Bhabhi (1938 film)

Bhabhi
Directed by Franz Osten
Produced by Bombay Talkies
Written by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay
Starring P. Jairaj
Renuka Devi
Maya Devi
V. H. Desai
Music by Saraswati Devi
Cinematography Joseph Wirsching
Pareenja
Production
company
Bombay Talkies
Distributed by Ramniklal Mohanlal and Co., Bombay
Release dates
1938
Running time
144 minutes
Country British India
Language Hindi

Bhabhi (Sister-in-Law) is a 1938 social family drama Hindi film directed by Franz Osten.[1] The film was based on a Bengali short story written by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay called "Bisher Dhoan". Bandyopadhyay was a famous Bengali short story writer also known for the fictional detective he created, Byomkesh Bakshi.[2] The cinematographers were Wirsching and Pareenja. Dialogues and lyrics by J. S. Casshyap. V. H. Desai, the comedian, got his "big break" in Bhabhi when he joined Bombay Talkies. He became popular as the nervous father of the heroine Renuka Devi.[3] S. N. Tripathi started his acting with a small role in the film. The film had the new find Renuka Devi in the lead.[4]

The cast included P. Jairaj, Maya Devi as the young widow, with V. H. Desai, Rama Shukal, Meera, M. Nazir, P. F. Pithawala.[5]

The film is family social drama, which deals with the issue of young widows. It put a special focus on the Indian society's attitude towards them, and society's bigoted approach to "man- woman relationships".[6]

Plot

Kishore (P. Jairaj) is a morally respectable man. When his friend is dying, he extracts a promise from Kishore to look after his distraught young wife Bimala (Maya Devi). Bimala is alone in the world and has no family to go to. Considering her to be his sister-in-law (Bhabhi), Kishore brings Bimala to his house. Though their relationship is that of a brother and sister, it is frowned upon by society. Kishore does not allow society's disapproval to affect them. He falls in love with his new neighbour Renu (Renuka Devi). Renu lives with her father, who appears as a shaky and nervy man. Anupam (Rama Shukal) also wants to marry Renu as she's wealthy. Bela (Meera) Anupam's cousin develops a crush on Kishore. Anupam causes problems for Renu and Kishore by starting gossip bout Bimala and Kishore. The story follows that line till all misunderstandings are cleared and Renu and Kishore can marry.

Cast

Review and Reception

Screen shots of Bhabhi from Filmindia January 1939

The film was released on 17 December 1938 at Bombay's Roxy Talkies. Renuka Devi's performance was cited as "commendable".[7] Baburao Patel, editor of the cine-magazine Filmindia, in his review of Bhabhi in the January 1938 issue, called Renuka a "remarkable discovery" with a performance "that has distinctive grace" and that "Bombay Talkies have found another Devika (Rani)". V. H. Desai as the "nervous father" was "superb". Rama Shukal was stated to be a good addition to Indian cinema. Jairaj's acting came in for praise for its expression of "suppressed rage" and "grief". The direction was praised for being "subtle", "clever" and that Osten had "excelled himself".[8]

The film was claimed to be a "tremendous success" by Patel of Filmindia in his February 1939 issue. Renuka Devi was hailed as a "star" and her success was cited as a "welcome sign of better class ladies taking up the film career".[9]

Soundtrack

One of the memorable monsoon songs "Jhuki Aayi Re Badariya Sawan Ki" is cited as an evergreen classic. The music was composed by Saraswati Devi, for whom the film was a musical hit.[6] The singers were Renuka Devi, Meera, Saroj Borkar, S. N. Tripathi.[10]

Songlist

# Title Singer
1 Jhukee Aayi Re Badariya Sawan Ki Renuk Devi
2 Aaj Toh Anand Bhaye Krishna Aaye Renuka Devi
3 Ban Titli Ban Titli Main Phool Phool Par Jaati Meera
4 Ghar Aaye Sajan Laut Aaye Kun Bahane Pir Bulayein Renuka Devi
5 Hum Qaidi Haan Qaidi Tan Man Qaidi Renuka Devi,
6 Man Murakh Kyun Diwana Sroj Borkar
7 Matwali Koyaliya Bole Ku Ku Meera
8 Nahin Dekh Behtar Sataana S. N. Tripathi
9 Patta Toota Daal Se
10 Phool Sajan Tum Mero Man Bhnwara Renuka Devi
11 Tai Tair Ri Jeevan Naiya
12 Phool Bagiya Tum Aana Bhanwara Rain Bhaye Meera
13 Nanhi Nanhi Bundiya Meh Ra Barse Jiya R Trse Renuka devi

References

  1. Indian cinema. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1 January 1998. ISBN 978-81-230-0646-8. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  2. "Saradindu". parabaas.com. Parabaas. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  3. Sanjit Narwekar (12 December 2012). Eena Meena Deeka: The Story of Hindi Film Comedy. Rupa Publications. pp. 48–. ISBN 978-81-291-2625-2. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  4. Begum Khurshid Mirza (2005). "9-Renuka Devi: My Celluloid Identity". A Woman of Substance: The Memoirs of Begum Khurshid Mirza, 1918-1989. Zubaan. pp. 136–. ISBN 978-81-89013-31-8. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  5. "Bhabhi". citwf.com. Alan Goble. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  6. 1 2 Chandra, Balakrishnan, Pali, Vijay kumar. "100 Years Of Bollywood-Bhabhi (1938)". indiavideo.org. Invis Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  7. Harish S. Booch; Karing Doyle (1962). Star-portrait: Intimate Life Stories of Famous Film Stars. Lakhani Book Depot. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  8. Patel, Baburao (January 1939). "Review-Bhabhi". Filmindia 5 (1): 47. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  9. Patel, Baburao (February 1939). "Studio Close-Ups". Filmindia 5 (2): 47. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  10. "Bhabhi (1938)". muvyz.com. Muvyz, Ltd. Retrieved 10 April 2015.

External links

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