The five highest-grossing films at the Indian box office in 1943:
1. Kismet
Kismet (English: Fate) is a 1943 Indian drama film, directed by Gyan Mukherjee, written by Mukherjee with Aghajani Kashmeri, and produced by Bombay Talkies, during the Second World War period, while it was in a succession battle between Devika Rani and Sashadhar Mukherjee after owner Himanshu Rai's death. The film was the first big hit in the history of Hindi cinema, and the first blockbuster in Indian cinema.
The film came with some bold themes for the first time in the history of Indian cinema, showing an anti-hero character with two roles and an unmarried girl getting pregnant.
Shekhar (Ashok Kumar) is a pickpocket and con man, who is released from jail after serving his third sentence. It is at once evident that he has no intention of mending his ways, as he relieves a pickpocket of his catch, which happens to be an old, priceless watch. Shekhar goes to a fence (David), where he meets the original pickpocket, Banke (V.H. Desai). Impressed by Shekhar's prowess, Banke makes him a special offer: he is a small-time thief currently working in the house of a very rich man, who has a considerable fortune stashed away in the safe at his house. Banke, who does not have the expertise to break the lock, asks Shekhar if he would be interested in helping him out. Uninterested in the plan, Shekhar leaves. As he steps out of the fence's establishment, Shekhar bumps into the original owner of the watch (P.F. Pithawala), an old man desperate for money, who intended to sell the watch and raise the money to see a live performance by Rani (Mumtaz Shanti). Out of compassion Shekhar takes him to the theatre. There the old man points out a prosperous looking man called Indrajit (Mubarak). It turns out that Rani is the daughter of this old man, who was once a rich man and the owner of that theatre. Indrajit was once his employee. Fortune (kismet) turned things around and today the old man is indebted to Indrajit, from whom he is on the run. The moment the show ends, he flees, but not before he's seen in the company of Shekhar by Rani, from whom he has fled in shame and remorse. Unknown to them, the tormentor Indrajit is himself a tormented man, after his elder son Madan ran away after a fight with his authoritarian father several years ago.
Due to a combination of circumstances, Shekhar ends up staying in Rani's house as a paying guest. There he discovers that she is struggling with a limp, that's affecting her ability to perform on stage. The limited means is a great problem for Rani, the sole bread earner in the house, having to support her younger sister Leela (Chandraprabha). To make things worse, she is constantly troubled by the ruthless Indrajit, who threatens to turn her out of the house if she cannot repay the next instalment of the money payable by her father.
Things take a turn for the worse when Rani discovers that Leela is pregnant out of wedlock with her lover Mohan (Kanu Roy), who happens to be the son of Indrajit. Shekhar, who is falling in love with Rani, decides to help her out. Desperate to raise funds for her cure, he takes up Banke's offer to break the vault of his employer, who is none other than Indrajit. The attempted robbery goes awry, but Shekhar escapes, dropping behind the chain he always wears. Indrajit immediately recognises that as that of his long lost son Madan.
Desperate to get back his son, Indrajit organises a live programme featuring Rani, knowing that his love for the young lady will impel Shekhar to come. Rani' father turns up at the theatre, as does Indrajit's entire family. As expected, Shekhar turns up at the theatre, where he is immediately recognised as Indrajit's long lost son Madan. Delighted to find his beloved son, Indrajit immediately turns a new leaf, cancelling his former boss' debts and asking him for the hand of both his daughters for his sons.
Kismet was severely criticised for glorifying crime and portraying a criminal in good light. Despite the criticism, the movie shattered all box office records, becoming the first Indian movie to gross 10 million (10 million) at the box office. It ran for 187 continuous weeks at Roxy Cinema in Calcutta, a record that stood for 32 years.
The song दूर हटो दुनियावालों, हिन्दुस्तान हमारा हैं (go away foreigners, India is ours), which slipped past the censors, was an immensely popular song in the mid 40s, coming as it did less than 6 months after Mahatma Gandhi called for the Quit India Movement. Although superficially addressed to the Germans and Japanese (with whom the British rulers were at war then), the patriotic overtones became at once evident to contemporary audiences. At screenings of Kismet, the reels would be rewound and the song played multiple times on public demand. The unprecedented popularity of the song forced the lyricist Kavi Pradeep to go underground to avoid being arrested by the British authorities for sedition.
Legacy
Kismet was also the first ever Indian movie to use the lost and found formula used in several Hindi movies in the 1960s and 1970s, notably Waqt (1965), Yaadon ki Baraat (1973), and Amar Akbar Anthony (1977). The unprecedented success of Kismet established Ashok Kumar as the first ever superstar of Hindi cinema. He remained the most popular actor in Hindi cinema until the early 50s.
The 1961 movie Boy Friend, featuring Shammi Kapoor, Dharmendra and Madhubala was a remake of Kismet. In the 1968 movie Padosan, when asked to think of a romantic song, Bhola immediately remembers the door hato duniyawalo song.
Cast
Ashok Kumar as Shekhar & Madan same person playing two characters),Mumtaz Shanti as Rani
Shah Nawaz as Inspector Saahab,Mubarak as Indrajeet Babu,David as the fence,Chandraprabha as Leela (Rani's sister),Kanu Roy as Mohan (Leela's lover),V.H.Desai as Baanke,P.F. Pithawala as Rani's father,Baby Kamala as Rani (Childhood),Mehmood as Madan (Childhood),Moti
Soundtrack
The music of the film by Anil Biswas introduced 'full chorus' for the first time in Hindi cinema.The film gave memorable hits like the patriotic, Door Hato O Duniyawalon Hindustan Hamara hay, the sad Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali and a soothing lullaby, Dheere Dheere Aa. The last was a duet between Amirbai Karnataki and Ashok Kumar, which added to the success of the film that is still known as one of his finest works.
Songs list
Aaj Himalay Ki Choti Se – Door Hato Ai Duniya Walo, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki, Khan Mastana
Ab Tere Siwa Kaun Mera Krishan Kanhaiya, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki
Ai Duniya Bata – Ghar Ghar Me Diwali Hai, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki
Dhire Dhire Aa Re Badal, Mera Bulbul Sau Raha Hai, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki
Dhire Dhire Aa Re Badal, Mera Bulbul Sau Raha Hai, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki, Ashok Kumar
Ham Aisi Qisamat Ko, Ek Din Hansaaye, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki, Arun Kumar
Papihaa Re Mere Piyaa Se Kahiyo Jaay, Singer: Parul Ghosh
Tere Dukh Ke Din Phirenge, Zindagi Ban Ke Jiye Jaa, Singer: Arun Kumar
Door hato O Duniya walon[edit]
In the patriotic song, Door hato O Duniya walon, Hindustan hamara hay ("Step away, People of the World, Hindustan is ours"), penned by Kavi Pradeep, a negative reference to Japan was used – Tum na kisike aage jhunkna, German ho ya Japani ("Don't you bow in front of anyone, be it the Germans or the Japanese") – which allowed it to get past the heavy British censorship of the time. But the hidden meaning got through to the people and backed by Anil Biswas's uplifting score, the song became an instant hit amidst the atmosphere of rising nationalistic fervour. The British authorities soon realised their mistake, and wanted to ban the film. An arrest warrant was issued for the film's lyricist Pradeep, who had to go underground to avoid arrest.
Reception
The film went on to become a major success, at a theatre in Calcutta it ran for three years, and gave Indian cinema its first title of superstar, Ashok Kumar. According to the numbers, it has been given the status of All-Time Blockbuster. In the decade of the 1940s, this movie made the most money. Its net gross came to Rs. 1 Crore in 1943, which in today's date is equivalent of Rs. 63.2 Crore. This record was beaten in 1949 by Barsaat.
Presenting some bold themes for the first time in Bollywood in the 40s – an anti-hero and a single pregnant girl, for instance – this movie ran for 3 years. One of the earliest superhits of Bollywood, this movie also introduced double-role acting for the first time through its first superstar, Ashok Kumar. Box Office India reported that the film collected a nett gross of ₹10 million ($3.32 million)[a] and declared the film an "All Time Blockbuster". Its gross amounts to ₹309 crore ($47 million) if adjusted for inflation in 2016.
2. Tansen
Tansen is a 1943 Indian Bollywood film directed by Jayant Desai and featuring K. L. Saigal and Khursheed Bano in the lead roles. The film was based on Tansen, the 16th century musician in the court of Mughal emperor, Akbar.The film featured 13 hit songs, performed by the leads, including More Balapan Ke Saathi, Rum Jhum Rum Jhum Chal Tihari, Kahe Guman Kare Gori, Bina Pankh Ka Panchhi, Sapt Suran Teen Gram, Diya Jalao and Baag Laga Doon Sajni. It was the second highest grossing Indian film of 1943.
Tansen becomes orphan at a very young age and lives with his paternal uncle. He goes to a music teacher to learn music and returns to his native village after many years of training. In the village the shepherdess Tani is considered a gifted singer, and Tansen falls in love with her. Tani rescues an elephant and Tansen tames it by his singing. This captures the attention of Raja Ramchandra,Rewa State. He becomes Tansen's friend. At the same time in Agra, the Mughal emperor Akbar regrets why there is no musician in his navratnas. Akbar sends a few of his workers to the countryside to find out the best musician. While his workers are searching the best musician they come across Tansen, who while singing for Tani brings a leafless tree to bloom. The workers are overwhelmed at this and ask Tansen to go to the court of Akbar along with them. Tansen refuses at first by saying that he will sing for no one other than his sweetheart Tani. After repeated persuasions he finally agrees to go to Agra where he enthrals Akbar by his singing. Akbar appoints him as one of his navratnas. The other musicians in the royal court see this move as a threat to their reputation and status in the court.
On Akbar's birthday,Tani goes to Agra to meet Tansen and in order to meet her Tansen refuses to sing on the king's birthday. Upon meeting Tani, Akbar tells her that Tansen is married and asks her to leave. He does so thinking that a broken heart will inspire even better music from Tansen. When Akbar later asks Tansen to sing he refuses to do so saying that he would accept even the death penalty,but would not sing. One of the court musician Zehen Khan tells Akbar and his sick princess that the Deepak raag has the magic of igniting things. Akbar asks Tansen to sing the Deepak raag but again he refuses.Finally on repeated persuasions by the sick princess, Tansen agrees to sing. Tansen ignites the candles placed near him when he is singing. He continues singing in extreme heat and gets badly burnt. When Akbar learns from Azam Khan (the court physician) that Zehen Khan and the other court musicians were plotting against Tansen he orders the arrest of them all. Meanwhile, Tansen's condition worsens. Birbal, the court philosopher suggests to Akbar that a singer who can sing the Malhar raag (known for bringing heavy rain) should be searched for. Akbar himself searches for such a singer but is unable to find one. The dying Tansen wishes to meet his friend Raja Ramchandra. Along the way to his village Tansen meets Tani near a fountain and she heals him by singing the Megh Malhar raag.
Cast
K. L. Saigal as Tansen,Khursheed Bano as Tani,Mubarak as emperor Akbar,Nagendra as Birbal,Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay as the princess
Production
The film was produced under the banner of Ranjit Movietone and directed by Jayant Desai who went on to direct another historical film in 1945 based on the life of the Mauryan ruler Chandragupta Maurya. Kundan Lal Saigal was under a contract for the film company New Theaters and Jayant Desai had borrowed him for playing the lead role in the film. During the opening of the film Jayant Desai declared that the film was a love story between Tansen and the shepherdess Tani. Also in the beginning Saigal spoke about Tansen. Munshi Dil had written the dialogues of the film. The film was released during the period when the Muslim League was demanding the creation of a separate state for Muslims. The film's portrayal of the Mughal era was seen as "affirming the place of the Muslim in India rather than interpreting history." The film has also been categorised as one of the films in which the "Muslims were portrayed in terms of exotic otherness."
Music
The music for the film was prepared by Khemchand Prakash. The lyricist was Pandit Indra.The lead actor Kundan Lal Saigal had also sung some of the film's songs. Saigal had sung the song Diya Jalao in the Deepak raag, Kahe Gumaan kare re Gori in Gaara raag and Baag laga dun Sajani in the Megh Malhar raag. Prakash had used a piano for the music of the film. This was considered a minor flaw in a period film. The song Mohe panghat pe nandlal chedd gayo re composed by the musician Naushad for the film Mughal-e-Azaam was inspired by the song Kahe Gumaan kare re Gori.
Songs list
Ghata Ghanaghor Ghor Khursheed Bano
Aao Gori Aao Shyama Khursheed Bano
Kahe Guman Kare Re Gori Kundan Lal Saigal
Rumajhum Rumajhum Chaal Tihaari Kundan Lal Saigal
Baag Laga Dun Sajani Kundan Lal Saigal
More Balpan Ke Sathi Chhaila Bhul Jaio Na Kundan Lal Saigal, Khursheed Bano
Sapt Suran Tin Graam Gaavo Sab Gunijan Kundan Lal Saigal
Ho Dukhiya Jiyara Rote Naina Khursheed Bano
Ab Raja Baye More Balam Khursheed Bano
Binaa Pankh Panchhi Hun Main Kundan Lal Saigal
Diya Jalao Kundan Lal Saigal
Din Soona Sooraj Bina Kundan Lal Saigal
Baraso Re Khursheed Bano
3. Ram Rajya
Following Bhagwan Shri Ram's 14 year exile, whereby he demolishes the evil empire of Lord Ravan, rescues his wife, Sita, and returns triumphantly home to Ayodhya to be crowned the King. Bhagwan Ram arranges for Sita to be placed on top a funeral pyre, and when she comes out unscathed with the Lord of Fire himself appearing and asking Bhagwan Ram to take Sita back as she is pure, and her presence has not only purified Ayodhya, but also Sri Lanka, as well as himself. Thus satiated, Ram and Sita return to Ayodhya, but not for long as the people, especially a washer-man (Dhobi) demands that Sita be expelled from the kingdom, as the people would like him to ask his wife to leave Ayodhya as she has spent several days and nights away from husband, and has thus maligned herself. Bhagwan Ram gives way to the demands of his people, and expels Sita, who then goes to reside with Lord Valmiki, calls herself Vandevi, and gives birth to twins - Luv and Kush. In the meantime, Valmiki has finished writing the Holy Book Ramayan, and ensures that the twins read and understand this, which they do. Then when Bhagwan Ram announces a Aswamedha Yagna (to expand Ayodhya's boundaries by letting a horse run through different kingdoms, and whosoever stops the horse, challenges Bhagwan Ram and his armies). When Vandevi hears of this, she is shocked as this Yagna can only be performed by a ruler with his wife at his side, is it that Bhagwan Ram is getting married again? Before she could find any answers to this question, she is told that her sons have stopped the horse from Ayodhya - and are ready to do battle with the powerful armies of Ayodhya.
Cast
Prem Adib as Rama,Shobhna Samarth as Sita,Umakant Desai - as Laxman,Badri Prasad,Chandrakant
4. Nadaan
Nadaan is a 1943 Indian Bollywood film. It was the fourth highest grossing Indian film of 1943.
Cast
Aman as Mukesh,Noor Jehan as Roopa,Masood as Anil
5. Nauker
Nauker is a 1943 Indian Bollywood film directed by Shaukat Hussain Rizvi and starring Chandra Mohan, Noor Jehan and Shobhna Samarth. It was the fifth-highest-grossing Indian film of 1943.
Cast
Chandra Mohan as Fazlu,Noor Jehan,Mirza Musharraf,Shobhna Samarth as Nargis,Balwant Singh as Salim, son of Fazlu,Yakub as Sadiq
1. Kismet
Kismet (English: Fate) is a 1943 Indian drama film, directed by Gyan Mukherjee, written by Mukherjee with Aghajani Kashmeri, and produced by Bombay Talkies, during the Second World War period, while it was in a succession battle between Devika Rani and Sashadhar Mukherjee after owner Himanshu Rai's death. The film was the first big hit in the history of Hindi cinema, and the first blockbuster in Indian cinema.
The film came with some bold themes for the first time in the history of Indian cinema, showing an anti-hero character with two roles and an unmarried girl getting pregnant.
Shekhar (Ashok Kumar) is a pickpocket and con man, who is released from jail after serving his third sentence. It is at once evident that he has no intention of mending his ways, as he relieves a pickpocket of his catch, which happens to be an old, priceless watch. Shekhar goes to a fence (David), where he meets the original pickpocket, Banke (V.H. Desai). Impressed by Shekhar's prowess, Banke makes him a special offer: he is a small-time thief currently working in the house of a very rich man, who has a considerable fortune stashed away in the safe at his house. Banke, who does not have the expertise to break the lock, asks Shekhar if he would be interested in helping him out. Uninterested in the plan, Shekhar leaves. As he steps out of the fence's establishment, Shekhar bumps into the original owner of the watch (P.F. Pithawala), an old man desperate for money, who intended to sell the watch and raise the money to see a live performance by Rani (Mumtaz Shanti). Out of compassion Shekhar takes him to the theatre. There the old man points out a prosperous looking man called Indrajit (Mubarak). It turns out that Rani is the daughter of this old man, who was once a rich man and the owner of that theatre. Indrajit was once his employee. Fortune (kismet) turned things around and today the old man is indebted to Indrajit, from whom he is on the run. The moment the show ends, he flees, but not before he's seen in the company of Shekhar by Rani, from whom he has fled in shame and remorse. Unknown to them, the tormentor Indrajit is himself a tormented man, after his elder son Madan ran away after a fight with his authoritarian father several years ago.
Due to a combination of circumstances, Shekhar ends up staying in Rani's house as a paying guest. There he discovers that she is struggling with a limp, that's affecting her ability to perform on stage. The limited means is a great problem for Rani, the sole bread earner in the house, having to support her younger sister Leela (Chandraprabha). To make things worse, she is constantly troubled by the ruthless Indrajit, who threatens to turn her out of the house if she cannot repay the next instalment of the money payable by her father.
Things take a turn for the worse when Rani discovers that Leela is pregnant out of wedlock with her lover Mohan (Kanu Roy), who happens to be the son of Indrajit. Shekhar, who is falling in love with Rani, decides to help her out. Desperate to raise funds for her cure, he takes up Banke's offer to break the vault of his employer, who is none other than Indrajit. The attempted robbery goes awry, but Shekhar escapes, dropping behind the chain he always wears. Indrajit immediately recognises that as that of his long lost son Madan.
Desperate to get back his son, Indrajit organises a live programme featuring Rani, knowing that his love for the young lady will impel Shekhar to come. Rani' father turns up at the theatre, as does Indrajit's entire family. As expected, Shekhar turns up at the theatre, where he is immediately recognised as Indrajit's long lost son Madan. Delighted to find his beloved son, Indrajit immediately turns a new leaf, cancelling his former boss' debts and asking him for the hand of both his daughters for his sons.
Kismet was severely criticised for glorifying crime and portraying a criminal in good light. Despite the criticism, the movie shattered all box office records, becoming the first Indian movie to gross 10 million (10 million) at the box office. It ran for 187 continuous weeks at Roxy Cinema in Calcutta, a record that stood for 32 years.
The song दूर हटो दुनियावालों, हिन्दुस्तान हमारा हैं (go away foreigners, India is ours), which slipped past the censors, was an immensely popular song in the mid 40s, coming as it did less than 6 months after Mahatma Gandhi called for the Quit India Movement. Although superficially addressed to the Germans and Japanese (with whom the British rulers were at war then), the patriotic overtones became at once evident to contemporary audiences. At screenings of Kismet, the reels would be rewound and the song played multiple times on public demand. The unprecedented popularity of the song forced the lyricist Kavi Pradeep to go underground to avoid being arrested by the British authorities for sedition.
Legacy
Kismet was also the first ever Indian movie to use the lost and found formula used in several Hindi movies in the 1960s and 1970s, notably Waqt (1965), Yaadon ki Baraat (1973), and Amar Akbar Anthony (1977). The unprecedented success of Kismet established Ashok Kumar as the first ever superstar of Hindi cinema. He remained the most popular actor in Hindi cinema until the early 50s.
The 1961 movie Boy Friend, featuring Shammi Kapoor, Dharmendra and Madhubala was a remake of Kismet. In the 1968 movie Padosan, when asked to think of a romantic song, Bhola immediately remembers the door hato duniyawalo song.
Cast
Ashok Kumar as Shekhar & Madan same person playing two characters),Mumtaz Shanti as Rani
Shah Nawaz as Inspector Saahab,Mubarak as Indrajeet Babu,David as the fence,Chandraprabha as Leela (Rani's sister),Kanu Roy as Mohan (Leela's lover),V.H.Desai as Baanke,P.F. Pithawala as Rani's father,Baby Kamala as Rani (Childhood),Mehmood as Madan (Childhood),Moti
Soundtrack
The music of the film by Anil Biswas introduced 'full chorus' for the first time in Hindi cinema.The film gave memorable hits like the patriotic, Door Hato O Duniyawalon Hindustan Hamara hay, the sad Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali and a soothing lullaby, Dheere Dheere Aa. The last was a duet between Amirbai Karnataki and Ashok Kumar, which added to the success of the film that is still known as one of his finest works.
Songs list
Aaj Himalay Ki Choti Se – Door Hato Ai Duniya Walo, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki, Khan Mastana
Ab Tere Siwa Kaun Mera Krishan Kanhaiya, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki
Ai Duniya Bata – Ghar Ghar Me Diwali Hai, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki
Dhire Dhire Aa Re Badal, Mera Bulbul Sau Raha Hai, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki
Dhire Dhire Aa Re Badal, Mera Bulbul Sau Raha Hai, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki, Ashok Kumar
Ham Aisi Qisamat Ko, Ek Din Hansaaye, Singer: Ameerbai Karnataki, Arun Kumar
Papihaa Re Mere Piyaa Se Kahiyo Jaay, Singer: Parul Ghosh
Tere Dukh Ke Din Phirenge, Zindagi Ban Ke Jiye Jaa, Singer: Arun Kumar
Door hato O Duniya walon[edit]
In the patriotic song, Door hato O Duniya walon, Hindustan hamara hay ("Step away, People of the World, Hindustan is ours"), penned by Kavi Pradeep, a negative reference to Japan was used – Tum na kisike aage jhunkna, German ho ya Japani ("Don't you bow in front of anyone, be it the Germans or the Japanese") – which allowed it to get past the heavy British censorship of the time. But the hidden meaning got through to the people and backed by Anil Biswas's uplifting score, the song became an instant hit amidst the atmosphere of rising nationalistic fervour. The British authorities soon realised their mistake, and wanted to ban the film. An arrest warrant was issued for the film's lyricist Pradeep, who had to go underground to avoid arrest.
Reception
The film went on to become a major success, at a theatre in Calcutta it ran for three years, and gave Indian cinema its first title of superstar, Ashok Kumar. According to the numbers, it has been given the status of All-Time Blockbuster. In the decade of the 1940s, this movie made the most money. Its net gross came to Rs. 1 Crore in 1943, which in today's date is equivalent of Rs. 63.2 Crore. This record was beaten in 1949 by Barsaat.
Presenting some bold themes for the first time in Bollywood in the 40s – an anti-hero and a single pregnant girl, for instance – this movie ran for 3 years. One of the earliest superhits of Bollywood, this movie also introduced double-role acting for the first time through its first superstar, Ashok Kumar. Box Office India reported that the film collected a nett gross of ₹10 million ($3.32 million)[a] and declared the film an "All Time Blockbuster". Its gross amounts to ₹309 crore ($47 million) if adjusted for inflation in 2016.
2. Tansen
Tansen is a 1943 Indian Bollywood film directed by Jayant Desai and featuring K. L. Saigal and Khursheed Bano in the lead roles. The film was based on Tansen, the 16th century musician in the court of Mughal emperor, Akbar.The film featured 13 hit songs, performed by the leads, including More Balapan Ke Saathi, Rum Jhum Rum Jhum Chal Tihari, Kahe Guman Kare Gori, Bina Pankh Ka Panchhi, Sapt Suran Teen Gram, Diya Jalao and Baag Laga Doon Sajni. It was the second highest grossing Indian film of 1943.
Tansen becomes orphan at a very young age and lives with his paternal uncle. He goes to a music teacher to learn music and returns to his native village after many years of training. In the village the shepherdess Tani is considered a gifted singer, and Tansen falls in love with her. Tani rescues an elephant and Tansen tames it by his singing. This captures the attention of Raja Ramchandra,Rewa State. He becomes Tansen's friend. At the same time in Agra, the Mughal emperor Akbar regrets why there is no musician in his navratnas. Akbar sends a few of his workers to the countryside to find out the best musician. While his workers are searching the best musician they come across Tansen, who while singing for Tani brings a leafless tree to bloom. The workers are overwhelmed at this and ask Tansen to go to the court of Akbar along with them. Tansen refuses at first by saying that he will sing for no one other than his sweetheart Tani. After repeated persuasions he finally agrees to go to Agra where he enthrals Akbar by his singing. Akbar appoints him as one of his navratnas. The other musicians in the royal court see this move as a threat to their reputation and status in the court.
On Akbar's birthday,Tani goes to Agra to meet Tansen and in order to meet her Tansen refuses to sing on the king's birthday. Upon meeting Tani, Akbar tells her that Tansen is married and asks her to leave. He does so thinking that a broken heart will inspire even better music from Tansen. When Akbar later asks Tansen to sing he refuses to do so saying that he would accept even the death penalty,but would not sing. One of the court musician Zehen Khan tells Akbar and his sick princess that the Deepak raag has the magic of igniting things. Akbar asks Tansen to sing the Deepak raag but again he refuses.Finally on repeated persuasions by the sick princess, Tansen agrees to sing. Tansen ignites the candles placed near him when he is singing. He continues singing in extreme heat and gets badly burnt. When Akbar learns from Azam Khan (the court physician) that Zehen Khan and the other court musicians were plotting against Tansen he orders the arrest of them all. Meanwhile, Tansen's condition worsens. Birbal, the court philosopher suggests to Akbar that a singer who can sing the Malhar raag (known for bringing heavy rain) should be searched for. Akbar himself searches for such a singer but is unable to find one. The dying Tansen wishes to meet his friend Raja Ramchandra. Along the way to his village Tansen meets Tani near a fountain and she heals him by singing the Megh Malhar raag.
Cast
K. L. Saigal as Tansen,Khursheed Bano as Tani,Mubarak as emperor Akbar,Nagendra as Birbal,Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay as the princess
Production
The film was produced under the banner of Ranjit Movietone and directed by Jayant Desai who went on to direct another historical film in 1945 based on the life of the Mauryan ruler Chandragupta Maurya. Kundan Lal Saigal was under a contract for the film company New Theaters and Jayant Desai had borrowed him for playing the lead role in the film. During the opening of the film Jayant Desai declared that the film was a love story between Tansen and the shepherdess Tani. Also in the beginning Saigal spoke about Tansen. Munshi Dil had written the dialogues of the film. The film was released during the period when the Muslim League was demanding the creation of a separate state for Muslims. The film's portrayal of the Mughal era was seen as "affirming the place of the Muslim in India rather than interpreting history." The film has also been categorised as one of the films in which the "Muslims were portrayed in terms of exotic otherness."
Music
The music for the film was prepared by Khemchand Prakash. The lyricist was Pandit Indra.The lead actor Kundan Lal Saigal had also sung some of the film's songs. Saigal had sung the song Diya Jalao in the Deepak raag, Kahe Gumaan kare re Gori in Gaara raag and Baag laga dun Sajani in the Megh Malhar raag. Prakash had used a piano for the music of the film. This was considered a minor flaw in a period film. The song Mohe panghat pe nandlal chedd gayo re composed by the musician Naushad for the film Mughal-e-Azaam was inspired by the song Kahe Gumaan kare re Gori.
Songs list
Ghata Ghanaghor Ghor Khursheed Bano
Aao Gori Aao Shyama Khursheed Bano
Kahe Guman Kare Re Gori Kundan Lal Saigal
Rumajhum Rumajhum Chaal Tihaari Kundan Lal Saigal
Baag Laga Dun Sajani Kundan Lal Saigal
More Balpan Ke Sathi Chhaila Bhul Jaio Na Kundan Lal Saigal, Khursheed Bano
Sapt Suran Tin Graam Gaavo Sab Gunijan Kundan Lal Saigal
Ho Dukhiya Jiyara Rote Naina Khursheed Bano
Ab Raja Baye More Balam Khursheed Bano
Binaa Pankh Panchhi Hun Main Kundan Lal Saigal
Diya Jalao Kundan Lal Saigal
Din Soona Sooraj Bina Kundan Lal Saigal
Baraso Re Khursheed Bano
3. Ram Rajya
Ram Rajya is a 1943 Hindi historical film, directed by Vijay Bhatt, with Prem Adib and Shobhna Samarth in the lead roles of Rama And Sita. It was the third highest grossing Indian film of 1943.
The film gained significance, as for title it used the term Ram Rajya (Rule of Rama), Mahatma Gandhi often used to define democratic-righteous rule during the Indian independence struggle, and it was the only film he, who didn't think much of the medium, ever saw. This was the first Indian movie that premiered in the USA.Following Bhagwan Shri Ram's 14 year exile, whereby he demolishes the evil empire of Lord Ravan, rescues his wife, Sita, and returns triumphantly home to Ayodhya to be crowned the King. Bhagwan Ram arranges for Sita to be placed on top a funeral pyre, and when she comes out unscathed with the Lord of Fire himself appearing and asking Bhagwan Ram to take Sita back as she is pure, and her presence has not only purified Ayodhya, but also Sri Lanka, as well as himself. Thus satiated, Ram and Sita return to Ayodhya, but not for long as the people, especially a washer-man (Dhobi) demands that Sita be expelled from the kingdom, as the people would like him to ask his wife to leave Ayodhya as she has spent several days and nights away from husband, and has thus maligned herself. Bhagwan Ram gives way to the demands of his people, and expels Sita, who then goes to reside with Lord Valmiki, calls herself Vandevi, and gives birth to twins - Luv and Kush. In the meantime, Valmiki has finished writing the Holy Book Ramayan, and ensures that the twins read and understand this, which they do. Then when Bhagwan Ram announces a Aswamedha Yagna (to expand Ayodhya's boundaries by letting a horse run through different kingdoms, and whosoever stops the horse, challenges Bhagwan Ram and his armies). When Vandevi hears of this, she is shocked as this Yagna can only be performed by a ruler with his wife at his side, is it that Bhagwan Ram is getting married again? Before she could find any answers to this question, she is told that her sons have stopped the horse from Ayodhya - and are ready to do battle with the powerful armies of Ayodhya.
Cast
Prem Adib as Rama,Shobhna Samarth as Sita,Umakant Desai - as Laxman,Badri Prasad,Chandrakant
4. Nadaan
Nadaan is a 1943 Indian Bollywood film. It was the fourth highest grossing Indian film of 1943.
Cast
Aman as Mukesh,Noor Jehan as Roopa,Masood as Anil
5. Nauker
Nauker is a 1943 Indian Bollywood film directed by Shaukat Hussain Rizvi and starring Chandra Mohan, Noor Jehan and Shobhna Samarth. It was the fifth-highest-grossing Indian film of 1943.
Cast
Chandra Mohan as Fazlu,Noor Jehan,Mirza Musharraf,Shobhna Samarth as Nargis,Balwant Singh as Salim, son of Fazlu,Yakub as Sadiq
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