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 Top 10 Movies on pre-Independence India  1. Shatranj Ke Khiladi Year: 1977 Based on: Munshi Premchand’s novel by the same name Screenplay & Direction: Satyajit Ray Cast: Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Jaffrey, Shabana Azmi & Amjad Khan This is almost a docu-drama on Pre-1857 India; it shows how the docility of India’s affluent upper middle class contributed to the establishment of the British Raj. Lucknow and its Nawab Wajid Ali Shah (an exemplary performance from Amjad Khan) provide the backdrop for the story of two chess-obsessed noblemen. The film documents the sluggishness of Post-Mughal India, where Kings preferred poetry to diplomacy and the durbars witnessed more mushairas and mehfils than ministerial meetings. Though a landmark in India’s period film genre, ‘Shatranj Ke Khiladi’ is considered by most critics to be one of Ray’s unimpressive works. It is remembered more for the voiceover done by Amitabh Bachchan than for the political insights it gave. 2. Jhansi Ki Rani Year: 1953 Producer/Director: Sohrab Modi India's first technicolour film, ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’ was Sohrab Modi’s dream-come-true project. He brought technicians from Hollywood to work on the SFX and battle sequences. Mehtab, the star of the year, was cast in the title role. Modi essayed the role of the Raj Guru. The film was received well by contemporary critics and it was applauded for “its authenticity in creating the right period and delineating historical events, its spectacular battle scenes and Mehtab's stirring performance though she is far too old for the role.” There is a Ball sequence in the Jhansi palace, which was shot spectacularly by Modi. In spite of the critical acclaim, the film fell flat at the Box-Office. Click here for our Independence day special 3. Junoon Year: 1978 Based on: Ruskin Bond’s ‘A flight of Pigeons’ Screenplay: Shyam Benegal Directed by: Shyam Benegal Produced by: Shashi Kapoor Set in 1857 India, ‘Junoon’ explores the romantic within the rebel and the rebel within the romantic. It is set in 1857, with the First War of Independence as its backdrop. The perspective is that of Javed Khan, one of the leaders of the Mutiny (played by Shashi Kapoor). The film discusses the deeper truths of the rebellion. Javed Khan storms a British hideout and imprisons three British women. He falls in love with Ruth (played by Nafisa Ali) and wants her to be his second wife. The romance falls apart as British seek retribution for those killed by the rebels. ‘Junoon’ was India’s toast at most international film festivals (1978-1980), and it brought home a bagful of awards. 4. Shaheed Year: 1965 Directed by S. Ram Sharma Produced by: Kewal Kashyap Cast: Manoj Kumar, Prem Chopra Bhagat Singh’s life has been subject to various Bolly takes, but none has been more impressive than this 1965 film. Manoj Kumar plays Bhagat with elan. This is the first of Manoj Kumar’s ‘patriotic series’. Kamini Kaushal, Pran, Iftekhar, Nirupa Roy, Prem Chopra, Madan Puri, Asit Sen, Indrani Mukherjee and Anwar Hussain form the supporting cast. The films music is by Prem Dhawan, and all the songs became super hits. If you are a B&W fan, you should never miss this film. Ranjod Rathore’s cinematography wins both the battle and the war, for this one. 5. Mangal Pandey: The rising Year: 2005 Written by: Farrukh Dhondy Directed by: Ketan Mehta Produced by: Bobby Bedi Cast: Aamir Khan, Toby Stevens, Rani Mukherji Mangal Pandey: The Rising (Indian title) is the typical example of a speculative period film. It is supposed to be the biopic of a sepoy called Mangal Pandey, who had “spent the first bullet of the 1857 mutiny”. Half of what we see on screen, here, is an assortment of historical fiction rather than fact. Made on the lines of a ballad, the Ketan Mehta film failed to connect with the 21st Century Indian. This was primarily because of the fact that the premise for the film was an assumption rather than a truth. 6. Saza-e-Kalapaani Year: 1995 Produced by Mohanlal Directed by Priyadarshan Written by T Damodaran Cast: Mohanlal, Tabu, Prabhu A take on the infamous Andaman prison of the British (referred to as ‘Kalapaani’), the prime purpose of this film was to imitate Hollywood movies of the ‘Schindler’s List’ hue than to depict the prison realities of 1919. It meanders through romance, violence and slapstick before finally coming to a Titanic-like end. There is even a romantic number picturised on the female lead, inside the prison walls (the prisoner’s dream, of course!) Spectacularly mounted and dubbed in six Indian languages, ‘Saza-e-Kalapaani’ was a moderate hit both at the marquee and with the critics. 7. 1947-Earth Year: 1998 Based on Bapsi Sidhwa’s novel ‘Cracking India’ Written & Directed by Deepa Mehta Produced by Anne Mason Cast: Aamir Khan, Rahul Khanna, Nandita Das This is about the pent-up energies of “non-violent” India that found a vent on the eve of Independence. Deepa Mehta deftly portrays 'Gadar' (Partition) and the first wounds of Freedom! The film was received well both at home and across the world. 8. Saat Hindustani Year: 1969 Produced, Directed & Written by KA Abbas Cast: Utpal Dutt, Amitabh Bachchan, Jalal Agha, Madhu ‘Saat Hindustani’ is known today as the debut vehicle of Amitabh Bachchan. But there is more to it than meets the eye. KA Abbas, inspired by Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’, tells the heroic story of seven Indians who attempt to liberate Goa from the Portuguese colonial rule. Amitabh Bachchan played one of the seven Indians (a Muslim poet) captured by “the enemy nation” as POW. A decade later, Bachchan starred in another film titled ‘Pukar’ (directed by Ramesh Behl), which again had the liberation of Goa as the theme. This time, it looked as if it was Amitabh Bachchan, the superhero, who had liberated Goa from Portuguese yoke! 9. 1942: A love story Written by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Kamna Chandra Produced and Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra Cast: Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala The title for this movie could have been ‘Love in the time of Quit India Movement’. Written by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the screenplay oozes Mush! 1942 is considered to be the bloodiest year in India’s non-violent movement against the British. But for Naren Singh (played by Anil Kapoor) and Rajeshwari Pathak (Manisha Koirala), it is the time to sing “Kuch na Kaho!” The villain of this tale is a Psychotic British general who lives in a castle and loves to behead Indians by the dozen. The film is remembered today for being the swansong of RD Burman. The ‘1942…’ audio is pure gold. 10. Comic relief: Mard Year: 1985 Written by: Inder Raj Anand/Pushpa Raj Anand Produced and Directed by: Manmohan Desai Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Amrita Singh ‘Mard’ is the story of Raju Tangewala (Amitabh Bachchan. Who else!), who is a contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi. He gets India her freedom in the space of three hours. This he achieves after facing innumerable perils at the hands of “khoon-choosing angrez”. He falls into quicksand, but is rescued by a talking dog and a thinking horse. The “Angrez Hukumat” puts him in the fray with his imprisoned King-Dad, and is asked to commence a gladiatorial duel. The son recognizes the father (and vice-versa) and together they bring ‘tabahi’ upon the British Raj. Manmohan Desai scrambles space and time to allude to everything related to India’s freedom struggle. A masterpiece in pop-art, ‘Mard’ is the anti-dote to the one who is overfed on classic period films. Source: India SYndicate  |
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