Hatim Tai

Bollywood posters in Mumbai for sale: Hatim Tai (1956).

Featured here is an actual surviving vintage Bollywood poster of the old 1956 Hindi film written by J.B.H. Wadia, which was produced and directed by his younger brother Homi Wadia, starring P. Jairaj in the titular role along with Shakila and Meenaxi.

A Wadia Brothers production released under the Basant Pictures banner, Hatim Tai (1956) also starred Naina, Krishna Kumari, Kamal, Menaka, S. N. Tripathi, B.M. Vyas, Sheikh, Vasantrao Pahelwan, Dalpat, Shree Bhagwan, Priscilla, Natalie, Triza, Julian, Rattan and Mithoo Miya in supporting roles. Helen appeared as a dancer in this adventure Bollywood movie.

Thanks to the film’s art direction and cutting edge special effects created by the pioneer of special effects in Indian cinema, Babubhai Mistry, the film was a massive success at the box office.

Hatim Tai (1956) was based on the popular magical Arabian legend that told the story of Hatim al-Tai (played by Jairaj) who sets out on a journey to answer seven difficult riddles in order to liberate Gulnar angel (played by Shakila) and daughter of a wealthy merchant Husn Bano (played by Meenaxi) from a curse.

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

Originally designed in hand painted oil on canvas format by a Bollywood poster studio in Delhi, this old Hatim Tai 1956 poster features quirky artwork.

A striking illustration of actress Shakila in her character of Gulnar angel (pari) is seen on the top right. Holding a magic wand in her hand, she is depicted smiling. Jairaj, who plays the titular role in the film, is seen in his character of Hatim Tai on the bottom left of the poster. Three angels are illustrated dancing among the clouds in the background on the top left of this vintage Bollywood poster. An old palace is seen on the top.

Typography used in this Hatim Tai film poster is primarily in English, with the title translated to Devanagari Hindi as well as Urdu. The background used in this adventure Bollywood movie poster is a gradient that changes from dark blue on the top half to yellow at the bottom.

The soundtrack album of Hatim Tai (1990) was composed by S.N. Tripathi, while lyrics were written by Hasan Kamal. It featured the memorable song, “Parwar Digar-e-Alam” sung by Mohammed Rafi which was reportedly replayed eleven times during a screening of the film in Hyderabad on the behest of the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Hatim Tai (1990) was also dubbed into Tamil and released as Maya Mohini (1956).