Pakeezah restoration revives classic Indian colour film
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Kamal Amrohi’s film Pakeezah recently screened at the Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon, France, and will appear at the London Film Festival after a restoration led by Film Heritage Foundation.
The 1972 film initially began production in black and white but Amrohi decided to reshoot in colour, creating a visually striking portrayal of courtesans and aristocratic love in India.
The story follows Nargis and her daughter Sahebjaan, both played by Meena Kumari, and uses colour to represent their emotional states, white for purity, red for love, and vibrant hues for Sahebjaan’s life in Delhi’s pleasure quarter. The production of Pakeezah spanned 15 years and faced numerous challenges, including Amrohi’s separation from Kumari and the deaths of key crew members like cinematographer Josef Wirsching and composer Ghulam Mohammed. Kumari herself struggled with illness during filming, yet completed her scenes.
Tajdar Amrohi, Kamal Amrohi’s son, explained that his father was unwavering in his commitment to the film, investing all his resources into its creation. The restoration was made possible through the cooperation of the Amrohi family and Film Heritage Foundation founder Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, who remembered his grandmother’s fondness for the film’s music and colours.
Dungarpur and his team meticulously restored the film, bringing out the vividness of the costumes and sets, and ensuring the accuracy of colour details like the shade of a dupatta in a key song. Cinematographers continue to draw inspiration from Pakeezah’s aesthetic, including its use of colour and set design.
