FilmIndia (1940)

MODHU BOSE and SADHONA BOSE, partners in life and art. It is always difficult to frame the superb Indian art of dancing within the limitations of a screen story, which has to carry a purposeful tale and yet entertain and instruct. And yet, Modhu Bose seems to have done it pretty well in "Kum Kum The Dancer" in giving an attractive fusion of the two arts of dancing and of picture making without either of them losing much of its traditional glamour. The story, however, from a purely screen point of view, is rather weak because the incidents are mainly woven round the heroine and the underlying design of the story is given a subsidiary importance. Had the director given a greater prominence to the story value of the picture and treated and developed it in its inherent logical manner, its effect on the audience would have been less transient. Incidentally, such a treatment would have also given a better chance to the heroine of the story. It is decidedly better to be the heroine of a successful story than of otherwise. A SOCIALISTIC THEME! Beginning with a socialistic motif, the story begins after the escape of Suryashanker from jail, to find his daughter Kum Kum earning a precarious living as a dancer in a dramatic company. 24 Our Review Sadhona Bose Becomes a Star Ouernight ! ,Hunger' Becomes 'Beautiful' In A Socialist Theme ! Pad ma Devi Flashes Beautifully ! Before being arrested for his labour activities, Suryashankar had entrusted a large amount of the labour funds and his manuscript of a drama called "Bhook" (Hunger) to his friend Jagannath for safe custody. But Jagannath like many friends of modern times misappropriates the money and with it builds a fortune for himself. Strangely enough, the drama "Bhook" is also being staged under his name with Kum Kum as one of the dancers. When Suryashankar discovers this, he accuses his friend of disloyalty and is in turn threatened with exposure. KUM KUM The Dancer Producers Story Dialogues Songs Music Photography Audiography Director Production Cast Sagar Movietone Manmatha Roy W. Z. Ahmed Pandit Sudarshan Timir Baran J. Pillai. S. C. Patil Modhu Bose S. C. Desai Sadhona Bose, Padjna Devi, Benita, Dhiraj, M. Ishaq etc. Released at Imperial Cinema, Bombay. Date of Release 7th Mar. 1940 Kum Kum however decides on a novel method of vengeance and marries Chandan the son of the man who cheated her father. Installed in the house she starts giving away her father-in-law's wealth to the poor— but ultimately reconciles with her husband having by then fallen in love with him. QUITE ATTRACTIVE POVERTY! The original story, had a good theme, but the screen play lias become a weak presentation because every incident is made to serve the demands of the heroine in one way or other. The element of poverty woven into the story becomes more a mockery than a sympathetic recital of the conditions of the poor, because the presentation of the relevant scenes lacks the necessary realism. Barring the fundamental defects in the screen play, the picture is well directed by Modhu Bose. In fact, a couple of scenes are superbly done. The dialogues for once are natural, just as people speak in their every day life and not unnecessarily pedantic or loaded with proverbs. The songs however are not so happily worded. The music of Timir Baran leaves much to be desired. While his instrumental music is good, the tunes given to the songs are obsolete and unattractive. Photography and recording are apologetic at several places while the processing distinctly called for more care. THE SUPERB SADHONA The burden of the entire tale is Sadhona and she has done marvellously well. Beautiful dancing, punctuated by suitable symbolisms, superb acting, sweet and sympathetic diction, poise and dignity born of traditions and an undefinable charm all at once proclaim a new star to our screen world. And the picture bores when Sadhona is not on the screen. Dhiraj Bhattacharya did not impress. He looks to effeminate to be idolized as a screen hero. M. Ishaq gave quite a popular performance. Padmadevi, in the little bit she had to do, flashed perfectly and proved that experience alone gives an artiste the polish needed to impress. In the scene where Padmadevi and Sadhona are seen in the garden with the hero, Dhiraj looks poor flesh as an actor between the two. And yet after all done and said. "Kum Kum" should be seen if at least to see Sadhona Bose. It is her picture and a picture on her.