Kathputli (1957)

Kathputli ("puppet") is a 1957 drama built around Vyjayanthimala's gifts as a classical dancer. She plays a young woman from a humble background whose talent for dance is discovered and nurtured by a wealthy, controlling patron, played by Balraj Sahni. Fame and comfort come with a price: she feels less and less in charge of her own life, and her heart lies elsewhere. The film was started by Amiya Chakrabarty, the director of Patita and Daag, who died during production, and was completed by Nitin Bose. Shankar-Jaikishan's music is a highlight, with dance numbers designed to show off Vyjayanthimala, then one of the finest dancers in Hindi cinema, in the same year as her great success in Naya Daur.