Armaan(1966)--Synopsis

This is the synopsis of the movie Armaan, released in 1966.

Lead cast includes Waheed Murad, Zeba, Tarannum, Zahoor Ahmad, Bibbo, Rozina and Nirala. 
The Story is written by Waheed Murad, Screenplay by Pervez Malik, Lyrics by Masroor Anwar, and the music is given by Sohail Rana.
Playback singers include Ahmad Rushdi and Mala.
The movie was directed by Pervez Malik and produced by Waheed Murad.
The synopsis is divided in segments, using each song as a divider.
Link to the complete movie at Youtube is given at the end.

Contents

Prologue

Inquiry

Discovery

Transcendence

Freedom

Action

Expansion

Creation

The climax










Prologue



Najma is an orphan living at the house of her deceased uncle. She prepares breakfast for the family despite her ill health but gets scolded by her Aunt for worrying over trifling illnesses, and is directed to bring her cousin Seema home from Lahore. 

In Lahore, Seema relates that her reason for not coming home for some time is her illegitimate child from Sohail, who went abroad in pursuit of a bright future without ever knowing about the child. Najma promises to keep the secret to herself and help her cousin out of her troubles. 

Seema’s mother is reminded by Munshi of a friend of her late husband, Nawab Wajahat, whose son Nasir must be of age to choose a spouse. She plans on writing to Nawab Wajahat, hoping to marry one of her daughters, Seema and Dolly, to Nasir. In Nasir’s house late at night, his father is enraged to know that Nasir is away to play cricket.

Inquiry


Whereas Nasir is in a night club singing about his dream girl and the crowd dances merrily.



Ko Ko Korina

On his return Nasir finds an angry father, who demands him to head to Murree to choose one of the sisters as his future bride. Nasir obtains permission for his friend Shahid to accompany him. On the way to Murree, Nasir is able to persuade Shahid to switch identities with Nasir once with the family they were going to meet.

In Murree, with their identities exchanged, Nasir faces troubles of living in a room which is not well kept and Shahid receives all the attentions of the family. At first sight Shahid falls for Dolly and Nasir convinces him that she also likes him. Taking off his glasses, Shahid aims to impress her further. They plan to get gifts for Dolly.

While shopping in the market Nasir bumps into Najma who drops her fruit basket, and leaves in anger.

Shahid, who tries to replace a bulb in order to impress Dolly, gets electric-shock and ends up swinging holding a rod. Nasir rescues him but he faints, and later decides to leave the house out of embarrassment. Nasir makes him believe that this act will trouble Dolly as she is truly in love with him. Shahid changes his mind about leaving.

Najma assures an anxious Seema that her child is safe and well looked after by the woman Najma has entrusted him to. She also pays a visit to the woman in order to hand her money for the child’s upbringing.

Back in the house Nasir overhears Seema’s mother scolding Najma. When she leaves he introduces himself to Najma as Nasir’s (Shahid disguised as Nasir) secretary, and gets to know that Najma is the neice of Seema’s deceased father. He apologizes for his conduct in the market that day and disapproves the conduct of her Aunt towards her, but Najma asks him to refrain from interfering in their family affairs. After talking for some time Nasir leaves for his room impressed by Najma’s attitude.

Discovery


The following day, wanting to accompany her to the market Nasir follows Najma, and sings his current state of emotions to her.


Zindagy apni thi ab tak

Back from the market Shahid refuses to give any money to Nasir, leaving him is annoyed.

At night Nasir takes Shahid’s purse from under his pillow but is caught and his act is disapproved by Najma, who then puts the purse back. On her return she is stuck by Seema’s mother who then goes to Shahid’s room.

Mistaking her for Dolly, Shahid states love to her. Embarrassed at this Shahid decides to leave. When Nasir argues Shahid expresses his incapability to impress any girl as he did not know how to sing, considering it important for the purpose.

Nasir promises to help him and compels him not to leave.  

Transcendence


The next day, Nasir sings a song, hiding himself from the balcony where Dolly stood, while Shahid is standing in front of it, pretending to sing. Najma arrives and Nasir starts singing for her, forgetting his errand.


Betab ho udhar ho tum

Dolly finds it out and throws water at Shahid.

Nasir takes Najma to a park and puts marriage proposal before her which she accepts. Seema’s mother wants Nawab Wajahat to visit them. Shahid gets nervous while Nasir approves of the idea. She reserves a call for Karachi.

Packing his belongings once again, Shahid is fearful of Nawab Wajahat’s reaction when he will find out about their exchanged identities. Much to Shahid’s relief Nasir tricks to get the reserved call canceled and speaks to Seema’s mother as Nawab Wajahat, informing her of his willingness to visit them. 

Freedom


In the park Nasir shows Najma the steep end of a hill. Najma is frightened. He then reveals to her his plans to go to Karachi for some days, and insists despite her opposition. Expressing her displeasure, Najma moves away from him. Nasir sings for her, expressing his desire to be with her forever.

Akeley Na Jana

Disguised as Nawab Wajahat, Nasir meets the family. After dinner Munshi performs a song before him. Shahid remarks that Najma is good at singing. On Nawab Wajahat’s (Nasir’s) and her Aunt’s insistence Najma sings gloomily while missing Nasir and runs to the kitchen crying.

Akeley Na Jana

Nawab Wajahat (Nasir) follows her to the kitchen, and acts markedly similar to the way he (Nasir) behaved on the first day of their introduction. Najma is puzzled.

Following day Nasir’s father arrives to meet the family, and Shahid, considering him to be Nasir, tries to be frank with him. On finding Nasir disguised as Nawab Wajahat upstairs, Shahid realizes the situation and silently moves to his room to pack his belongings. Nasir can do nothing to make him speak.

Meanwhile in the living room Nawab Wajahat tries to convince Seema’s mother that he is the real person. The truth is revealed when Nasir comes downstairs and Shahid follows him. Najma and Dolly leaves the room wretched.

In his room, Nasir is scolded by his father for his actions. Nasir then explains that this way he has made his choice of a responsible girl in the face of Najma. His father regards his decision and plans to talk to Najma’s Aunt about their marriage. Considering Nasir’s love a prank, Najma is unhappy but Nasir convinces her of the truth of his feelings, advising her to keep faith in their dreams.

Munshi reveals something to Seema’s mother and they plan something. Nawab Wajahat expresses Nasir’s desire to marry Najma, to Seema’s mother. She mocks at Najma, at which Nawab Wajahat protests but she claims to reveal Najma’s real face to Nasir.

Munshi brings the same woman whom Najma had entrusted Seema’s child to the scene. She asserts that the child belongs to Najma. Taking the child Najma runs to her room. Puzzled, Nasir follows her, begging her to disown the child and reject the accusations of her Aunt. In a fit of sorrow and rage Najma asks leave of Nasir declaring the child to be her own. He leaves, feeling dejected.

Najma moves to the house where Seema’s child was being brought up, and intends to work somewhere. Gul Khan, nephew of the woman Najma lives with, shows keen interest in her.

Back to his house, Nasir spends time drinking heavily, and refuses to eat anything. To cheer him up, his father asks Shahid to take him to the parties he used to attend.

Action

In the night club, Nasir sings about his regretful love story, making everybody around him sad.

Jab Pyar Mein Do Dil

Najma is troubled by the frequent visits of Gul Khan.

Nasir’s father tries to console him expressing his desire of marrying Nasir to Seema, before he leaves to perform Hajj. Distressed Nasir accepts this decision. Seema’s mother is happy to know Nawab Wajahat’s decision and plans to move to Karachi for the marriage. Seema shows her unwillingness to marry but gets pressurized by her mother against her wishes.

She comes to meet Najma and her child, and reveals her mother’s intention. Najma is upset but wants to live for the happiness of others. She asks Seema to marry and bring joy to Nasir’s life. Seema gives her the address of her house in Karachi.

On the night of his marriage Nasir drinks again. Nawab Wajahat wants to meet Nasir before he leaves for Hajj but he is asleep.

Gul Khan tries to rape Najma but his aunty rescues her, beating him out of the house. He then asks his aunt for forgiveness and offers her sweets. She goes unconscious eating them and Gul Khan repeats his attempt on Najma. She hit him to unconsciousness and takes the child away to Karachi, fearing police to be after her as she considered Gul Khan dead.

Nasir finds Najma lay the child on the doorsteps of his house and reproach her for her acts. Seema takes Najma and the child inside and gets to know of the conditions which led her there. She compels Najma to stay with her as this could protect her from police. Her decision made Nasir furious. One night the child cries out of illness and Seema and Najma attends to him. Nasir rebukes and slaps Najma, asking her to leave his house.

Expansion


Najma sings sorrowfully.

Meri Qismat Bta

The following morning Najma plans to go away but is prevented by Seema who reminds her that police must be after her.

Returning from abroad Sohail gets to know of his child and Seema’s marriage.

Arranging Seema’s cupboard Najma finds Sohail’s photo and takes it away. On the stairs the photograph fell off her hands in front of Nasir, who takes it up to see. At that moment Sohail arrives and Najma runs to take him out of the house to refrain him from seeing Seema.

Meeting Sohail in his house, Seema expresses her desire to keep the child with her. Nasir dislikes Sohail's visits to his house. Seema taunts him, calling his hatred for Najma is linked to the hidden love he has for her. Nasir leaves the house.

Creation

Sohail comes to attend his child’s birthday party. Seema sings on the occasion.

Oont Pe Betha Mera Muna

Nasir returns with Seema’s mother who scolds her for keeping Najma and her child at her house.

Their servant tries to convey a letter he got from Sohail. Nasir finds it out and comes to meet Sohail, who denies knowing Najma and reveals that the child belongs to Seema.

At this discovery, Nasir returns home and accuses Najma for ruining his happiness. He then reveals the news to Seema’s mother who begs Najma to get out of Nasir’s life for the sake of her cousin. Najma leaves.

At night, Sohail tries to enter Nasir’s house. Both fight each other before Seema, who has already taken high drug dosage, comes in between them and entrust her child to Sohail. She asks forgiveness from Nasir and dies.

On leaving the house, Najma engages a taxi driven by Gul Sher who drives her to a lonely place. Her screams made a constable follow them. Getting out of the taxi near a railway line, Najma jumps in a river and Gul Sher is crushed to death by the train.

Constable breaks the news of Najma’s death to Nasir, reaching him after going through Najma’s belongings. Nasir is depressed and is taken to Murree so that he may recover.

Nasir believes he sees Najma in the park they used to meet in. His condition deteriorates day by day. Shahid goes to look for a doctor when he finds Najma alive, ignorant of Seema’s death. He takes her home to find that Nasir is not in the house. Nawab Wajahat begs Najma to help them.

The climax


Najma goes after Nasir and sings.

Akeley Na Jana

Nasir is near the steep end of a hill when he hears her voice. They try to reach each other and meet on a hill top to embrace each other.

Link to complete movie at youtube (part 1)

Link to complete movie at youtube (part 2)