Subah Ka Tara

<p>The film, told in flash-back, starts with a few people troubling a disheveled, insane man holding a bedding. The mad man is Mohan who finally sits down with a sympathiser and starts narrating the story. Mohan meets a young widow, Padmini taking medicine for her dying mother. Padmini’s mother, from her death-bed, warns her about befriending young men as she’s a widow and society demands that she live alone with just a white sheet as a companion, for that’s her life as a widow. Following her mother’s death, Padmini goes to her paternal uncle’s house to live. Her uncle has gone to Africa and her Aunt treats her badly. Mohan falls ill thinking about Padmini’s situation and her rebuff when he pursues her. He is looked after by his mother and young sister. Padmini is made to work as a maid in her Uncle’s house but has a kind cousin sister, Bharti. Mohan arrives there on some work and the Aunt has chosen him as a suitable boy for Bharti’s marriage. Mohan sees Padmini and tells her how he feels, which is overheard by the Aunt. The Aunt throws Padmini out of the house to fend for herself. The story continues with the problems Padmini faces, Mohan’s search for Padmini and her death when she sets the house left by her mother, on fire. Mohan finds the bedding in the aftermath of the fire and goes insane. Shantaram played a small part as a drunk man, whose house Jayshree goes to looking for a job. His role was appreciated as the “engaging drunk” in the film. Jayshree’s role as Padmini, the young widow, was commended but her “speaking in whispers” was censured. Pradeep Kumar’s role as the “socially conscious” youth was termed “memorable”. Shantaram chose as opposed to for some of his films, , and . However, Desai scored the background music for both the films. The film’s title song “Gaya Andhera Hua Ujala Chamka Subah Ka Tara” in Pahadi was sung by and . The other notable songs from the film were Talat’s “Apni Nakami Se Mujhko Kaam Hai”, and “Badi Dhoom Dham Se Meri Bhabhi Aayi” sung by Usha Mangeshkar, which was also her debut song. The music director was C. Ramchandra with lyrics by Noor Lucknawi and the song “Do Haklon Ka Suno Fasana” written by Diwan Sharar. The singers were , , and .</p>