Sabita Devi

Sabita Devi (1914–1965)[1] was a Hindi film actress in Indian cinema. She is stated to be one of the "prominent" leading ladies of the "pioneering era" of Indian cinema along with Mehtab, Bibbo, Durga Khote, Gohar, Devika Rani and Seeta Devi.[2] A Jewess by birth,[3] she changed her name to find acceptability in Hindi cinema like the other Anglo-Indian and Jewish actresses of her time, Sulochana (Ruby Myers), Seeta Devi (Renee Smith), Madhuri (Beryl Claessen), and Manorama (Erin Daniels).[4][5] After initially working with British Dominion Films Ltd., Calcutta, she shifted to Bombay and performed mainly in films produced by Sagar Movietone with her co-star in most films being Motilal. Some of the popular films with Motilal were Dr. Madhurika (1935) and Kulvadhu (1937) directed by Sarvottam Badami.[6] Their first film together was Shaher Ka Jadoo (1934), which was also Motilal's debut film,[7] and then Lagna Bandhan (1936) both directed by Kaliprasad Ghosh.[8] She acted in Silver King (1935) with Motilal. It was an action film directed by C. M. Luhar, which became a "huge success".

Sabita Devi
Born
Iris Maude Gasper

1914
Died1998 (aged 83–84)
Silverwood Nursing Home, Beeston, Nottingham, England
Resting placeWilford crematorium West Bridgford, Nottingham
OccupationActress
Years active1930–1947
SpouseDavid Trefor Lewis
Children1 stepchild

Counted as one of the top three female artistes of her time, in 1938 she was the third highest paid actress after Sulochana (Ruby Myers) and Gohar, drawing a salary of Rs. 3000 per month. "Classic writers like K. M. Munshi and Ramanlal Vasantlal" were commissioned to write stories for her films, with elaborate sets and "special rehearsals" provided along with an overwhelming "pre-release publicity".[3] One of the top directors of the time she worked with doing social genre films was Sarvottam Badami.[9] She formed her own production company, Sudama Pictures, in collaboration with Sarvottam Badami along with the assistance of Ranjit Studios.[10] From 1935–1943 Sabita acted in fifteen films, all directed by Badami. Some of the comedy films she acted in like Aap Ki Marzi (1939) and Ladies Only (1939), turned out to be big box office successes.[11]

Family

Sabita Devi was born Iris Gasper into a Jewish family. Her father Percy Osborne Gasper, died in November 1938, in Bombay.[12] Her mother remained as her manager-cum-companion. Sabita had two siblings, a brother and a sister.[13]

Career
Bibbo and Sabita Devi in Ladies Only

1930s

Her first film Kamaner Aagun (Flames Of The Flesh) was produced by British Dominion Films Ltd., Calcutta, in 1930. It was directed by Dinesh Ranjan Das and co-starred Dhirendranath Ganguly, Debaki Bose, Ramola Devi and Radharani.[8] The film was a semi-historical version of the Queen of Chittor, Rani Padmini, committing jauhar to evade the enemy forces.[14]

In 1931, Sabita acted in Aparadhi (The Culprit) a social, written and directed by Debaki Bose, starring P. C. Barua, Bhanu Bannerjee, Tincory Chakrabarty, Keshav Narayan Kale, Rampyari and Rose. It was a silent film made under the banner of Barua Film Unit, Calcutta.[15] Her other silent films from this time include Takay Ki Na Hay (What Money Cannot Do) (1931) was directed by Dhirendranath Ganguly and produced by British Dominion Films Ltd., Calcutta. It starred Dhirendranath Ganguly, P. C. Barua and Radharani. Kanthahaar (Diamond Necklace) (1939) was directed by Kali Prasad Ghose for Indian Kinema Arts, Calcutta and starred Durgadas Bannerjee, Rajhans and Renubala. Maraner Pare (After The Death) (1931) directed by A. K. Roy for British Dominion Films Ltd., Calcutta and co-starred Dhirendranath Ganguly, Hem Gupta, Radharani and Kalidas.[16] Bhagya Lakshmi (Wife's Destiny) (1932) directed by Kali Prasad Ghose with co-stars P. C. Barua, Durgadas Bannerjee, Khitish Roy Choudhary, Umasashi, Biren Ghosh and produced by Indian Kinema Arts, Calcutta.[17]

In 1933, she was cast in a religious film, Radha Krishna, directed by Priyanath N. Ganguly and Tulsi Lahiri. Her co-stars were Dhiraj Bhattacharya, Indubala, Amar Choudhary and Kamala Jharia. An East India Film Company production, it had music by Sunderdas Bhatia.[18]

Shaher Ka Jadoo in 1934 was a debut acting film for Motilal and was written and directed by Kali Prasad Ghose.[19] The main stars in this social were Sabita, Kumar, Sitara Devi, K. C. Dey, Miss Gulzar and Tarabai. The film was produced by Sagar Movietone. She then acted in Ezra Mir's Farzande Hind also called Phantom of the Hills, an action drama film. The film starred Sabita with Jal Merchant, Yakub, Nyampally. Produced by Sagar, the music was composed by S. P. Rane.[20]

Grihalakshmi (Educated Wife) (1934) was an early woman-centric film and was a remake of the earlier silent film Bhaneli Bhamini (1927). Directed by Sarvottam Badami,[21] it was produced by Sagar and had music by S. P. Rane. Her co-stars were Jal Merchant, Yakub, K. C. Dey and Lalita Devulkar. Her last film in 1934 was Chandra Gupta directed by A. R. Kardar and starring Gul Hamid, Nazir, Mazhar Khan and Dhiraj Bhattacharya. Produced by East India Film Company, it had music by K. C. Dey.

Motilal and Sabita Devi in Teen Sau Din Ke Baad (1938)

From 1935-1943 she acted in over fifteen films, all directed by Sarvottam Badami, with the exception of Silver King, cited as one of the best stunt films of its time. It was directed by C. M. Luhar and starred Motilal with music by Pransukh Nayak. Badami and Sabita left Sagar Movietone to form Sudama Pictures in association with Ranjit Pictures.[10]

In 1935, Sabita acted in Badami's film, based on K. M. Munshi's story, Vengeance Is Mine (Ver Nu Vasulat). It co-starred Kumar, Yakub, Sitara Devi, and Mehboob Khan in a small role. Music director was S. P. Rane. In Dr. Madhurika she played an emancipated doctor opposite Motilal, with music by Pransukh Nayak and Ashok Ghosh. Some of the other successful films in the 1930s include Grama Kanya (1936), Kokila (1937) written by Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai, Kulvadhu (1937), Teen Sau Din Ke Baad also called 300 Days & After (1939) a modern romantic drama in which Sabita's acting received a positive critique from Baburao Patel as an "artiste of great calibre", in a "light-hearted a portrayal of her difficult role" and that "she easily takes away all the laurels for acting".[22] Ladies Only was a 1939 comedy film directed by Badami and starred Bibbo, Prabha Devi and Sabita playing three girls from different states of India, all in love with the hero played by Surendra. This was the last comedy film Badami made for Sagar Movietone, before he left them after this film to form Sudama Pictures.[23]

Sabita acted in the next comedy film directed by Badami, this time for Sudama pictures. Aap Ki Marzi (1939) was based on the MGM produced, Edward Buzzell directed film Paradise for Three (1938).[24] The music direction was by Gyan Dutt and starred Motilal as the crossword puzzle winner who falls in love with Sabita's character.

1940s

Sajani (1940) was one of the first "socially relevant film(s)" that Badami made for Sudama pictures. It starred Sabita with Prithviraj Kapoor and Snehprabha Pradhan. Chingari (1940) a romantic melodrama from Sudama Productions with director Sarvottam Badami and co-starred Prithviraj Kapoor. The film was highly recommended by Baburao Patel editor of Filmindia as a contender for 1940 Award of the Film Journalists' Association Of India.[25]

Bambai Ki Sair also called Holiday in Bombay (1941) was directed by Badami for Sudama Productions and co-starred Shobhana Samarth and Arun. The film was reportedly "creating new box-office records at the Imperial Cinema when it was released".[26]

In 1947, she starred in Sarai Ke Bahar also known as Inquilab which is stated to be the only film directed by the famous Urdu writer Krishan Chander. It had lyrics by Niaz Haider and Vishwamitter Adil, with music by D. C. Dutt.[27]

Influence
  • She's stated to have influenced P. C. Barua, who had joined the Board Of the British Dominion Film Company and acted in a few silent films, to start his own company. According to Chatterji, "He was inspired to become independent". After his return to Calcutta from Paris, Barua set up the Barua Film Unit. The first film under this banner was Aparadhi (1931), directed by Debaki Bose, with Sabita cast as the heroine. The film went on to become a "critical success".[28]
  • She was one of the earliest female artists to write about film acting as a decent profession for ladies from respectable families. In a letter to the Filmland English weekly, November 1931 issue, titled "Why Shouldn't Respectable Ladies Join the Films", she countered claims of immorality and low moral standards of producers and directors, raised by an anonymous actress in the September 1931 issue, "Should Respectable Ladies Join Films". She stated that "the attitude a man takes towards a woman is governed by the latter's own integrity, by her actions, words and manner".[29] She went on to state that people had a "mid-victorian conception" of women on stage and that "A Lady Artiste" was perhaps herself to blame for any unwanted advances (author).[30]

Filmography

List:[1][16][31]

Year Film Director Cast Studio/Producer
1930Kamonar Agun (Flames Of The Flesh)Dhirendranath GangulyDhirendranath Ganguly, Debaki Bose, RadharaniSilent film. British Dominion Films Ltd
1931Aparadhi (The Culprit)Debaki BoseP. C. Barua, Bhanu Bannerjee, Tincory Chakrabarty, Keshav Narayan Kale, Rampyari, RoseSilent Film. Barua Film Unit Calcutta
1931Takay Ki Na Hay (What Money Cannot Do)Dhirendranath GangulyDhirendranath Ganguly, P. C. Barua, RadharaniSilent Film. British Dominion Films Ltd., Calcutta.
1931Kanthahaar (Diamond Necklace)Kali Prasad GhoseDurgadas Bannerjee, Rajhans, RenubalaSilent Film. Indian Kinema Arts, Calcutta
1931Maraner Pare (After The Death)A. K. RoyDhirendranath Ganguly, Hem Gupta, Radharani, KalidasSilent Film. British Dominion Films Ltd., Calcutta
1932Bhagya Lakshmi (Wife's Destiny)Kali Prasad GhoseP. C. Barua, Durgadas Bannerjee, Khitish Roy Choudhary, Umasashi, Biren GhoshSilent Film. Indian Kinema Arts, Calcutta
1933Radha KrishnaPriyanath N. Ganguly, Tulsi LahiriDhiraj Bhattacharya, Sabita Devi, Amar Choudhary, Kamala JhariaEast India Film Co
1934Shehar Ka Jadoo (Lure Of The City)Kali Prasad GhoshKumar, Sitara Devi, K. C. Dey, Miss Gulzar, TarabaiSagar Movietone
1934Farzande Hind (Phantom Of The Hills)Ezra MirJal Merchant, Nyanpalli, Motilal, YakubSagar Movetone
1934Grihalakshmi (Educated Wife)Sarvottam BadamiJal Merchant, Yakub, K. C. Dey, Lalita DevulkarSagar Movetone
1934Chandra GuptaA. R. KardarGul Hamid, Nazir, Mazhar Khan, Dhiraj BhattacharyaEast India Film Company
1935Vengeance Is Mine (Ver Nu Vasulat)Sarvottam BadamiKumar, Yakub, Sitara Devi, Mehboob KhanSagar
1935Dr. MadhurikaSarvottam BadamiMotilal, Padma, Gulzar, Bhudo AdvaniSagar Movietone
1936Lagna BandhanKali Prasad GhoseMotilal, Aruna Devi, AzurieSagar Movietone
1936Jeevan Lata (The Creeper Of Life)Sarvottam BadamiMotilal, Sankatha Prasad, Bhudo AdvaniSagar Movietone
1936Grama Kanya (Village Girl)Sarvottam BadamiSurendra, Yakub, Kayam Ali, Aruna DeviSagar Movietone
1937KokilaSarvottam BadamiShobhana Samarth, Motilal, Sitara Devi, Maya BannerjiSagar Movietone
1937KulvadhuSarvottam BadamiMotilal, Gulzar, Pesi PatelSagar Movietone
1938Teen Sau Din Ke Baad (Three Hundred Days & After)Sarvottam BadamiMotilal, Bibbo, Yakub, Gulzar, Sankatha PrasadSagar Movietone
1939Ladies OnlySarvottam BadamiSurendra, Bibbo, Prabha Devi, Bhudo AdvaniSagar Movietone
1939Aap Ki Marzi (As You Please)Sarvottam BadamiMotilal, Mazhar Khan, Vasanti, Khurshid, K. N. SinghSudama Productions
1940Chingari (Embers)Sarvottam BadamiPrithviraj Kapoor, E. Billimoria, Keshavrao Date, MeeraSudama Productions
1940SajaniSarvottam BadamiPrithviraj Kapoor, Snehprabha Pradhan, Nurjehan, Dixit, GhorySudama Productions
1941Bambai Ki Sair (Holiday In Bombay)Sarvottam BadamiShobhana Samarth, Arun, E. Billimoria, Vatsala KumthekarSudama Productions
1943Prarthana (The Prayer)Sarvottam BadamiMotilal, Jehanara Kajjan, K. N. SinghMinerva Movietone
1943FashionS. F. HasnainSardar Akhtar, Chandra Mohan, Bhudo AdvaniFazli Brothers
1945AmrapaliNandlal JaswantlalPrem Adib, Arun, JeevanMurli Movies
1947Sarai Ke BaharKrishan ChanderHemavati, Tabrez, Hasan, CuckooN. Studio Ltd.

References
  1. "Sabita Devi". muvyz.com. Muvyz, Ltd. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  2. Ashok Raj (1 November 2009). Hero Vol.1. Hay House, Inc. pp. 37–. ISBN 978-93-81398-02-9. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  3. Patel, Baburao (December 1937). "India Has No Stars". Filmindia. 3 (8): 5. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  4. Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd (April 1982). "Religion Has Shaped Indian Films". ThirdWay. 4. Vol. 5. Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. pp. 6–. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  5. The Modern Girl around the World Research Group; Alys Eve Weinbaum; Lynn M. Thomas; Priti Ramamurthy; Uta G. Poiger; Madeleine Yue Dong; Tani E. Barlow (3 December 2008). The Modern Girl Around the World: Consumption, Modernity, and Globalization. Duke University Press. pp. 162–. ISBN 978-0-8223-8919-4. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  6. Subodh Kapoor (2002). The Indian Encyclopaedia: Meya-National Congress. Cosmo Publications. pp. 4933–. ISBN 978-81-7755-273-7. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  7. Gulazāra; Saibal Chatterjee (2003). "Motilal". Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. pp. 615–. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  8. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. pp. 1994–. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  9. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. pp. 267–. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  10. Patel, Baburao (March 1939). "Editor's Mail". Filmindia. 5 (3): 15. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  11. Sanjit Narwekar (12 December 2012). "5-The Puppet Masters". Eena Meena Deeka: The Story of Hindi Film Comedy. Rupa Publications. pp. 66–. ISBN 978-81-291-2625-2. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  12. Patel, Baburao (December 1938). "Notes And News". Filmindia. 4 (8): 36. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  13. Patel, Baburao (January 1939). "Editor's Mail". Filmindia. 5 (1): 17. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  14. Rachel Dwyer; Senior Lecturer in Indian Studies Rachel Dwyer (27 September 2006). Filming the Gods: Religion and Indian Cinema. Routledge. pp. 114–. ISBN 978-1-134-38070-1. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  15. T. J. S. George (1994). The Life and Times of Nargis. Megatechnics. ISBN 978-81-7223-149-1. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  16. "Sabita Devi-Filmography". citwf.com. Alan Goble. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  17. "Bhagya Lakshmi". citwf. Alan Goble. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  18. "Radha Krishna". chiloka.com. Chiloka. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  19. Sanjit Narwekar (2005). Eena meena deeka: the story of Hindi film comedy. Rupa & Co. ISBN 9788129108593. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  20. "Farzande Hind". chiloka.com. Chiloka.com. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  21. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. pp. 259–. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  22. Patel, Baburao (March 1938). "Review-300 Days & After". Filmindia. 3 (11): 44. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  23. Narwekar2012, p.54
  24. RajadhyakshaWillemen2014, p. 50
  25. Patel, Baburao (June 1940). "Don't Miss These". Filmindia. 6 (6): 12. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  26. Patel, Baburao (June 1940). "Pictures In The Making". Filmindia. 6 (6): 12. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  27. GulazāraChatterjee2003, p. 312
  28. Shoma A. Chatterji (1 January 2008). "The Maxing Of A Creative Artist". P.C. Barua. SCB Distributors. p. 43. ISBN 978-81-8328-226-0. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  29. Tejaswini Ganti (7 March 2012). "3". Producing Bollywood: Inside the Contemporary Hindi Film Industry. Duke University Press. pp. 126–. ISBN 978-0-8223-5213-6. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  30. Neepa Majumdar (2009). Wanted Cultured Ladies Only!: Female Stardom and Cinema in India, 1930s-1950s. University of Illinois Press. pp. 75–. ISBN 978-0-252-03432-9. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  31. "Filmography-Sabita Devi". chiloka.com. Chiloka.com. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
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