FilmIndia (1939)

FILMINDIA February 1939 picture can be called good with an inclination for the typical provincial school. Points of Appeal: It is a Prabhat picture, but unfortunately it misses the famous Prabhat "touch." Picture production is always an uncertain business and our sympathies go with the producers. The music in the picture is pleasant at places and the picture is moderately entertaining. PROFESSOR WAMAN Producers: Ranjit Movietone — Story: Gunvantrai Acharya Direction: Manibhai Vyas — Photography: Sazu Naik — Recording: Thakorbhai Patel — Music: Jnan Dutt — Dialogues: R. S. Rammayae — Songs: Santoshi — Cast: E. Billimoria, Mazhar, Sunita, Sitara, Beg, Rajkumari, Wahidan .and others — Released at: West End Cinema, Bombay — Date of Release: 10th December 1938. It is a crime and mystery drama mainly intended to provide a thrilling entertainment. The story is well sustained throughout and its unfolding on the screen becomes interesting and gripping to the iaymind. As the director's maiden effort on the screen, from this studio, the technical direction of the picture deserves a little more than usual praise. The Story: Professor Harnam harnesses the moon rays and prepares an oxide product, which if taken by a human being makes him a monster and criminal. His brother Professor Waman Is alarmed at the discovery and thinks of preparing an antidote, but in the meantime the contents of the bottle are swallowed by the impressionable young daughter of Harnam, Anjani, in a fit of a love quarrel with Kishore, Chief Detective Inspector. Harnam In the meanwhile dies and the responsibility of looking after Anjani falls on the shoulders of Professor Waman. Very soon a series of murders most cleverly committed breaks out and the police are baffled. The wealthy sinners of the city are the main victims and no one knows how and by whom the murders are committed. Suspicion falls upon Umadevi, a bold adventuress. In turn everyone Including Professor Waman is suspected, but the professor is busy experimenting on the antidote. One by one people are killed andi Kishore, the Chief detective, is at) his wits end. He arrests Professor Waman and locks him up in jail from where he escapes to complete his antidote and prevent another murder. The police give a chase and very soon bullets whistle past. The professor receives a bullet, but not before he has manufactured 1 the antidote, which whilst dyingil he instructs Kishore to administer to Anjani his niece who has been] committing the murders under the monstrous spell of the drug. There 1 is a happy ending. Acting: E. Billimoria as Kishore gives quite a good performance. Sunita as Anjani is tolerably good though her dialogues need some more polishing. Sitara as Umadevi j is excellent and gives one beautiful dance. Mazhar as Professor Waman is the best of the whole lot. His portrayal has some genuine feeling behind it. Begg is hardly any good and he has not much to do. Production: The picture is well' taken. If the scenario had been] more imaginative the pictures ' would have been more effective. ' I 0% V I Jagdish. Bikram Kapur and Ramkumari in "Street Singer" a New Theatres picture running so well at the Minerva Talkies. 42