Shabnam (1949)

Filmistan’s musical hit also established the reputation of composer S.D. Burman. Heroine Shanti (Kaushal), her aged father and a young man, Manoj (Kumar), are refugees from the 1942 bombing of Rangoon on their way to Bengal. Shanti initially dresses as a man to avoid being molested. When Manoj discovers that she is a woman they fall in love, although he is ensnared by the charms of a gypsy girl (Paro). Shanti accepts shelter from a rich zamindar (Jeevan) who falls in love with her. She next encounters Manoj when the zamindar hosts a gypsy dance: he is part of the troupe but misunderstands her presence in the palace as a betrayal. The film includes the classic Shamshad Begum Yeh duniya roop ki chor, bachale mere babu.