Dhool Ka Phool

Dhool Ka Phool poster for sale.

Featured here is an actual surviving vintage Bollywood poster of the cult 1959 Hindi film produced by B.R. Chopra and directed by his brother Yash Chopra that starred Rajendra Kumar and Mala Sinha in key roles.

Presented by Mohanlal Harkishenlal Sibal under the banner of BR Films, Dhool Ka Phool (1959) also starred Nanda, Ashok Kumar, Manmohan Krishna, Mehmood, Leela Chitnis, Daisy Irani, Amir Banu, Mohan Choti, R.P. Kapoor, Master Kelly, Jagdish Raj, Ravikant, Uma Datt, Narbada Shankar, Master Nissar, C.L. Shah, Nandini and Susheel Kumar (debut) in supporting roles.

Dhool Ka Phool marked the debut of Yash Chopra as director, who would later go on to become the “King of Bollywood romance” and establish the biggest production house in Indian cinema (Yash Raj Films), making this old movie poster, highly collectible!

After working as an assistant director for several of B.R. Chopra films such as Naya Daur (1957), Yash Chopra began his directorial career with Dhool Ka Phool (1959). The film was based on a national integration theme, telling the story of a Muslim man bringing up an illegitimate Hindu child. In Yash Chopra’s next film Dharmputra (1961), the plot was reversed – i.e. an illegitimate Muslim child is raised by a Hindu family.

Printed and circulated during a subsequent release run of the film (somewhere in the late 1960s), this Dhool Ka Phool poster was originally designed for publicity of the film in north Indian theaters but never ended up being used.

This vintage Bollywood movie poster was originally designed in hand painted oil on canvas format by an art studio in Delhi and features quirky illustrated artwork.

Lyrics of two unforgettable songs from the film are seen written on the top: “Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega, Insaan ki Aulaad Hai Insaan Banega” (You Will Neither Become Hindu Nor Muslim, You Are Son of a Human and Will Become a Human) and “Tere Pyaar Ka Aasra Chahta Hoon, Wafa Kar Raha Hoon Wafa Chahta Hoon” (I Desire the Refuge of your Love, I am Being Faithful and Desire Faithfulness).

A striking hand drawn illustration of Rajendra Kumar and Mala Sinha in a romantic pose is seen in this vintage Bollywood poster. Supporting actor Manmohan Krishna who played the award winning role of a Muslim man (Abdul Rasheed) is seen with child actor Master Kelly, who played the role of Mala Sinha and Rajendra Kumar’s illegitimate abandoned Hindu child. Both holy books, the Holy Bhagavad Gita and the Holy Quran are seen together in the child’s hands, giving away the plot of the film.

Typography used in this vintage Dhool Ka Phool poster is primarily in Devanagari Hindi, with the title translated into English as well. The film’s Devanagari Hindi title appears in a striking yellow 3D typeface highlighted by a red and black border.

The soundtrack album of Dhool Ka Phool (1959) was composed by N. Datta, while lyrics were written by Sahir Ludhianvi. It featured super hit songs such as, “Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega” sung by Mohammed Rafi and “Tere Pyar Ka Aasra Chahta Hoon” sung by Lata Mangeshkar & Mahendra Kapoor.