Anari (1959) is a classic comedy-drama directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, featuring Raj Kapoor, Nutan, Motilal, and Lalita Pawar. Unusually, Lalita Pawar played a positive role, while Motilal took on a character with shades of grey. The film was remade in Tamil as Pasamum Nesamum (1964) and in Turkish as Derbeder (1960) and Enayi (1974). The story revolves around Raj Kumar (Raj Kapoor), an honest and intelligent painter struggling to survive. After returning a lost wallet, he is rewarded with a clerk's job by its wealthy owner, Mr. Ramnath (Motilal). Raj falls in love with Asha (Nutan), Ramnath's maidservant, who is later revealed to be his niece, Aarti. When his kind-hearted landlady, Mrs. D'sa (Lalita Pawar), dies from tainted medicine, Raj is wrongly accused of murder. The truth eventually comes out in court, clearing his name and affirming the triumph of honesty and love. Released on 16 January 1959, Anari was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year and earning a "Super Hit" status from Box Office India. Critics praised its engaging screenplay and powerful performances by the lead actors. The film also holds a unique trivia point: Motilal, who played Nutan's uncle on screen, was in real life closely associated with her family, living with Nutan's mother, Shobhana Samarth. The film's light-hearted moments are remembered too—such as Mukri's line in the office scene, "Aaj ka kaam kal karo, kal ka kaam parson...", which Hrishikesh Mukherjee later echoed in his 1979 hit Gol Maal. Music by Shankar-Jaikishan, with lyrics by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri, was another major highlight. The soundtrack includes beloved classics like, Dil Ki Nazar Se, Nineteen Fifty Six, Woh Chand Khila Woh Tare, and Ban Ke Panchhi Gaaye Pyar Ka Tarana. The timeless Sab Kuchh Seekha Ham Ne remains popular across generations, as does Mukesh's moving Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe and Lata Mangeshkar's Tera Jana, often performed on reality singing shows by aspiring artists.