Draupadi

Draupadi 1931

1

A grand Mahabharata adaptation, this film focuses on Duryodhana's plot to usurp the Pandavas' kingdom. It culminates in the infamous dice game where Yudhishthira loses everything, including Draupadi, whose honor is miraculously saved by Krishna during a public humiliation.

1931

Saubhagya Sundari

Saubhagya Sundari 1933

1

A silent film adaptation of the popular Gujarati play, the story follows Saubhagyasinh, the lost son of a king, who falls in love with Sundari after saving her. Their romance is challenged by Sundari's manipulative step-mother, Kumati, with Saubhagyasinh's friend Madhavsinh assisting

1933

The Light of the World

The Light of the World 1931

6.00

A period fantasy that told of the ageing king of Kamarpur, and his two rival queens, Navbahar and Dilbahar, and their rivalry when a fakir predicts that Navbahar will bear the king's heir. Dilbahar unsuccessfully tries to seduce the army chief Adil (Vithal) and vengefully destroys his family, leaving his daughter Alam Ara (Zubeida) to be raised by nomads. Eventually, Alam Ara's nomad friends invade the palace, expose Dilbahar's schemes, release Adil from the dungeon and she marries the prince of the realm.

1931

Anarkali

Anarkali 1928

1

A silent film adaptation of the popular, yet legendary, tragic romance between Mughal Prince Salim (the future Emperor Jahangir) and the courtesan Anarkali. Their forbidden love incurs Emperor Akbar's wrath, leading to Anarkali's legendary punishment of being walled up alive. This pioneering film is considered lost.

1928

Kalidas

Kalidas 1931

1

A Princess is tricked into marrying a naive and illiterate youth.

1931

Cinema Girl

Cinema Girl 1930

1

This film presented a fictionalized biography of its maker. One of the major characters is a producer modeled on Kohinoor's proprietor, D.N. Sampat, including a reference to the real life occasion when the studio, on the verge of bankruptcy, survived only because its employees donated money and gold ornaments to keep it afloat. Another character referred to a financier at the Imperial Studio. The plot also touched on the way a producer can curtail the freedom of a director.

1930

Indira M.A.

Indira M.A. 1934

1

A girl with an MA from Oxford rejects an 'idiot' chosen by her alcoholic father, and falls for the playboy.

1934

Anarkali

Anarkali 1935

1

Film starring Ruby Myers.

1935

Madhuri

Madhuri 1932

1

The Gupta period depicts battles between Ujjain and Kanauj kingdoms, featuring Amber, Prince Tikka, and Madhuri, who defeats Kanauj's commander and rescues Amber.

1932

Society's Mistake

Society's Mistake 1934

1

Unusually violent film for its time advocating widow's right to remarry.

1934

Dhanwan

Dhanwan 1937

1

Film starring Rattan Bai and Hafisji.

1937

Madhuri

Madhuri 1928

1

The story follows a kind princess, facing danger from an evil prince, while a brave warrior helps her and they fell in love, but face unknown dangers.

1928