Achhut

Achhut (The Untouchable)[1] is a 1940 social Indian Bollywood film based on untouchability.[2] It was the third highest grossing Indian film of 1940.[3] The film was produced by Chandulal Shah for his Ranjit Studios. He also wrote the story and screenplay, and directed it. Achhut's premiere was attended by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 23 December 1939, who stated: "If the picture helps India to remove this curse, it can be said to have helped India to win Swaraj as untouchability is one of the chief obstacles in the road to freedom".[4]

Achhut
Cover from film publicity booklet
Directed byChandulal Shah
Written byChandulal Shah
Starring
CinematographyKrishna Gopal
Music byGyan Dutt
Release date
  • 5 April 1940 (1940-04-05)
Running time
140 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

The film had Motilal and Gohar in the main lead with, Sitara Devi, Mazhar Khan, Noor Mohammed Charlie, Vasanti and Rajkumari playing important roles. The music was by Gyan Dutt, with lyrics by Raghunath Brahmabhatt. The cinematography was by Krishna Gopal.[5]

The film was made to "promote Gandhi's movement against untouchability".[6][7] The film was initially released in the Gujarati version on 23 December 1939.[5]

Plot

When Lakshmi (Gohar Mamajiwala), the daughter of a Harijan, fetches water from a temple an infuriated Pujari (priest) breaks the pot on her head. This incident, plus several other injustices that he has faced, forces the father to adopt Christianity into which he brings Lakshmi. The mother refuses to become one and remains a Hindu along with her other child. A rich businessman, Seth Haridas, adopts Lakshmi and she becomes a friend to his daughter, Savitri. Lakshmi gets a good education and the two girls grow up to fall in love with the same man, Madhukar. As Madhukar comes from a high caste family, the Seth, in order to get his daughter married to him informs Madhukar's family of Lakshmi's background. Lakshmi returns to her mother in the village, where she meets Ramu (Motilal), the boy to whom she had been wed as a child. The two get together and rebel against the atrocities against the untouchables (Harijans). The message finally gets through and they are allowed to enter the temple.

Cast

Review

Baburao Patel, editor Filmindia, in his review in the January 1940 issue, having seen the Gujarati version stated "The realistic atmosphere, the folklore songs and dances, faithful portrayal of characters, all contribute to make the picture a beautiful poem of instructive screen entertainment". There was praise for the actors, with Gohar giving a'dynamic performance', and Motilal was perfectly cast with his "wonderful restraint of emotions". Sitara Devi, Charlie and Vasanti were also commended for their acting.[5] The reviewer for The Indian Express felt the film was of "all-round excellence and tremendous propaganda value". Gohar's performance was commended with the reviewer calling her the "Queen of Emotions". He further added, "Naturally the subject matter gives ample scope for Gohar's versatility of histrionic gifts and she delights the audience with a wide range of human emotions, from the ecstasy of romance to the poignancy of tragedy." He felt the songs provided a "varied fare", Sitara's folk dance "exceptionally well rendered", "[t]he fire and storm scenes ... realistic" and the "photographic sequences ... delightful".[8]

Soundtrack

The music direction was by Gyan Dutt and the singers were Gohar, Vasanti, Sitara Devi, Popatlal, Kesari, and Khursheed.[9]

Songlist
#TitleSinger
1 "Ae Ri Saasu Puchhe Nanand Se" Kesari, Popatlal
2 "Bansi Banoon Bansidhar Ki" Vasanti, Kantilal, Sitara Devi
3 "Din Dukhiya Ko Daan Diya" Vasanti, Gyan Dutt
4 "Door Hato Ji Door Hato Ji" Gohar
5 "Koi Bajao Na Prem Ki Veena" Khursheed
6 "Nahin Bolun Nahin Bolun Lakh Manaye Krishna Kanhaiya" Gohar, Gyan Dutt
7 "Raghupati Raja Raghav Ram" Gohar, Vasanti
8 "Re Panchhi Samay Ko Pehchan Lena Tu" Gohar
9 "Soja Soja Ri Kahe Tore Bairan Nindiya" Gohar, Vasanti
10 "Suno Suno Mere Bhagwan" Vasanti

References
  1. "Achhut (The Untouchable)". The Indian Express. 6 April 1940. p. 3.
  2. Heidi R.M. Pauwels (2007). Indian Literature and Popular Cinema: Recasting Classics. Routledge. p. 209. ISBN 978-1-134-06255-3.
  3. "Top Earners 1940". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  4. Indian History Congress (2007). Proceedings - Indian History Congress. Vol. 66. p. 943.
  5. Baburao, Patel (January 1940). "Review-Achhut (The Untouchable)". Filmindia. 6 (1): 48.
  6. Andrea L. Stanton; Edward Ramsamy; Peter J. Seybolt; Carolyn M. Elliott (2012). Cultural Sociology of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa: An Encyclopedia. SAGE Publications. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-4522-6662-6.
  7. Indian cinema. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1998. p. 80. ISBN 978-81-230-0646-8.
  8. "Gohar Re-Establishes Her Superiority". The Indian Express. 6 April 1940. p. 3.
  9. "Achhut". muvyz.com. Muvyz Ltd. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
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