romance:

And suddenly, from the heights of their idealism, they came down to the bedrock of reality, which was not very pleasant. And therefore there was a tendency to be disillusioned …and therefore there was another tendency to escape from this unpleasant reality into some kind of escapist entertainment which would make one forget the harsh realities which surrounded us on all sides. And therefore there was an upsurge of escapist entertainment, especially in the field of cinema. ( 19 transcript)

Abbas, however, did not fall in this trap as he was passionately engaged in building up of a progressive society through his works, literature, journalism and cinema. His films were tools of social transformation aiming at creation of a democratic, socialistic and secular society.

Aasmaan Mahal (1965) is a filmwhich represents this approach. Based on the story written by Inder Raj Anand, the film juxtaposes the value systems represented by NawabSb and his son. The feudal rule over but the mind-set of Nawab continues to cherish the age old feudal values. The ancestral palace of Nawab is worn out and he doesn’t have even the resources to get it repaired and painted. Yet he is not willing to sell it. This palace is symbolic of his past glory and is also the cause of conflict between father and son. A girl called Salma comes into the life of the son and mellows him down. Abbas seems to suggest that there is no need to attack the already shaking walls of feudalism. It will die its own death