Phir Subah Hogi

Plot

Ram (Raj Kapoor) is a poor law student who supports his education with money orders from his mother and things he pawns. While struggling with his poor finances, he save a boy from accident. Seeing the poor condition of the boy's family he gives all his savings for the boy's treatment. Ram keeps visiting the boy and falls in love with the boy's elder sister Sohni (Mala Sinha). Sohni's father Gopal is addicted to liquor which Harbanslal keeps providing him with. Harbanslal has a mean motive in doing so as he wants marry Sohni. To prevent Sohni's arranged marriage with Harbanslal, Ram decides to rob the pawn broker. But he is caught in the act, and he murders the pawn owner.

Ram's conscience keeps telling him to admit his crime. But he never picks up the courage to do so. The police inspector on the case keeps suspecting Ram for the crime. With no proof he, too, is helpless. Ram learns that police have already arrested another thief and have charged him with this robbery and murder. On the last day when the court is to rule in the case, Raj makes up his mind and admits. He pleads saying how he was acting in self-defense against real villains of the society. The court sentences him for three years of imprisonment. Sohni promises that she will wait for his release and then marry him.

Cast

Music

Lyrics for this socially relevant film were composed by Sahir Ludhianvi and music by Mohammed Zahur Khayyam, popularly known as Khayyam. The song "Chin-O-Arab Hamara, Hindustan Hamara, Rahne Ko Ghar Nahin Hain, Saara Jahan Hamara" sung by Mukesh and picturised on Raj Kapoor, became very popular yet controversial and was very close to being banned then.

Reception

Phir Subah Hogi fared successfully at the box office and was the fourth highest-grossing film of the year 1958 behind Madhumati, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi and Yahudi. The music composed by Khayyam is considered as "rich and beautiful". Songs like "Chin-O-Arab Hamara" and "Woh Subah Kabhi To Aayegi" penned by Sahir Ludhianvi were satirical on the condition of India and the Nehruvian politics. "Chin-o-Arab Hamara" was a parody on Iqbal's song "Saare Jahan Se Achcha".

Trivia

Lal Krishna Advani, a senior leader of "Bhartiya Janata Party", many a time in his speeches has talked about watching this movie along with his friend and colleague Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Advani reminisces that former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was very fond of watching movies. He narrated an incident where in the 1958 he and Vajpayee, after facing an electoral defeat in Delhi Municipal Corporation election, straightaway went to watch a movie.

Advani says that the film turned out to be 'Phir Subah Hogi'. Advani says that after Vajpayee became PM, he told party workers that the title of the movie had turned out to be prophetic and there was finally dawn.