Anhonee (1952)

I just want to give a quick shout-out to the universe for making this my first movie of Pride Month. There is one delightfully gay moment where Salma talks about how much she wants Nargis, and I felt that so deep in my bones because yes, everyone does want Nargis. 

Speaking of Nargis, she literally carries this movie on her four very capable shoulders. I watched this on occasion of her 92nd birth anniversary, and also learnt that this was the first double role by an actress in Hindi cinema. What a trailblazing queen that woman was, sheesh. The way she enacts both the well-brought up Roop and crass Mohini is a lesson in acting for many contemporary actresses who can barely do justice to the one role they're given. I loved watching both Nargises interact with each other- those scenes honestly had more fire than the rest of the movie. The romantic scenes between Raj Kapoor and Nargis were also quite nicely done, and I was dangerously close to sobbing when Raj told Roop "Mohabbat ke liye duniya ki har cheez ka balidaan diya jaa sakta hai, magar kisi cheez ke liye bhi mohabbat ka balidaan nahi diya jaa sakta". Considering their off-screen history... yeah, I think I'll go sob now.

In conclusion, Nargis was literally super fucking creepy in one shot, and a frightened and confused woman who did not even know what her life meant in the next. Perfection is an understatement.

PS- I forgot to mention that it was Arjun Reddy lite in one scene where Raj hits Mohini and she thinks that it's a token of his love and proof of their belonging together. Yeah, don't carry that scene into your lives kids, it's not true. 

PPS- I want the poster for my room!