Azaad is a 1955Bollywood film produced and directed by Sriramulu Naidu S.M. It was the top grossing Hindi film in the year of its release, and one of the biggest Hindi film hits in the decade. In addition, Dilip Kumar won his third Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his work in this movie. C. Ramchandra was the music director. Hit songs from the movie include 'Aplam Chaplam' sung by Lata and Usha Mangeshkar, and 'Na Bole Na Bole' sung by Lata Mangeshkar. The movie was a remake of director's own 1954 Tamil movieMalaikkallan as well as in Malayalam Thaskaraveeran legend actor Sathyan was hero.
Plot
After her widower father, Kedarnath, passes away, Shobha goes to live with her father's friend Charandas and his wife Shanta, who had their son go missing as a child. Years later, Shobha is now matured and Charandas scouts for a suitable groom. A wealthy man, Sunder, would like to marry Shobha, but the family detests him. Then one night Shobha is abducted. The Police are informed but their search is in vain. A few days later, they get wind that Shobha may be in Sunder's custody, and a search proves to be in vain. Then Shobha returns home and tells them that she was rescued by a wealthy man named Azaad, housed in a mansion, looked after very well, and brought back home all in one piece. They subsequently find out that the wealthy man is none other than a notorious bandit named Azaad. They are even more shocked when Shobha informs them that she wants to marry Azaad. Will Charandas and Shanta permit her to marry a bandit?
Cast
Cast according to the opening credits of the film ;Male Cast
According to author, musicologist and film critic Rajesh Subramanian, it is revealed that composer Naushad was first offered the film. He refused when producer S. M. Sriramulu Naidu insisted that the songs had to be composed in a week. C Ramchandra was roped and the melodies were composed in record time. According to a book published by Raju Bharatan, film director Naidu requested Naushad to compose ten tunes within 30 days, for which he would get his "due payment". To this, the great maestro is reported to have said: "Naidusaab, yeh koi baniye ki dukaan samjha aapne? Ek gaana nahi milega aapko tees din main". The music was composed by C. Ramchandra and the songs were written by Rajendra Krishna.
