Mahal (1949)
October 19, 1949Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
This Movie Is About.
Cast & Crew.
Madhubala
Kamini/Asha
Ashok Kumar
Hari Shankar / Producer
Vijayalakshmi
Ranjana
Kanu Roy
Shrinath
M. Kumar
Hari Shankar's father
Nazir Hussain
Kamini's father
Eruch Tarapore
S. Nazir
Actor
Sheela Naik
Leela Pandey
Neelam
Kaneez
Kamal Amrohi
Director / Writer
Josef Wirsching
Director of Photography
R.M. Tipnis
Editor
Bimal Roy
Editor
Media.
Details.
Release DateOctober 19, 1949
Original Nameमहल
StatusReleased
Running Time2h 45m
Genres
Wiki.
Mahal (transl. "Mansion") is a 1949 Indian Hindi-language horror film produced by Savak Vacha and Ashok Kumar under the banner of Bombay Talkies, and directed by Kamal Amrohi as his directorial debut. The film centres on a screenplay written by Amrohi, while its music is composed by Khemchand Prakash. Cited as Bollywood's first horror film, it revolves around an aristocrat (Ashok Kumar) who moves into an ancient mansion, where he gets visions of a mysterious lady (Madhubala) claiming to be his lover in their previous lives.Mahal was produced by Bombay Talkies studio on a modest budget. Amrohi, who made his directorial debut with the film, was turned down by many major female stars before then-fledgling Madhubala was put on the board. The film took a relatively long time filming that earned it a negative reputation in the media.
Mahal was released in theatres in October 1949. Despite mixed-to-negative critical reviews, it emerged as one of the biggest hits of the decade as well as the biggest financial success in Bombay Talkies' history. The film launched Madhubala and playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, who had lent her voice to the film's soundtrack, into super-stardom.
Mahal has influenced a number of horror films since its release. It was listed in British Film Institute's list of "10 great romantic horror films" and ScoopWhoop's "14 Bollywood Horror Movies That You Just Can't Watch Alone".