Aneela is a good old fashioned fable about the terrible dangers of adopting a "western" lifestyle and neglecting the norms, customs, traditions and most importantly, values of our own heritage. This was a genre of social drama that was prevalent in the 60's and 70's as both India and Pakistan struggled to assert their national identities in the eyes of outsiders as well as the populace within. In order to appeal to the masses filmmakers dressed up their dramas in nationalistic colours and an assertion of "eastern" values was championed while the alien western culture adopted by the elite, English speaking gora sahib's was seen to be tainted with materialism, lust and superficiality.

Aneela is yet another of this fable-like genre of desi film making that panders to popular sentiment (and insecure egos?) by viciously attacking the concept of change and indeed everything western while trumpeting rigidity and the old order. The movie, which was a minor hit at the Box Office, begins with some comic interludes involving Nadeem who appears to have run away from home for reasons left unexplained being chased by Nanna and Saqi. Being an artist, he lands up looking for a job at a designing firm run by progressive, westernized, modern and rather luscious Lady Boss Nahid (played quite superbly by the delectable Rozina). It becomes evident early on in proceedings that Rozina is a lusting nymphomaniac and she soon sets her sights on the handsome Nadeem. First she invites him over to that most debauched of western activities; a New Year party!
She then beckons him into her bedroom and asks him to do her zip up and then insist that he fasten the clasp of her necklace………all this while asking him about her own voluptuous beauty……."kya main khwabon ki shazadi nahin?". Later in the evening, in a totally sozzled state, Rozina performs a delightful dance while sensuously crooning a rather lilting tune "mujhe jo dekhta hai."

However all Rozina's blatant efforts at seduction misfire and the object of her lust begins to find the company of a socialite friend far more interesting, befriending her then giving her painting lessons. Aneela (Deeba) is a likeable, ditzy airhead who since losing her mother to illness a few years ago, is being brought up in the "western, modern and progressive" style that her father reckons all the "people of status and izzat (respect)" are adopting. Talish (Aneela's father) adopts the western values (Fool!) and ignores the ways of his heritage, (that he considers "jehalat" backwardness) in bringing up his daughter Aneela. He has an older daughter whose marriage has ended in tragedy and who is now a frumpy, frustrated, and vindictive old bat that is loathe to seeing anyone having any fun of any kind at all. She pretends to be very caring of her younger sister Aneela though she is actually supremely envious of her sisters youthful effervescent looks and the fact that men are interested in her while not even the scrawny pet dog has got time for her.

Aneela's older sister Sheila goes on and on and on about her visions of doom due to the fact that her father is adopting westernized ways for his own household - words that the audience know only too well will ring prophetically later on in proceedings. The film progresses in an intriguing manner and manages to maintain interest till the very last scene - due largely to the fact that the plot takes turns down dark alleys that are traditionally No Go Area of films from the subcontinent. The film is refreshing and almost bold in suggesting that a woman who has been tainted can be rehabilitated and indeed embraced and accepted as a member of the community and most importantly as a wife. The only person who is utterly unforgiving is the militant jehadan Sheila who begins to thrash her sister to a pulp rather than to show her any compassion - then she takes to murder, totally in keeping with her warped mentality.

The film is engaging enough with some fine performances notably by vampish vixen Rozina who plays the role of a drooling, rabid nymphomaniac with relish…she also looks quite entrancing and her dance is among the highlights of the film. Deeba was in her prime in the summer of '69 and she not only looks great but the role of the simple, rather naïve Aneela suits her to a tee. Nadeem makes his presence felt and was also full of boyish charm at that stage of his career and Nisar Bazmi's music is also way above average. A very youthful looking Mustafa Qureshi features in the cast and even at that early stage in his career, clearly suggests great things lying ahead. Though nothing too extraordinary (other than "bold" end), this film certainly exemplifies everything that was once half-decent about Lollywood.