‘Insaan aur Farishta’ screened at Lok Virsa

Islamabad

Script-Director: Shabab Kairanvi

Producer: A. Hameed

Cast: Nadeem, Rohi Bano,Deeba,Ghulam Mohiuddin, Najma Mahboob, Allaudin, Tamana, Shahnawaz, Ambar.  

Lok Virsa Film Club Mandwa screened ‘Insaan Aur Farishta’ on Saturday at its Media Centre.

‘Insaan Aur Farishta’ scripted and directed by Shabab Kairanvi was a low-budget movie of 1976, made as part of Shabab Production's package deal. Shabab Kairanvi and his two sons -- Zafar Shabab and Nazar Shabab -- churned out five to six films every year religiously without exception. ‘Insaan Aur Farishta’ was part of that deal.

The film begins with Rohi Bano who plays the central character in the film. She works in an office as a typist. The concept of working women in 1976 was not in tune with the pattern of that time. Shabab Kairanvi carved out Rohi Bano's character partly-offbeat and not consistent with typical hackneyed formula ‘filmi’ characters from that time. Rohi Bani who had carved out a name for herself in state run television channel plays had not worked in any film till then(her couple of other films like ‘Palki’ and ‘Zameer’ came later).

Working day in and day out, going to office to earn a living for running the kitchen, she is the only source of income and support for her large family which includes a young sister, old mother, disabled father and more young siblings. She must also carry the baggage of passing through the streets intruded by addicts and gamblers. This is then the life Rohi Bano must go through. A bit of romance and singing love song (around Shabab Studio dream spots and artificial lakes) or dreaming herself as bride of boyfriend  Ghulam Mohiuddin is short-lived . And as if she had not been sacrificing enough, she must now put her love on alter and let her boyfriend Ghulam Mohiuddin be married to her younger sister Ambar.

Leaving indisposed Rohi Bano aside, the sidekicks come here with chain smoker Nadeem as tomboy for Madam Tamana and her pimp Shahnawaz. Tamana runs a club of dubious reputation, And finally there is leading lady Deeba who doesn't have much to do except to daydream of Nadeem day and night.

‘Insaan aur Farishta’ had to face competition both with good and bad. It came out at a time when director Pervaiz Malik's smash hit ‘Talaash’ ruled the box office. Titles like ‘Khoofnaak’ and ‘Ayash’ by Rehmat Ali and Iqbal Kashmiri respectively were also hot cakes for the frontbenchers that season.

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