Ab-e-Hayat (1955)

Ab-e-Hayat belongs to the costume fantasy films that filled Hindi screens in the 1950s, with kings, sorcery, palace intrigue and a hero on a dangerous journey. Its title means the water of eternal life, a magical prize from Persian and Urdu legend, and the story follows Premnath's dashing hero through enchanted places and rival schemes in search of it, with Shashikala as the heroine. Premnath, better remembered later as a towering villain, was then a romantic and swashbuckling lead. The film is best known today for its music by Sardar Malik, above all the Hemant Kumar song Main Garibon Ka Dil Hoon Watan Ki Zuban, which became a lasting radio favourite. A good pick for viewers who enjoy old-fashioned Arabian Nights adventures and golden-era film songs.