Krishna Sudama

Betaab's best-known script tells of Radha (Gohar), a carefree rural belle who is supposed to marry childhood friend Gopal, but instead falls in love with a stranger who turns out to be the missing Prince Vijaysingh. When Ihe king despatches soldiers to recover the prince, Vijaysingh discards the pregnant Radha. She is attacked by the villagers for her immorality and eventually appears before the prince, her former lover, in court where she refuses to denounce him. Her child dies, she becomes a prostitute and eventually dies in the arms of the prince.

A jaded socialite, Vinakumari, and her lover, Dr. Rasik, discover purpose at a Gandhian ashram. Vinakumari dedicates herself to the poor as the ashram battles challenges from urban temptation to famine and greedy landlords. Dr. Rasik eventually joins the cause, bringing much-needed medical aid to the struggling community.

A classic modernization melodrama exploring the consequences of female autonomy.

Gunsundari, the dutiful wife, acts as savior for her troubled joint family. Her father-in-law Shyamaldas battles alcoholism and accusations, while her husband Chandrakant falls prey to villains and a prostitute, losing his property. Gunsundari also aids her sister-in-law Sushila through marital woes, facing personal trouble due to a secret. Destitute, she eventually reunites with a similarly down-on-his-luck Chandrakant on the streets. A coincidence ultimately reveals Shyamaldas left his property to his estranged son, leading to a happy ending.

A love affair and two feuding families who play out a Romeo and Juliet type drama in 17th century India, under the Emperor Jehangir.

A tearful melodrama about a progressive writer, Pushpa (Gohar), and her weak husband, Kulin (Billimoria). She has to fight her domineering mother-in-law and the tyrannies of a conservative household. When falsely accused of theft and infidelity by her wayward sister-in-law Gulab, Pushpa is forced out of the house. In her final state of penury, she recalls the examples of the great female Saint-Poets of Indian history, like Meerabai. Secondary characters are used to caricature Bombay's merchant class e.g. Mahatma Ramanand Adambar, a fortune-teller who suspects his wife of infidelity, and a gold collector called Prof. Pyarelal.

A class division melodrama centred on Mehtab’s histrionics. Kiran (Mehtab) is the daughter of a courtesan. Her lowly origins first destroy her marriage and then threaten to jeopardise her son Prakash’s (Singh) ambitions. She is blackmailed for keeping her son’s parentage a secret from him, forcing her to return to her ancestral profession. The film was a commercial success.

"Journeys End" a traditional tale told by one of the pioneers in Indian cinema, Jaddanbai Hussain (1892-1949).

The tyrannical Jabbar attacks a village and kidnaps the son of the devout Sayyed, named Iqbal. Raised by his captor, Iqbal becomes a tyrannical commander in Jabbar's army, forcing people to accept Jabbar as their god. During a campaign, he meets a group of "true" religious believers led by Sadiq, his daughter Sadika, and Princess Hamida. Hamida falls in love with Iqbal, much to the dismay of her suitor, Shaddad. As the plot unfolds, Iqbal learns of his true ancestry and is faced with a profound choice.

In this mythological tale, Babruwahan, son of Arjuna, returns from the Mahabharata war. He defiantly stops a horse from his father's army, leading to a battle in which he beheads Arjuna. As he prepares to commit suicide, Krishna appears, instructing him to retrieve the magical Sanjivani Mani from the land of the serpents to revive his father. This quest pits him against Ullupi, the serpent king's daughter and a former wife of Arjuna. When she surrenders the Mani but takes Arjuna's head instead, Krishna is forced to intervene to resolve the situation.

Aziz, an unemployed graduate, turns to crime after his brother’s death and ends up in prison. Years later, he escapes, becomes a gang leader, and unknowingly falls in love with his long-lost sister, leading to a tragic confrontation with the police.

A drama centered on a character who commits a wrong or faces moral transgression

Set in 1910, its modern hero, Kanwal (Motilal), invents a ray that records pain and pleasure photographically. His experiments render him blind. Country lass Meera (Shamim) tends to him and they fall in love. Later Meera meets a sage (Shah) who has an expensive magic potion that cures blindness. Unable to afford it, Meera kills the sage, grabs the medicine and goes to Kanwal’s house while all nature protests her actions. There the evil Diwan (Bhagwandas) and his accomplices steal the medicine, cure Kanwal and take the credit. Kanwal, who can now see but does not recognise Meera, accuses her of murder but eventually realises the truth.

Film starring Mehtab and Wasti.

Dhanna and his young daughter Tulsi struggle in poverty until Tulsi, trying to help her sick father, is arrested for theft and sent to jail. She later comes under the care of Dr. Kailash, whose household is held together by Rekha, the prosecuting attorney’s daughter in love with him. As Tulsi’s presence stirs tensions between Rekha and Kailash, the story weaves through themes of love, money, and morality, moving from hardship and conflict toward reconciliation and harmony.

A devoted traditional wife heals her ailing husband, only for him to abandon her for a dancing girl. Can a modern, educated woman's revolutionary ideas mend the broken marriage and restore love?

A social drama centered around a powerful figure, their influence, and a narrative involving devotion or authority.

Notions of religion restrict a man from fulfilling his mother’s last wish- immersing her ashes in the holy Ganga. Will he be able to break the shackles?

An early Indian social drama revolving around a visitor or unexpected arrival whose presence impacts the lives of others, likely leading to drama, complications, or revelations within the household.

Lily and Vasant's suicide pact is thwarted, leading to Lily's forced marriage. She cares for an invalid Vasant, causing her husband to disown her and ban her from their daughter, Indu. Years later, their paths collide. Lily, now a servant, meets Vasant again, who is painting her lawyer daughter, Indu. Their renewed death pact leads to Vasant's death and Lily's arrest. In a dramatic trial, Indu defends Lily, facing her boyfriend (the prosecutor) and her father (the judge).

Gohar-centered adventure movie. She is the ruthless Princess Hansa determined to acquire a treasure map from rival King Sujansingh (Bawa). She daringly steals the map but the king's misogynist son, Dilipsingh (Bilimoria), manages to get it back. Together they are caught by the outlaw Vijay (Ishwarlal) who also wants the treasure. The film was replete with sword fights, tribal magic and a horse battle at the end when Sujansingh attacks his former friend Vijay to find his imprisoned son.

"Moti Ka Haar" (1937), also known as "Pearl Necklace," is an early Hindi film directed by Jaddanbai, a pioneering woman in Indian cinema. Classified as both a fantasy and a social film, its plot likely explores the significance of a pearl necklace within a narrative that touches upon societal themes of the era. Featuring actors like Mehtab and a young Nargis, this film is a notable example from the nascent stages of Indian talkies.

The first Gujarati feature film is a saint film about the life of Narasinh Mehta (1408-75), played by Master Manhar. Mehta is known for his evocative Prabhatiyan (morning hymns) and especially for his composition Vaishnava jana to ('The Vaishnav is he who knows the pain of others') made popular by Gandhi, who also adapted the poet's term Harijan (children of god) for the nation's Untouchables. The film adheres to the Gandhian interpretation of Narasinh Mehta's work, avoiding e.g. miracle scenes.

Set in the 19th century against the backdrop of the Mutiny of 1857, the film is about the bravery of queen Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, who took up arms and led her army against the British.

Using the moon’s rays, Professor Harnam invents a potion that turns man into a murderous beast. His brother Professor Vaman, realizing the dangers of this invention, realizes the urgent need of producing an antidote to avoid disaster. However, it is too late as Harnam’s daughter drinks the potion during a quarrel with her lover Detective Kishore and the city begins to witness a murder spree amongst its elite and wealthy citizens.

Desperate for work, Deepak's accidental impersonation of a rich man leads to unexpected romance with Bina. But when his secret unravels, it shatters alliances and leaves hearts broken. Discover if love can truly conquer all, even after a grand deception.

This big-budget film depicts a famous episode from the 'Mahabharata', starting with Narada's ascent of Mount Meru. It shows Swarga, the Heaven of Indra, the Transformation in the Clouds of the Four Gods into impersonations of King Nala, Swan Messengers of Love, the Transformation of Kali (the Demon of Evil) into a Serpent, the Meeting of Kali and Dwapor and the Four Gods amidst the Blue Air.

A legendary king of Avanti, Vikramaditya, pledges to protect Princess Shreelakha of Kashmir from the Shakas, appointing Kalidas as his court poet. The film depicts Vikramaditya's heroic battles, his eventual defeat of Shakaraj, and the restoration of Kashmir's kingdom.

Roshan, a young man who can't see, falls for a blind beggar girl named Rani. He tries to get the money for an operation that could restore her sight, but his plan goes horribly wrong, landing him in jail. In his absence, a doctor enters Rani's life and gives her the gift of vision. After years apart, their paths cross again, but will they find their way back to each other, or has fate set them on separate courses forever?

Film starring Khursheed and Sitara Devi

A cautionary tale about wealth not bringing happiness. The blind Mohan (Kumar) lives in a village with his ward Radha (Madhuri). He wins a fortune with a sweepstake ticket sold to him by the tramp Ramesh (Charlie), who claims his due and begins to take over Mohan’s life, making him move to the city and getting him married to Chinta, a prostitute. When Mohan’s eyesight is restored, he finds that his wife is having an affair with Ramesh. Mohan takes revenge and eventually lands up in his old village, a poor man, but with Radha still unchanged, waiting for him.