Le mystère du voile

This was a seminal Indian film from their Golden Age, with the musical poetry taking up nearly a quarter of its total running time but leaving you wishing it could have been even more.

It centres around the Islamic custom Purdah of veiled women not showing their faces to men outside of their immediate family. The trouble begins when a man catches a glimpse of a beautiful woman, sets out his plans to win her with the help of his friend but ultimately bringing tragedy on their collective heads. It's a simple quintessential Bollywood tale that unfolds on the screen, it definitely looks more complex in print! Although Waheeda Rehman and Guru Dutt never looked lovelier it was really the incomparable Rafi's film, from the mesmerisingly sung soft Technicolor Chaudvin Ka Chand to the heartbroken b&w Mili Khak Mein Mohabbat; Asha had a fine song in Dil Ke Kahaani (also in Technicolor), while Lata shone with Badle Badle in atmospheric melancholic b&w. Johnny Walker was here too providing a bit of light relief as usual – so what more could anyone want!

A sad tale but nothing heavy - for a glimpse of the beauty of another world, recommended.