Raat Aur Din (1967), a film like no other. We often complain that Hindi cinema doesn’t experiment. It followed the same routine stories, which often became predictable. But this is not the case; people do try new stories, and they try new things. We have seen repeatedly that those films rarely get the love of a wider audience. People usually reject them and call them ahead of their time.
One such film was Satyen Bose’s “Raat Aur Din (1967),” a psychological drama. The film stands as a landmark in Indian cinema for its bold exploration of mental health and its unique narrative style. The film features Nargis in her final cinematic role, delivering a poignant performance that earned her immense critical acclaim.
Story Of Akhtar Hussain
“Raat Aur Din” revolves around Varuna, a married woman played by Nargis, who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. By day, she is a devoted wife to her husband, Pratap (Pradeep Kumar). At night, she transforms into Peggy, a carefree socialite who roams Calcutta’s streets, unaware of her other life. The story begins with Varuna, as Peggy, dancing at a nightclub with Dilip (Feroz Khan). Pratap confronts her, but she denies being his wife.
The next morning, Varuna has no memory of the night’s events. Confused, Pratap and Dilip seek medical help from Dr. Dey and Dr. Alvares, who diagnose her condition. The doctors suggest uncovering Varuna’s past to address the root of her trauma. Through flashbacks, Pratap reveals their meeting in Shimla and their marriage, while Dilip recalls a brief encounter with Varuna years earlier. The narrative builds toward understanding Varuna’s dual identities, culminating in a resolution that emphasizes love and support as the path to healing.
The story stands out for its focus on a psychological disorder, a rarity in Hindi cinema of the 1960s. It avoids melodrama, opting for a realistic portrayal of mental illness and its impact on relationships.
Direction Of Satyen Bose
Satyen Bose’s direction brings a nuanced approach to a complex subject. He balances the film’s thriller elements with its emotional core, ensuring the narrative remains grounded. Bose employs a non-linear storytelling technique, using flashbacks to piece together Varuna’s past. This method keeps the audience engaged, as the mystery of her condition unravels gradually.
The treatment avoids sensationalism, presenting Varuna’s disorder with sensitivity. Bose highlights societal misconceptions about mental health, showing outdated treatments like shock therapy as ineffective. Instead, he underscores the importance of empathy, a progressive stance for the time.
The film’s pacing, however, suffers at times due to its lengthy production. Scenes occasionally feel disjointed, a result of the six-year shooting schedule. Despite this, Bose’s vision remains clear, making “Raat Aur Din” a pioneering effort in psychological storytelling.
Performances – Its A Nargis Show
Nargis delivers a career-defining performance as Varuna/Peggy. She seamlessly transitions between the demure Varuna and the vivacious Peggy, using distinct body language and expressions. As Varuna, her restraint reflects a traditional wife’s quiet strength. As Peggy, her uninhibited energy captures the character’s reckless freedom.
Filmfare praised her “chilling portrayal,” noting how her face transforms between the two personas, reflecting the horror of her condition. Nargis’s ability to convey a slow descent into psychological turmoil, rather than exaggerated theatrics, sets her performance apart. Her work earned her the inaugural National Film Award for Best Actress, a testament to its impact.
Pradeep Kumar, as Pratap, delivers a solid performance. He portrays a husband torn between confusion and devotion with authenticity. Critics have noted his understated acting complements Nargis’s intensity, though some felt he deserved more recognition. Feroz Khan’s role as Dilip, however, feels underutilized. His character serves as a plot device rather than a fully developed figure, a point of criticism for the film. Supporting actors, including Anwar Hussain, Anoop Kumar and Harindranath Chattopadhyay, add depth to the medical perspective, grounding the story in realism. Laxmi Chhaya as the real Peggy is a bundle of energy and a treat to watch.
Music
The music, composed by Shankar-Jaikishan, complements the film’s tone. “Raat Aur Din Diya Jale” was written by Hasrat Jaipuri and sung by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar. The song’s melancholic melody mirrors Varuna’s inner turmoil. The film also has Shailendra’s “Na Chhedo Kal Ke Afsane,” and, above all, “Dil Ki Girah Khol Do,” being the most notable. The song Dil Ki Girah Khol Do” is a masterpiece in music arranging. Its transition from Western drums to Indian tabla is nothing short of mesmerizing.
The dance number performed by Peggy, “Aawara Ae Mere Dil,” adds to the film’s atmosphere. The background score effectively heightens tension, particularly in scenes depicting Varuna’s transformations. While the music isn’t the film’s strongest aspect, it serves its narrative purpose.
Technical Aspacts
The film’s technical aspects reflect the era’s limitations but also its strengths. Cinematography captures the contrast between Varuna’s two worlds—muted tones for her domestic life and vibrant hues for her nightlife as Peggy. This visual distinction enhances the narrative’s psychological depth. However, the editing falters at times. The film took six years to complete due to financial constraints, leading to jarring transitions between scenes. Critics have pointed out that the uneven editing disrupts the flow, a noticeable flaw.
Dialogue by Govind Moonis in “Raat Aur Din” is functional but not particularly memorable. It prioritizes clarity, ensuring the audience understands Varuna’s condition through medical explanations. Conversations between Pratap and the doctors feel clinical, reflecting the film’s focus on realism. However, some exchanges lack emotional weight, which could have deepened the audience’s connection to the characters.
Raat Aur Din – One Of A Kind
“Raat Aur Din” is a standalone film in Hindi cinema for several reasons. It was among the first to explore dissociative identity disorder, a topic rarely tackled in Indian films of the 1960s. The film avoids clichés like supernatural explanations, opting for a scientific approach. It also never goes to the usual Hindi film trope of memory loss without any health or emotional problems. Varuna’s transformations were always shown as an illness and never glorified.
Its focus on mental health, combined with a female-led narrative, was groundbreaking. Nargis’s portrayal of a woman with a dual personality challenged filmi norms, presenting a character who defies the traditional heroine archetype. The film’s emphasis on empathy as a solution, rather than punitive measures, marked a progressive shift in storytelling.
The film delves into several themes. Mental health is at the forefront, portraying the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding psychological disorders. It critiques societal and medical approaches, showing how treatments like torture and shocks fail to address trauma. The narrative advocates for understanding and unconditional love as the true path to healing. Gender dynamics also play a role—Varuna’s transformation into Peggy reflects a subconscious rebellion against the constraints of her role as a traditional wife. The film subtly questions societal expectations of women, though it doesn’t fully explore this angle. Identity and duality are central, as Varuna grapples with her fragmented self, a metaphor for the inner conflicts many face.
Reception
“Raat Aur Din” received critical acclaim for its bold subject matter and Nargis’s performance. Critics praised its realistic portrayal of mental illness, with Filmfare noting Nargis’s “slow descent towards the mouth of hell” as a highlight. The film developed a cult following over the years, appreciated for its ahead-of-its-time narrative. However, some reviews criticized the editing and pacing, attributing flaws to the prolonged production. Feroz Khan’s underdeveloped role also drew mixed reactions.
Commercially, the film had a modest run. Its niche subject matter and lack of mainstream elements like romance or action limited its box-office appeal. However, its critical success and Nargis’s award elevated its status in cinematic history.
The film’s most significant achievement was Nargis winning the inaugural National Film Award for Best Actress in 1967. She also received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. The film itself was lauded for its innovative storytelling, earning a place in discussions of pioneering Hindi films. Its inclusion in Filmfare’s “80 Iconic Performances” list, ranking 65th, further cements its legacy.
Trubuled History
The film took six years to complete, starting in 1960 when Nargis was pregnant with her second child, Namrata. She gave birth to her third child, Priya, in 1966, a year before the film’s release. Financial issues delayed production, leading to its shelved status for a period. Nargis’s brother, Jaffer Hussain, the producer, convinced her to return to acting after her retirement post her marriage.
She agreed to help him during his financial struggles, with support from her husband, Sunil Dutt. Pradeep Kumar faced controversies during filming, with rumors of him harassing Nargis’s brothers and delaying shoots, though he denied these claims. Feroz Khan was signed as a newcomer in 1962, marking an early role in his career. The film was initially planned to include a special mask from Russia for Pradeep Kumar’s character, but this never materialized due to budget constraints.
Legacy of Raat Aur Din
“Raat Aur Din” had a lasting cultural impact by bringing mental health into mainstream discourse. It challenged the stigma around psychological disorders, encouraging a more empathetic view. The film’s focus on a woman’s inner struggle resonated with audiences, offering a rare female perspective in Hindi cinema.
It also highlighted the importance of support systems in addressing mental health, influencing later filmmakers to tackle similar themes. Socially, the film contributed to discussions about women’s autonomy and the pressures of societal roles, though its impact was more intellectual than widespread due to its limited commercial success.
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