The kid approaches Sanjay Khan and he picks up the kid and places him on the piano. Master Bobby wants to get down and Sanjay Khan helps him. David and Manorama (playing David’s wife in the movie) also wish the kid.
The older man picks up the kid and brings him to Balraj Sahni, the latter taking him from David’s hands. Balraj Sahni has to put the kid down within some time. The kid goes back to Sanjay Khan. But, Balraj Sahni takes the kid away from the lead actor. Soon, the song rises to a crescendo and ends abruptly. The video also ends as the guests applaud.
Artists
Mohammad Rafi sings this song for Sanjay Khan. Balraj Sahni, Sadhana, Durga Khote, Master Bobby, David, Manorama and others are also seen in the video.
Cultural Influence
There is no influence of any culture on this song. This is essentially a birthday song. The song and the artists are good. The video is watchable for the same.
