Piya Milan Ki Aas

(1961)

One stormy night, a young and beautiful maiden, Naini, flees with her aged mother to protect her honour from the clutches of the cruel Jeevan Singh, the son of the Zemindar, She comes racing to the storm lashed river. The Boatman, (Manjhi), moved to compassion by their sorry plight, volunteers to row them across to safety at the peril of his own life. He plunges into the roaring, ragin river, and saves Naini. But there is no trace of the mother. Manjhi carries the unconscious girl to a nearby temple where under the paternal care of the saintly Pujari, and a widow, Chachi, and the brotherly love of the orphan child Tongi, Naini starts her new life of dedication to the service of God. But grateful as she is to the Manjhi for having saved her life twice at the risk of his own, she loves him. Hereafter she and her Manjhi have some happy moments of love and romance. This is too much for Shyamo, the chidhood playmate of Manihi who also loves him passionately. At this juncture arrives Jeevan in pursuit of Naini, and he and Shyamo conspire to separate the lovers. But the resourcefulness and devotion of the witty Tongi (Daisy Irani) frustrate their evil schemes. The plottings of Jeevan and Shyamo now take a most sinister turn. Manjhi has the privilege of making the statue of Dev Naini for the Annual Fair. But this year the face of the statue is that of his own Naini. Making capital out of this resemblence, Jeevan and his ruffians challenge the very basis of Naini and Manjhi's love as unholy. His ruffians beat him unconscious. On the other hand, the Pujari has to bow before the public clamour to banish the outsider Naini from their village. The villains succeed and the lover are separated. Through what trials and tribulations the lovers pass, what part the noble and devoted child Tongi plays to help them?