Jhansi Ki Rani

Jhansi Ki Rani 1953

6.50

Set in the 19th century against the backdrop of the Mutiny of 1857, the film is about the bravery of queen Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, who took up arms and led her army against the British.

1953

Kundan

Kundan 1955

4.00

Classic Bollywood film about a young man whose poverty leads him to commit crimes which, in turn, lead him to harsher and harsher punishments.

1955

Mirza Ghalib

Mirza Ghalib 1954

6.50

A fictionalized account of the life of poet and nobleman Mirza Ghalib during the reign of the last Mughal Emperor, told through the lens of his ill-fated love for a beautiful courtesan he called Chaudhvin.

1954

Sikandar

Sikandar 1941

1

The film begins after Alexander the Great (Sikander in Hindi/Urdu) conquers Persia and the Kabul valley and approaches the Indian border at Jhelum. Sohrab Modi plays the Indian king Puru (Porus to the Greeks). The story goes that when Sikander defeated Porus and imprisoned him, he asked Porus how would he like to be treated. Porus replied the same way a defeated king is treated by the winner (meaning killed).

1941

Raj Hath

Raj Hath 1956

6.00

A stubborn emperor plans to wage war against another who had humiliated him and his daughter.

1956

Waris

Waris 1954

1

An inheritance melodrama about Kunwar (Mahmood), the son of zamindar Himmat Singh (Sethi). Kunmar marries Shobha (Suraiya) and is disinherited, forcing him to join the army during WW2. When he is reported missing and presumed dead, a repentant Rana invites Shobha to stay with him. However, it is Kanta (Nadira), a young woman betrayed by Rana's villainous secretary Kailash (Yakub), who arrives at the house and his mistaken for Shobha. Masquerading as Shobha, who lives nearby in absolute poverty, Kanta moves in, causing a moral dilemma and generating suspense since she could be caught at any moment.

1954

Pukar

Pukar 1939

6.50

A love affair and two feuding families who play out a Romeo and Juliet type drama in 17th century India, under the Emperor Jehangir.

1939

Sheesh Mahal

Sheesh Mahal 1950

1

A feudal aristocrat's life changes when his mansion is sold to Durgaprasad, a labourer who has become rich. To add to his worries, his daughter is forced to work in the mansion that was once her home.

1950

Prithvi Vallabh

Prithvi Vallabh 1943

1

The story revolves around two kings, Prithvi Vallabh (Munj) of Avantipur who is kind and just, and Tailap, a neighboring king who is cruel. With the help of his sister Mrinalvati (Durga Khote) and another neighbouring king Bhillam (K. N. Singh), Tailap manages to capture Prithvi Vallabh. The rest of the film follows incidents following his captivity.

1943

Bharosa

Bharosa 1940

1

Gyan leaves his wife Shobha in the care of his friend Rasik while he travels abroad. In his absence, Shobha and Rasik fall in love and have a child, Indira. Years later, unaware of the truth, Gyan returns and unknowingly arranges Indira’s marriage to Rasik’s son—her half-brother—setting the stage for a dramatic and morally complex revelation.

1940

Shama

Shama 1946

1

Film starring Mehtab and Wasti.

1946

Khoon Ka Khoon

Khoon Ka Khoon 1935

1

Khoon Ka Khoon follows Prince Hamlet as he seeks revenge for his father’s murder by his uncle, leading to betrayal, madness, and tragedy. The film blends Shakespearean drama with Indian theatrical style.

1935

Talaq

Talaq 1938

1

Roopa, unhappy in her marriage to Niranjan, champions changes in divorce laws to allow women to initiate separation. She successfully divorces Niranjan and marries Amarnath, only for Amarnath to then use the same laws to divorce her.

1938

Said-e-Havas

Said-e-Havas 1936

1

A screen adaptation of Agha Hashar Kashmiri’s Urdu play, itself based on Shakespeare’s King John. In the film (a stage-play recording), Modi plays the analogue of Shakespeare’s Hubert (named Kazal Beg), and the story follows the central events of King John.

1936

Main Hari

Main Hari 1940

1

A romantic entanglement between a simple village fisherman and a glamorous city film star. It delves into the challenges they face in reconciling their vastly different worlds and the difficult decisions they must make about love, loyalty, and their futures.

1940

Meetha Zaher

Meetha Zaher 1938

1

Sohrab Modi's Meetha Zahar (Sweet Poison) is a social drama film that explores the devastating effects of alcoholism and advocates for prohibition. The narrative highlights the societal ills and personal ruin caused by alcohol, urging audiences to recognize the "evils of drinking."

1938

Atma Tarang

Atma Tarang 1937

1

Atma Tarang follows a man torn between worldly desires and spiritual awakening. As he struggles to overcome material temptations, he embarks on a journey of self-realization and inner transformation.

1937