FilmIndia (1940)

FILMINDIA September 1940 day, the once proud cameraman of Kohinoor. Dwarkadas Sampat, the proprietor of Kohinoor Film Co., is an unknown man to-day. Director Homi Master is also an obscure name. While Kardar who was once kicked out of a studio so unceremoniously is to-day a much-soughtafter director in our film industry. And still the smile with which young Kardar once came to Bombay has not left him. As a successful man, he needs it more now than ever before. Its full effect is felt when it is turned on with a sharp focus on producers end journalists. The next man to give Kardar a chance of acting as an extra "Arab" was Director Misra. Disgusted with these chances, Kardar returned home to Lahore and for three years took up sketching and painting. The art in him cried for individual expression and painting the canvas allayed for a while the itching of the soul. PROSPECTING ON HIS OWN In 1926, however, Kardar got his first real part in "The Daughters of To-day" a Pioneer production of Lahore. Encouraged by this, he again came to Bombay and played another role in "Heer Ranja" featuring Sulochana and D. Billimoria. Not satisfied with what he had done, he started his own producing company in 1928. It was known as the United Players Corporation. With finance on the mind and art in his soul, Kardar produced and directed seven pictures: "Mysterious Eagle", "Safdar Jung", "Brave Heart", "The Shepherd" "Golden Dagger", "The Masked Bandit" and "The Wandering Dancer". And then the talkies came and the silent smile, that had sustained a pretty-sized producing company faded for a time. In 1931, again Kardar caught fire and produced the talking version of "Heer Ranja". But it failed and for the umpteenth time Kardar again found himself a pauper, rich only in that inevitable smile of his. ON THE TRAIL AGAIN By now, this indomitable hunter had tasted enough blood not to leave the chase. He took himself to Cakt/lla in 1932 and joined the East India Film Company as a director. And then came pictures like: "Aurat-Ka-Pyar", "Chandra Gupta", "Baghi Sepahi" and "Sultana." Shooting "Sultana", he fell ill and for a full year that charming smile of his was constantly shadowed by impending death. But once again he won smiling through that illness. "Baghi Sepahi" had given him a good reputation and making two more pictures "Milap" and "Mandir" in Calcutta, Kardar joined General Films Ltd., and came to Bombay exactly twelve years after his previous debut as an actor in the city. Kardar's first picture in Bombay was "Baghban" and it proved a tremendous success. Offers poured in from all sides and since then he has directed "The Kick", "Holi" and "Pagal" for Ranjit Movietone of Bombay. To-day he is working on "Pooja" a social picture of National Studios and still that haunting smile of confidence which often mocks but always pacifies is yet the best asset of the man. Kardar has now settled down in Bombay with his family and cour tiers and the way he has entrenched himself in the hearts of the cinegoers, we expect many more pictures from him. STILL SMILING AS EVER The producers remember '"Baghban", "Baghi Sepahi" and "Holi" and say that Kardar is a paying director. The critics remember "The Kick" and "Pagal" and say that Kardar is a good director. Between the two, Kardar smiles and one doesn't know whether he is mocking or appreciating. Eighteen years back he started from home, dressed with that smile to conquer the film field. Many a victory has he won in all these years and today he can afford to cast that smile aside. But he still wears it, perhaps as his only armour of defence. Is the smile natural or does the man act? Let the future answer that question. "Come, dear, let's go for the dinner", comes again the smiling, suave request and inspite of yourself you allow yourself to be gently pushed into a chair to partake of a generous hospitality for which the Kardars have been known. That is Abdul Rashid Kardar the ever-smiling film director of India. Kardar must shave every day. His winning smile needs the sheen of a smooth skin to make it more effective. Mrs. Kardar is the loving, devoted wife who understands her husband probably as much as the world does. 28