Style – Karan Dewan
Karan Dewan
He rode a camel to school and a train to Calcutta for his first starring assignment in “Puran Bhagat.” Born in Gujranwala, West Punjab, on November 6, 1917, Dewan Karan Chopra, had always wanted to be an actor. After his work in the devotional, he came to Bombay to work in films, but failed to get contracts. Disappointed, he returned to Delhi and tried for a job in All-India Radio, also the Navy. He was meanwhile offered the lead in the Punjabi film “Mere Mahi,” which he took.
Karan then made a second trip to Bombay and again seemed doomed to disappointment. But the lead role he got in “Tamanna” was a bright spot. Three of his starring vehicles, “Bhai Jan,” “Zeenat” and “Rattan,” became jubilee hits. His best assignments have been in “Chaman” (Punjabi), “Lahore”, “Dahez” and “Teen Batti Char Rasta”.
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Was Karan Dewan hero of both Zeenat and Bhaijan, Noor Jehan films?
Yes he was the hero of both – however they were both released in 1945 and Tamanna was 1942. Rattan was 1944. In Bhaijaan he was the proper hero whereas in Zeenat he was wooing Noorjehans daughter in the film
Sami,
I also noticed that Filmfare goofed up with the release dates. But I left the article as it originally appeared in Filmfare.
Thanks for the correction.
Do you have these films? Could you give please me a plot summary of Zeenat with details of roles prominent actors play? Do keep in touch.
I can tell you of Zeenat for sure. It was one of the best movies of its time – both for its touching story and haunting songs and it was that one song sung by Noorjehan – “Bulbulo mat ro yahan” that won her the title of Malika-e-tarannum – the Melody Queen!
The plot was all around Noorjehan and it starts off with her getting married to costar Masood and the groom falls off the horse in the wedding procession and suffers a brain injury. However he manages to spend some time with his bride Noorjehan only to die a day later leaving her as a very young widow. To make
matters worse, she then turns out to be pregnant from that one encounter with her groom. The family dont accept her and turn her out on the streets. She gives up her child in another family,s house and works as a maid there. The second half of the film shows Noorjehan as an old maid tending to her daughter , Suraiya Chaudhry who doesnt know that she is her actual mother. The latter part of the film shows her daughter being wooed by Karan Dewan who in turn is actually related to her husband who died on the wedding night. The whole story gets revealed on the wedding day by a family member, Yaqub, but by that time Noorjehan commits suicide and barely gets to see her daughter acknowledge her as her mother. The film left tons of people in absolute tears in many scenes and proved to be one of the greatest blockbusters of 1945.
Is this “Masood” the same person who played the lead in some of the earliest Pakistani films like Pinjra (1951) and Ghairat (1951)?
If possible, can you provide a screen shot of Masood from Zeenat?
Thanks
Happy new year!
Masood as far as I remember was also the hero of Nadan (1943) with Noor Jehan.
Happy New Year Vidur!!
I may get Zeenat (1945) sometime (perhaps even Mukti – 1937 etc.), after a couple of months probably. Then I will try to provide this screenshot.
Do you have the film? Please tell me. Thank you so much! I truly love the songs. Zeenat is I think the most famous film of the year.
Happy New Year, BTW.
I mean even Kalyani and Zohrabai screenshots. There is a historical sight of Zohrabai caressing Noor Jehan in “Dulhan Ban Jao”, a duet of her and Kalyani in Zeenat (1945) See my YouTube playlist of the film for this video and all other songs in the film compiled.