Down the Years( frame to frame) - Page 4

1942

Begam Akhtar in Roti

Government restricted lengths of films to 11,000 feet to conserve stock for war propaganda films.

Censor board tightened its grip on the movies, use of - Gandhi, Nehru, Freedom and other such words were banned in the films.

Homi Wadia made 'Ekta', first film of Sindhi language.

Bombay talkies' partner Subodh Mukherjee started Filmistaan alongwith Ashok Kumar.

A R Kardar started his Kardar Studios in Bombay.

1943

Kismat


Exhibition of 'approved' propaganda films made compulsory under Defence of India Rules 44A.

Kismet one of the biggest hits in Indian Film history is released. It ran continuously for 196 weeks at Chitra, Calcutta. All were regular shows!

Rajkamal Kala Mandir's first film 'Shakuntala' released.

Mahatma Gandhi watched 'Ram Rajya', the only film in his life time.

Information Films of India started.

1944

Ram Shastri


Increase in Entertainment Tax in Bombay, Madras, United Province and Central Province.

Father of Indian cinema Dada Sahab Phalke died on 16th February.

Prabhat's ambitious film Ramshastri released.

Dilip Kumar debuted in Hindi films with the release of Jwar Bhata.

Jemini's Rattan proved to be a massive hit across the nation

Year 1944

Popular Films



Bhanwara : Kidar Sharma
K L Saigal, Kamla, Arun

Bharthari : C Doshi
Surendra, Mumtaz Shanti

Jwar Bhata : Amiya Chakraborty
Dilip Kumar, Aaga, Shamim

Ram Shastri : Jagirdar
Jagirdar, Shakuntala, Anant Marathe

Rattan : M Sadiq
Karan Diwan, Swarn Lata

Chal Chal Re Naujawan : Gyan Mukherjee
Naseem, Ashok Kumar


Popular Songs

Chanda Des Piya Ke Ja : Bharthari
Amirbai

Do Dilon Ko Ye Duniya : Chand
Manju

Sanjh Ki Bela Panchhi Akela : Jwar Bhata
Arun Kumar

Ankhiyan Mila Ke : Rattan
Zohrabai

Sawan Ke Baadlon : Rattan
Zohrabai, Karan Diwan

Jab Tum Hi Chale Pardes : Rattan
Karan Diwan


Films released

Total Films Released : 127

Hindi : 85

Bengali : 14

Tamil : 14

Telugu : 6

Marathi : 5

Others : 3

1945

Hum ek hein

Film Trade representatives resign from the Film Advisory Committee.

Chetan Anand's Neecha Nagar shown in Cannes film festival.

New Thetres' last known film Humrahi released.

Dev Anand debuted in films with Hum Ek Hain which got released in '46.

V G Damle of Prabhat Film Co. died.

Guru Dutt made his debut with the release of Lakha Rani.

Year 1945

Popular Films


Amrapali : Nandlal Jaswantlal
Prem Adib, Sabita Devi, Jiwan

Ghazal : Zahur Raja
Lila Chitnis, Radharani

Humayun : Mehboob
Ashok Kumar, Nargis

Panna Dai : Ram Daryani
Durga Khote, Chandramohan, Minakshi

Lakha Rani : V Bedekar
Guru Dutt, Durga Khote

Zeenat : S H Rizvi
Noor Jahan, Yakub, Karan Diwan


Popular Songs
Diya Jala Kar Aap Bujhaya : Badi Maa
Noor Jahan

O Varsha Ke Pehle Badal : Meghdoot
Jagmohan

Badariya Baras Gai Us Par : Moorti
Khursheed, Mukesh

Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne De : Pehli Nazar
Mukesh

Baithi Hoon Teri Yaad Ka : Village Girl
Noor Jahan

Aahen Na Bhari : Zeenat
Noor Jahan, Kalyani, Zohrabai


Films released

Total Films Released : 99

Hindi : 73

Bengali : 9

Tamil : 11

Telugu : 5

Kannada : 1

1946

Neecha Nagar

Government shut down Information Film of India.

Dharti ke Laal produced by Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and directed by K. A. Abbas won critical acclaim at home and abroad.

Dr. Kotnis ki Amar Kahani made as a war-effort film.

Raj Kapoor married Krishna, who remained with him till the end.

Popular singer-actor Kundan Lal Saigal died.