Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955)
Starring: Gopi Kishen, Sandhya, Keshavrao Date, Bhagwan, Manorama, Madan Puri
Story and Dialogues: Dewan Sharan
Cinematography: G. Balkrishna
Choreography: Gopi Kishen
Audiography: A.K. Parmar
Art Direction: Kanu Desai
Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri
Music: Vasant Desai
Produced and Directed by: V. Shantaram
Synopsis
Neela (Sandhya), a dancing girl, is seen doing a cheap dance by an old time Guru (Keshav Rao Date) and his son and disciple Girdhar (Gopi Kishen). Chastised by the Guru and shown what real dance is by Girdhar she sees a new meaning in dance and begs the Guru to teach her. He tells her it will be a hard task but she is willing. Girdhar and the Guru stay in her place, where her maintenance is paid for by one of her admirers Mani Babu (Madan Puri). As Neela and Girdhar begin their training for a prestigious dance festival, the two of them also fall in love. The Guru is furious as he is totally against any display of any emotion by the artist other than devotion to his art. Neela withdraws from Girdhar's life making him hate her and even tries to kill herself but survives. She gives up everything so that Girdhar may excel in his art. Now that Girdhar needs a partner, the Guru and Girdhar decide on Roopkala, a dancer who had trained under the Guru but had corrupted his art. Holding Girdhar responsible for Neela spurning him, Mani Babu buys off Roopkala who refuses to dance. As Girdhar is alone and about to be disqualified, Neela reaches there and performs the Shiv-Parvati dance with him. The Guru relents as he realizes the hardships Neela has undergone and he reunites the lovers.
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