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ACHUT KANYA / THE UNTOUCHABLE GIRL |
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 Hindi/1936/B&W/142 min Production Co: Bombay Talkies Production : Himansu Rai Direction : Franz Osten Story: Niranjan Pal Dialogues, Lyrics: J.S.Casshyap Music: Saraswati Devi Cinematography: Josef Wirsching Sound: Savak Vacha Cast: Ashok Kumar, Devika Rani, Anwar, P.F.Pithawala, Pramila, Kusum Kumari |
Achut Kanya
was one of the most respected socials to come from Bombay Talkies. It reflected
the most representative features of the Indian social film of the first decade
of sound. The stories of this and subsequent films made an all-out attempt,
attacking the canons of Hindu society. This was a time when law and precedent
obstructed the inter-caste marriage and firmly supported the ostracism of the
untouchable. To be sure, Gandhi, Nehru and other leaders of the Indian National
Congress called for an end to this and repeated, week after week, that
independence in itself would not be enough, that Hindu society must also reform
itself from within. They ceaselessly hammered at issues of caste, untouchability,
widow remarriage. On the level of popular fable the social films did likewise. Even today this film is surprisingly honest, evocative and sensitive. Pictures more than words are used to suggest a mood, describe a feeling or indicate a crucial point in the narrative. An element of understatement is evident throughout the film. |
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