Khazanchi (1941 film)

Khazanchi
	VCD cover
Directed by	Moti B. Gidwani
Produced by	D. M. Pancholi (Pancholi Productions, Lahore)
Starring	M. Ismail; S. D. Narang; Ramola Devi; Durga Mota; Manorma; Ajmal; Jankidas
Music by	Ghulam Haider
Cinematography	Badri Das
Edited by	Shaukat Hussain Rizvi
Production; company	Pancholi Art Pictures
Release date	1941 (British India); ; ; ; ;
Running time	171 minutes
Country	British India

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Khazanchi

Khazanchi (Punjabi: ????????, Urdu: ???????) is a 1941 (pre-partition) blockbuster, directed by Moti B. Gidwani, starring M. Ismail, S. D. Narang, Ramola Devi and Durga Mota in lead roles. M. Ismail played the title role of a Khazanchi (English: Cashier). The movie was the biggest hit and the top earner of 1941. The film was remade in Tamil as Moondru Pillaigal (1952).^[4]

Synopsis

Khazanchi is a murder mystery. Shadi Lal is a Khazanchi (English: Cashier) in a bank in Lahore. His son Kanwal wants to marry Madhuri, the daughter of a rich man, Durga Das.

Ramola Devi as Madhuri

A wicked wealthy, Ajmal, also wants to marry Madhuri. One day, Shadi Lal goes to Bombay for some bank work and the news comes from the city that Shadi Lal has murdered an actress and stolen her jewellery and money.

A clever woman, Tarawati, tricked Shadi Lal in a night club and stole his money, but her two accomplice men murdered her while snatching the money from her and when intoxicated Shadi Lal wakes up, he finds himself with her dead body and his money stolen. Seeing this, he runs away and on the next day, the newspaper headlines say: Khazanchi killed actress. He spends some very bad days of his life during this period.

Later, he gets caught and his son, Kanwal (an advocate now), fought the case from his side. Meanwhile, the newspaper reporter stumbles upon important facts regarding the stage actress' murder and got kidnapped by the villain, but manages an escape and reaches the court, revealing the truth. Thus Shadi Lal gets acquitted.

Music

The music director Ghulam Haider made an experiment by combining popular Raags of Indian classical music with Punjabi folk music^[3] and revolutionalized^[5] the film music industry. The songs were hits. The playback includes Shamshad Begum, Noor Jehan and more.

Song Title	Singer
"Diwali Phir Aa Gayi Sajni"	Shamshad Begum
"Laut Gayi Papan"	Shamshad Begum
"Mohe Bhabhi La Do Bhaiyya"	Shamshad Begum
"Mori Chudiya Aayegi Aali"	Shamshad Begum
"Naino Ke Baan Ki Reet Anokhi"	Shamshad Begum
"Pine Ke Din Aaye Piye Ja"	Shamshad Begum
"Sawan Ke Najare Hai"	Shamshad Begum
"Man Dhire Dhire Rona"	Shamshad Begum

^[6]

Cast

Actor/Actress	Role
M. Ismail	Shadi Lal
S. D. Narang	Kanwal
Ramola Devi	Madhuri
Durga Mota	Durga Das
Manorma	Durga Das' daughter and Kanwal's sister
Ajmal	Ramesh
Jankidas	News reporter
Pran