Watan (film)

Watan (transl. Country) is a 1938 Hindustani costume drama film directed by Mehboob Khan.[1] Produced by Sagar Films (Sagar Movietone), the film had story by Mehboob Khan and Wajahat Mirza. The cinematographer, as for most Sagar films was Faredoon Irani.[2] Following the successful music of Manmohan (1936), Sagar Movietone retained Anil Biswas as the in-house music director, scoring music for Watan along with other releases of the time from the studio.[3] The cast of the film included Kumar (Syed Ali Hasan Zaidi), Bibbo (Ishrat Sultana), Maya Banerjee, Yakub Lala, Sitara Devi and Kayam Ali.[4]

Watan
Sitara Devi and Kumar in Watan
Directed byMehboob Khan
Written byWajahat Mirza
Mehboob Khan
Produced bySagar Movietone
StarringKumar
Bibbo
Yakub
Sitara Devi
CinematographyFaredoon Irani
Edited byShamsudin Qadri
Music byAnil Biswas
Production
company
Sagar Movietone
Release date
  • 22 January 1938 (1938-01-22)
Running time
168 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi/Urdu

Sitara Devi, who started her career as a child actress with Sagar Movietone working with Mehboob, got her first role as a leading lady with Watan.[5] She was adjudged, and received the best actress award, from the Gohar Gold Medal Committee, an award committee instituted by actress Gohar.[6]

The story set in Central Asia, based on the Decossackization policy, involving the Bolsheviks and Cossacks with the Cossacks fight for independence which was a symbolic reference to the independence from British rule in India at that time.[7] It also incorporated a romantic triangle involving Kumar, Bibbo and Sitara Devi.

Plot

In a fictionalised setting somewhere in Central Asia the tyrannical Russian King (Siddiqui) is committing atrocities against the Cossacks. General Murad (Kumar) is sympathetic towards the Cossacks and is arrested for his treachery. He manages to escape and meets Gulnar (Sitara Devi). Together with the help of princess Nigar (Bibbo) who falls in love with Murad, they plan a coup and are successful in routing the Tsar and his men.

Cast
  • Kumar as General Murad
  • Bibbo as Princess Nigar
  • Sitara Devi as Gulnar
  • Maya Banerjee
  • Yakub Lala
  • Kayam Ali as Jabir
  • Sankatha Prasad
  • H. Siddiqui as the Russian King
  • Pande
  • Mirza
  • Ramchandra
  • Agashe

Songs

[8]

#TitleSinger
1 "Ham Dil Mein Soz-E-Ishq Ko Pinha Kiye Hue" Sitara Devi
2 "Kyon Ham Ne Diya Dil" Sitara Devi
3 "Jahan Tu Hai Wahin Mera Watan Hai" Maya Banerjee
4 "Kis Liye Duniya Se Nafrat Ho Gayi" Bibbo
5 "Main Taaron Ki Shahzadi Hun" Maya Banerjee
6 "Phool Rahe Baki Na Chaman Mein"
7 "Pyar Karne De Zara Aaj To Ji Bhar Ke Mujhe"
8 "Ragge Jaan Se Khoon Uchhal Pade" Bibbo, Anil Biswas
9 "Sab Jaaye Ko Saar Par Barsi" Bibbo
10 "Saqiya, Saqiya Rang-e-Mehfil Kya Hua"

References
  1. Crow, Jonathan (2014). "Watan 1938 Overview". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  2. Baburao, Patel (February 1938). "Bombay Calling". Filmindia. 3 (10): 29. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  3. Ahmed, Rauf (2008). Mehboob Khan The Legends of Indian Cinema Series. India: Wisdom Tree. p. 31. ISBN 9788183281065.
  4. "Watan 1938". citwf.com. Alan Goble. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  5. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). "Devi, Sitara". Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. pp. 88–. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  6. Baburao, Patel (August 1938). "Bombay Calling". Filmindia. 4 (4): 7. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  7. Bhattacharya, Nandini (2013). Hindi Cinema: Repeating the Subject. Routledge. p. 71. ISBN 9781136189876. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  8. "Watan 1938". muvyz.com. Muvyz, Inc. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
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