Shabab (1954)

Shabab ("youth" or "beauty in its prime") is a costume romance in which the gulf between a poor singer and a royal princess is bridged by the power of music. Bharat Bhushan, who had become the screen's favourite poet-singer after Baiju Bawra, plays the musician, and a young Nutan the princess. The story is a framework for one of Naushad's richest classical-based scores, with Shakeel Badayuni's lyrics sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi and others. Director M. Sadiq, known for Chaudhvin Ka Chand later in his career, gives it the lush look of a big studio production. It is best enjoyed today as a showcase of golden-age film music.