FilmIndia (1946)

OUR REVIEW "Kaise Kahun" Presents Propaganda Stuff Beautifully Framed Picture With Thin Story RAISE KAHUN Producers: Pancholi Art Pictures Language: Hindustani Story: D. M. Pancholi Dialogues: Akhtar Hussain Raipuri & another Songs: Moti Music: Amar Nath Photography: M. N. Malhotra Sound: Ishan Ghosh Cast: Ragini, Jagirdar, Akhtar, Najamul Hussain, Durga Mota etc. Released at: Imperial, Bombay. Date of Release: 16th Nov. 1945 Director: MOTI B. GIDVANI Producer Dalsukh Pancholi has now began to intrude upon us as a storywriter. This is, we guess, his second attempt at story-writing for the screen. His first, we think, was "Dassi', very much a pick-pocket job from different foreign pictures. Well, "Kaise Kahun" is also a patchy affair with the stink of propaganda in it. Technically, this picture is a pleasant sight to see and had it not been for its very thin story material substantially poisoned by its propaganda sprinkling, the labour of its art-conscious director would have been better rewarded with more enthusiastic public support. As it stands today, "Kaise Kahun" is quite a pleasant pastime without anything in particular to remember or to take home. THIN STORY MATERIAL The story has a doctor with three children — a son and two grown-up daughters. The son is expected to return safe from Burma but is killed in a misadventure by Pradeep— the hero, without knowing the man's name or whereabouts. Coincidence brings Pradeep to the doctor's house for a night's shelter and there he meets his heroine, Geeta, and falls in love with her. She also obliges in return. The guest ot a night soon becomes a pretty permanent attachment. j Romantic interludes follow as usual and these are punctuated by Basanti, me younger sister who also likes Pradeep to love her sister. The usual villain is introduced here in Chandrasen, a crooked zamindar. No one knows for a long time what has happened to Sagar, the only son of the doctor. On this flimsy circumstance, the whole mystery and the entire romance keep revolving for a long time. The villain, as usual, comes to know of it and soon spills the beans. For a time, there is a general air of mourning and misunderstanding. But love clears the clouds in a minute and Pradeep gets his girl. It is a waste of talent for Director Moti B. Gidvani to have laboured ovet this story to frame it beautifully. Almost every shot is well-taken and as much as he could do with the flimsy story material has been done to secure the maximum effect. The dialogues are well written though the situations provided are poor. The songs are not very happy compositions. The music is just Punjabi with a lot of jumpy rhythm and no emotion in it. It becomes terribly boring and one feels that a single tune is bein^ sung throughout. Some of these Punjabi music directors must be shot dead. Sound and photography are pleasant throughout. Back-projection shots are exceptionally successful at places. AKHTAR ATTRACTS ! From the players little Akhtar, who has now become quite an attractive little woman, gives a nice performance as "Basanti" Ragini is better photographed than ever before but does nothing much by way of acting in the heroine's role. Najmul Hussein as the hero looks no better than an over-fed owl. What little appeal this picture cou'd have had was entirely lost by the appearance of this man in the main role. Even Dalsukh Pancholi could have done better work in the hero's role. fagirdar's work as the doctor lacked imagination. He gives rather a mechanical performance without any heart in his job. Well, to end it all, "Kaise Kahun" is not such an awful time-killer. It can be tolerated if you are in a generous frame of mind. Technically, it is the most polished picture Pancholi has given so far. In the centre is the new bey— Kamal Zamindar, who plays the title role in "Dhanna Bhagat/'