The huge success Hrithik Roshan‘s Jodhaa Akbar, Ranveer Singh‘s Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat and the recent hit Kangana Ranaut‘s Manikarnika have revived the era of historical films. Soon Ajay Devgn‘s Tanhaji will be released. But readers’ do you know which is the first Historical film of India? And which filmmaker started the trend of historical films in India?
Well, the present generation may not know hence Indian Film History (IFH) is enlightening our readers with the great history of Indian cinema. Actor-filmmaker Sohrab Modi made the historical film, Pukar (1939). Interestingly, as a student, Sohrab Modi hated history. However, when he began making films on historical subjects, he was so fascinated by history that after Pukar, all his films was based on history. His last film was ‘Guru-Dakshina,’ on the historical tale of Guru Dronacharya and Eklavya. But due to health problems, he could not complete the film, and they shelved it after its Muhurta.
Sohrab Modi’s Remarkable Journey
Sohrab Modi started as an actor and later took to direction. However after making three films on social subjects, he was disheartened and decided to quit direction. Later, after friends and relatives encouraged him, he switched to historical movies, a genre Indian cinema had not explored. He made the film Pukar, which depicted the justice for which the Mughal emperor Jehangir was renowned.
The film told an engrossing tale. The emperor faced a tight spot after his wife erroneously killed an innocent fisherman and repented. Justice demanded the queen’s execution. Yet, the climax showered the emperor conquering hearts with a landmark judgement.
Pukar The Superhit Film
The film became a huge hit. Later Sohrab Modi gave a row of hit historical movies like Sikandar (1941), Prithvi Vallabh (1943), Ek Din Ka Sultan (1945), Jhansi Ki Rani (1953), Mirza Ghalib (1954), Raj Hath (1956), Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957). The success of these films established Sohrab Modi, as the Cecil B. De Mille of India and the pioneer of historical movies. Modi made movies under his Home Production Minerva Movietone‘s and his banner had a roaring Lion as its emblem – symbolizing the actor’s forte in delivering his dialogues in a rhetorical and dramatic style. Dialogues that were with laced with punches of paradoxes, synonyms, and puns, a characteristic that was the hallmark of Sohrab Modi movies!!
Sohrab Modi had made Jhansi Ki Rani (1953) in technical color. They dubbed the film in English as The Tiger and the Flame, and released it in 1956 in London! Unfortunately, both the Hindi and English versions failed! Sohrab Modi was hurt, but he continued his love for history and made Mirza Ghalib (1954), a film on the life of historical poet Mirza Galib. The film proved a big hit and fetched Modi a National Award for Best Film!
Sohrab Modi won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1980 and died on 28 January 1984 at the age of 86 due to cancer.
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