Film Career of Kazi Nazrul
Compiled by: Muhammad Anwar Hossain
Figure: Film Bidyapati (1937)
Kazi Nazrul Islam is not only a poet; he was also a man of multiple talents. Apart
from literary and musical world, he left notable mark on the world of film in Calcutta
from 1934 to 1942. He was director, music director and actor at a time. He also
wrote story for some feature films. There is a Hindi feature film titled “Bidyapati” also
based on his story. Description of some feature films is mentioned below.
Film: Dhruba (1934)
Director : Kazi Nazrul Islam & Satyendranath Dey
Language : Bengali
Music : Kazi Nazrul Islam
Cast : Joynarayan Mukhopadhyaya, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Master
` Probodh and Ms. Violet
Banner : Pioneer Film Company
Release : 1934
Story Synopsis :
There was a king named Uttampad in the purakal (ancient times). His wife
Suniti used to worship lord Vishnu every day. They had no shortage of
anything, the only thing that they did not have was a son. So Suniti arranged
a marriage of his husband again with a beautiful princess Sundari. Even
Sundari could not produce a child, but Sundari was able to do one thing. She
forced the king to send Suniti into exile in a forest and losing his way in the
jungle took shelter in Suniti's hut. After 5 years Suniti got back her husband.
She gave birth to a son, Dhruba. Dhruba learnt worshipping Lord Hari from
his mother. One day Dhruba came to know that he was actually the son of
king Uttampad. Without informing her mother five year old Dhruba went to
king's palace and begged for food and cloth from the king. As the king came
to know who was Dhruba he was about to place Dhruba on the throne, Suniti
came and rebuked Dhruba. Dhruba came to Suniti in her jungle hut. He came
to know if he could get the blessing of Lord Hari he would get every thing
including his father. Dhruba went to deep jungle and started meditation. At
last getting impressed by Dhruba Lord Narayan blessed Dhruba. King
Uttampad took back Dhruba and queen Suniti to his kingdom.
Film: Graher Pher (1937)
Director : Charu Ray
Language : Bengali
Music : Kazi Nazrul Islam
Cast : Manoranjan Bhattacharya, Nabadwip Halder, Debabala, Rabi
Ray, Satya Mukhopadhyay & More.
Banner : Debdutta Films
Release : 1937
Story Synopsis :
Samaresh was from a well to do family. He was a student of Medical College,
Calcutta and used to stay in a hostel. He was having a relationship with
Suchorita whom he was supposed to marry. One day Samaresh went to watch
a film with Suchorita. But after the show Suchorita returned home alone in
the car. Where did Samaresh go! Suddenly a phone call came in the
Muchipara Police Station. A message came that a murder has taken place in
the prostitute area of Harketa lane. Samaresh was in room of a prostitute
where a dead body of a lady was there in the bed. His clothes were soaked in
blood. Samaresh opend the door and found a beautiful girl was standing
there. By that time the police came. Inspector Nirmal babu was interrogating
the local people about the murder. Samaresh fled through the window with
that girl. Police entered the room but they could not find the murderer. They
came to know that the criminal had helped by a girl of that locality.
Samaresh's hostel friends were informed about this by the police about the
disappearence. Inspector Nirmal babu came to the hostel to investigate about
Samaresh. Samaresh's father rushed to Calcutta getting the telegram of
Samaresh's friends. In the mean time, a letter reached where it was written
due to some avoidable reason he had to leave Calcutta. Suchorita could not
find that reason. A few days later, at eleven in the night Samaresh came to
meet Suchorita. The police reached there immediately. Samaresh was caught.
The police filed a case against Samaresh. Their allegation was that Samaresh
had murdered the landlady of a house in Harkata Lane and fled away with a
girl. They were proofs. The member of the jury verdict that Samaresh was
guilty. At last, the actual criminal was caught. Suchorita and Samaresh were
reunited again.
Film: Gora (1938)
Director : Narsh Mitra
Language : Bengali
Music : Kazi Nazrul Islam
Story : Rabindranath Tagore
Cast : Bipin Gupta, Jibon Gongapadhyaya, Manoranjan
Bhattacharya, Narsh Mitra, Ranibala & more.
Banner : Debdutta Films
Release : 1938
Story Synopsis :
Gora and Mahim were two sons of Krishna Dayal Babu. From childhood, Bijay
and Gora were friends. Through an acccident, Bijay was introduced to Paresh
Babu's family. Paresh was a Bramhin. So Gora did not like Bijay's visit to that
house. Gora's mother was very anxious about Gora's hindusim. Krishna Dayal
was also very annoyed being an orthodox hindu. As per his father's request,
Gora went to Paresh Babu's house. Paresh babu's wife Bhadra Sundari was
not happy seeing Gora there. But Gora had a real conflict with Haran Babu.
The marriage of Haran Babu ad Suchitra was almost fixed. The reason of the
conflict was that, Haran Babu always thought of him self to be a social
reformer and saviour of Bramhin relegion. Mahim thought of his 12yr old
daughter Sashi's marriage with Binoy. As Binoy was associated with Bramha
Samaj, so Gora was against that marriage. But Anandamoyee was so
adamant about that marriage, that Gora left home and went for a country
side travel. In the mean time Haran Babu started writing in different pen
names against Gora, in different news paper. Haran Babu oprganised a
function on agro-industrial conference in Hoogly to help Paresh Babu. There
he came to know that Suchitra wanted to know Gora's views and she lost
interest in Haran Babu. While travelling Gora was detained at Charghoshpur
as the villageers were tortured by the landlord's tax collector. Shekhar
Chakraborty designed a conspiracy and sent Gora to jail for six months.
Paresh babu's younger daughter Lalita was returning by a steamer. Bijay was
also returning by that same steamer, after meeting Gora. Both of them
discovered their love for each other. Suchitra clearly said that she had no
consent in her marriage with Haran Babu. Seeing his influence restrained on
all corners, Haran babu became furious. He only didn't hesitate to attack
Paresh babu because he had allowed Lalita to beassociated with a Hindu boy.
Hearing that, Lalita decleared that she has no objection to marry Bijay even
ifhe did not become a Bramhin. Gora had returned from jail. Hearing Bijay's
marriage with Lalita, he became agitated and went to Suchitra's house to
discuss. But Gora found that Suchitra had changed a lot. Gora wanted her
beside him and his mission to save the country.
Film: Sapure (1939)
Director : Debaki Kumer Bose
Language : Bengali
Music : Rai Chand Boral
Story : Kazi Nazrul Islam
Cast : Rathin Bandopadhyaya, Pahari Sanyal, Kanan Devi, Krishna
Chandra & more.
Banner : New Theaters (P) Ltd.
Release : May 27, 1939
Story Synopsis :
Jahar was the leader of the snake charmer gang. He had the power to de-
poisoning the body of a snake bite. He had done it for last 99times. His
mission was to do that for 100times. For that he remained bachelor and lived
a restricted life. One day Jahar found a dead body of a beautiful girl floating
in the river. He picked up the body and by his power he bought back her life.
But what he would do with her? He gave shelter to her, but as he could not
tolerate any women's attire, he dressed her as a man and named her
Chandan. No body of the gang knew that Chandan was a girl. Jahar's
favourite disciple Jhumro used to like Chandan very much. But one day every
one discovered that Chandan was a girl. Jahar wanted to calm down shocked
Chandan. Chandan reminded him his mission that very night when Chandan
was about to start his mission he came to know that Jhumro had fled away
with Chandan. He rushed to his tent and brought the most poisonous snake
the “kaliya nag” and released it to bite Jhumro. That snake bites Jhumro. He
could not even move in the pain. Chandan rushed back to the tent. She says
that she was ready to sell herself for the sake of Jhumro's life. Jahar bought
back Jhumro to normal. As Chandan was promised to sell herself, so she
requested Jhumro to go to some place else. Jahar was listening to her. She
took the bite of the snake in her chest. Jhumro was upset. Jahar ordered
Jhumro to take Chandan far away from that place. When Jhumro and
Chandan left the place, Jahar did not apply his power anymore.
Film: Chowrangee (1942)
Director : Nabyendu Sarkar
Language : Bengali
Music : Kazi Nazrul Islam
Cast : Chaya Devi, Jyoti Prakash, Pramila Devi, Haren
Mukhopadhyaya & many more.
Banner : Fazil Brothers
Release : September 12, 1942
Story Synopsis :
She begs at Chowringhee crossing. In all weathers and in all seasons. Days,
months and years together. A boy and a girl equally wealthy come out of
metro cinema. A beggar maid begs and receives a one rupee coin from them.
Occasionally the boy happens to meet beggar maid. They love each other.
The boy lets fall a bag full of money to test her honesty. Collecting the bag
she must keep it. The girl tell him with his smile it is not mine I must keep it
where I have found it-The boy has very much surprised at her honesty and
asks her to pick up a job. Agreeing, the girl goes to be a ways earner. The
boy does not like this so called beauty and self indulgence in the name of
aristocracy. One day he opens his mind in clear terms to that wealthy girl.
With an emphasis that a married woman conduct herself as her husband
desires. The girls replied equally in clear terms that she doesn't like
interference of any body in her personal freedom. The boy erases from his
mind the image of the Rajkumari. He recalls the simple beautiful face of the
beggar main. He stands on reality from his shadowy dreams and decides to
marry her. Accompanied by the beggar maid ignoring his father's moral orders
he came out into the wide world, shelterless. He has confidence that
somehow he will get a job. But his hopes are belied and he did not hesitate to
pull rickshaw in the streets of Kolkata to earn his loving by hard working. As a
rickshaw puller one day he takes a woman and let her down infront of a
hospital. As soon as he stretches his hand for fare he is amazed to see the
nurse face and says how strange? You are! This nurse happens to be that
wealthy woman proud of her beauty and possession. Now she devoted her life
to the service of the suffering people. One day the rickshaw puller is involved
in an accident and brought by another rickshaw puller to the beggar mind
house. The mystery is exposed now in the presence of the beggar mind. The
boy rickshaw puller only for her. She is very repentant. She runs to his rich
father's residence and says that love realized that I am a curse in his life. She
urges upon the rich man to bring back his son reconcile the beggar mind bids
fare well with tearful eyes saying "Please do not misunderstand me."
Film: Bidyapati (1937)
Director : Debaki Bose
Language : Hindi
Story : Debaki Bose & Kazi Nazrul Islam
Cast : Kadirnath Sharma, K.N. Singh, Krishna Chandra Dey,
Pahari Sanyal, Chaya Devi & Kanan Devi
Banner : New Theaters (P) Ltd.
Release : 1937
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