Ardhangini (transl. The better half) is a 1959 Indian Hindi-language romance film produced and directed by Ajit Chakrabarty. The film stars Meena Kumari and Raaj Kumar. It was later remade in Tamil as Panithirai (1961).
Plot
A woman dies while giving birth to her daughter Chhaya. The girl's father loses his job and the family home is burned. For this reason, everyone around her superstitiously see her as a harbinger of bad luck. Chhaya falls in love with Prakash, a non-superstitious airline pilot who treats her normally, but problems arise when Prakash's aeroplane goes missing.
Directed by Ajit Chakrabarty
Screenplay by Vishwamitter Adil
Story by Chandrakant
Produced by Ajit Chakrabarty
Cinematography R. M. Sabnis
Edited by C. Ramrao
Music by Vasant Desai
Production companies; Mars and Movies
Release date 1959
Country India
Language Hindi
Cast
Meena Kumari as Chhaya
Raaj Kumar as Capt Prakash
Agha as Murari
C. S. Dube as Prakash's maternal uncle
Shivraj as Ram Lal
Durga Khote as Prakash's mother
Praveen Paul as Murari's mother
Shubha Khote as Leela
Production
Ardhangini was produced and directed by Ajit Chakrabarty under Mars and Movies. The film's story was written by Chandrakant, the screenplay by Vishwamitter Adil and Shashi Bhushan, and the dialogues by Vishwamitter Adil. Cinematography was handled by R. M. Sabnis, and editing by C. Ramrao.
Themes
The film speaks against untouchability and superstitious beliefs. Many commentators have identified it as a "romantic tragi-comedy"