Pakeezah

(1972)

Considered as one the most classic movie ever made in Indian Cinema, the plot is a classic courtesan tale set in Muslim Lucknow at the turn of the century. The dancer and courtesan Nargis(Meena Kumari) dreams of escaping her dishonourable life but she is rejected by the family of her husband Shahabuddin (Ashok Kumar) and dies, in a graveyeard, giving birth to a daughter, Sahibjaan. She is taken care by her aunt. The daughter grows up to become a dancer and a courtesan as well(Meena Kumari again). Sahibjaan's guardian, Nawabjaan(Veena), prevents Sahibjaan's father from seeing her or knowing who she is. Later, Sahibjaan falls in love with a mysterious, noble stranger who turns out to be her fathers nephew, Salim(Raaj Kumar). Salim's father forbids his ward to marry a courtesan. The films climax occurs when Sahibjaan dances at Salim's arranged wedding where her own father also discovers her identity and claims her as his child. Finally her desires are fulfilled and she marries Salim, leaving her past behind.