A Throw of Dice

An early drama starring Devika Rani, was a social drama exploring motherly love, family bonds, and sacrifice.

The love story from the 'Mahabharata'. Savitri, a heroine born through divine benediction to Ashwapati, marries Satyavan, the son of an exiled and blinded hermit, although he is scheduled to die soon.

Rural melodrama about Durga, an adolescent child of nature, living with her aged mother Heera. Unable to get the medicine required to prevent her mother's death, one misfortune after another befalls the heroine in spite of the sympathies of the newly arrived village doctor, Jawahar.

Kamala elopes on her wedding day with her childhood friend Ratanlal. Her father Manganlal chases the couple and catches them on a train. His furious exchanges with Ratanlal are interrupted by gunfire and in the mysterious gloom of the evening a body is thrown off the train. The suspects are Ratanlal, who cannot furnish an alibi, Kamala, who insists on being the murderess, ex-convict Sukhdev, who confesses to the murder claiming robbery to be the motive, and the lunatic Tarachand, who also admits his guilt.

Costume Hindi drama.

A nationalist rural drama. The plot has Ajau and his girl friend Protima working on behalf of Indian villagers, incurring the enmity of the local zamindar and the villainous Sanatan. Ajay's relentless goodness eventually persuades the zamindar to bequeath his property to the hero, and general well-being reigns as class conflict is transmuted into class collaboration. The film includes the nationalist song 'Jai jai janani janmabhoomi' and other choruses with a similar thrust.

In this tale of rural caste divisions, polygamy is added to the theme in this story of Uma, born in an orthodox Brahmin family. To the despair of her parents she values her friendship with low-caste potters. Especially with Ranu. When she marries Nandlal, a man from her own caste, her potter friends are happy for her - until they learn that Nandlal is taking a second wife, Padma, with Uma's consent. The problem is that Uma is thought to be infertile. Uma returns to her parents' home mainly because Nandlal is paying no attention to his new wife, and when she returns she meets Ramu again. Nandlal overhears a conversation between Ramu and Uma and, when Uma suddenly discovers that she is pregnant after all, he doubts her fidelity.

What the children conceal from their parents. Banned at first in Europe. Released in the U.S.

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"

During the silent film era, Mara Chukleva was perhaps the most famous actress of Bulgarian origin. Success came to her in Italy during the heyday of Italian silent cinema; later the actress worked in Germany, where she starred in the film Blackface directed by Franz Osten.

Based in Central India, a story about struggle of a young man belonging to Bheel (an adivasi) tribe against the exploitation of his people by stronger Maratha tribe.

Two widowed sisters thwart a love match when they try to arrange marriages for their respective children.

The owner of a Berlin villa invites 4 friends to stay with him and hires a baroness to supervise their affairs. Meanwhile an ex boxer released from prison becomes involved with the villa when he is arrested for a burglary there.

Living an indolent life in a luxurious palace, Prince Gautama (Rai) is insulated by his family from the harshness of the world outside. But he is destined to learn greater truths: shocked to discover the pain and suffering of so many in his kingdom, he abandons his privileged existence, and his wife Gopa (Seeta Devi), to become a wandering teacher, eventually finding enlightenment and founding Buddhism. Featuring superimposed images and deep-focus shots that were highly impressive for the time, Light of Asia astutely combines a deeply felt spirituality with the surefire attraction of Indian exotica, which helped make it a considerable success in Europe.