Yahudi

About the film

Yahudi (transl. Jew) is a 1958 Hindi-language epic romantic historical drama film directed by Bimal Roy. It stars Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari, Sohrab Modi, Nazir Hussain, Nigar Sultana among others. It is based on the play Yahudi Ki Ladki by Agha Hashar Kashmiri, a classic in Parsi-Urdu theatre, about persecution of Jews in the Roman Empire in the empire's centre—Rome. The film was a big hit despite its alien theme, and was the third-highest grossing Indian film of 1958, owing to the box office draw of Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari.

The film's lyricist Shailendra won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist at the 6th Filmfare Awards, for the song "Yeh Mera Diwanapan Hai", sung by Mukesh.

Plot

Ezra (Sohrab Modi) is a jeweller who has a son named Elijah and a friendly butler and childminder called Emmanuel. At the beginning of the film, Ezra is due to leave on a trip. As he does, Elijah becomes upset and stands on the balcony. On the roads of the Jewish quarter, Brutus (Nazir Hussain), Governor of Rome, is passing, making an announcement. A stone slips from Elijah's hand on the balcony and hits Brutus on the head. Brutus immediately gets Elijah arrested, and as Elijah is a Jew, sentences him to death. Hearing this, Ezra rapidly returns and begs Brutus to free Elijah, but Brutus feeds Elijah to hungry lions. Ezra returns to his house, mourning his son in an almost catatonic state. In revenge, Emmanuel kidnaps Lydia, the motherless daughter of Brutus, and takes her to Ezra. Ezra snaps out of his catatonic state when the girl starts to call him father, and he refuses to kill her and instead adopts her as his child.

Brutus' anger brews. He orders the guards to find his daughter, and calls for punishment of all Jews. Emmanuel helps Ezra and Lydia to escape the guards, who eventually break down the front door. Emmanuel claims to have murdered Lydia by feeding her to stray dogs, upon which the enraged guards kill him. Ezra remains hidden and raises Lydia, who grows up thinking she is Ezra's daughter and that her name is Hannah.

Fifteen years pass and Ezra grows to become a successful jeweller, well known to be so good and a Jew. Hannah (Meena Kumari) grows into a beautiful young lady and attracts attention from many. The Roman emperor arrives in Rome for the marriage of his son Prince Marcus (Dilip Kumar) to Brutus' niece Princess Octivia (Nigar Sultana).

Soundtrack

The film's most popular song was 'Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai'. The number marked the final time Mukesh provided playback for Dilip Kumar.

Key details