Filmindia (1941)

OUR REVIEW ''SISTER'S Rn Unusual Picture mehboob Scores Rnother Personal Triumph Kanhyalal's Excellent Perfoimance. This is Director Mehboob's second picture at the National Studios. In comparison with the popular success scored all over India by National's maiden production. "Woman", the present one of Mehboob may not capture the public fancv to the same extent but in its technical content and production values.. "Sister" is certainly far superior to "Woman". As a director, Mehboob has improved beyond recognition. His technical vyork has gained more polish and efficiency while his emotional framing of the drama has secured more subtle hues than ever before. "Sister" is an unusual picture, unusual from the general run of the pictures, unusual in its theme, in its presentation and j''. its psychological content. It is a refreshingly new experiment in audience entertainment being a nev departure from the age-old triangles of romance. And to that extent, "Sister" presents a novelty to the Indian screen. BROTHER LOVE MOTIF The main resistance of the story is centred in a brother's passionate, all absorbing love for his sister, more so because, his little infant sister becomes the sole obsession of his life and the solitary relative of his existence after the catastrophe of an earthquake. The mighty brother and his littlp sisterly atom pass through years of struggle and agony, till one day the sister grows into a woman and falls in love with a young man. And here is reached a great emotional climax which unfolds a thrill SI S TE R Producers: National Studios Zia Sarhady Story: Dialogues: Songs: Photography Sound: Music: Wajahat Mirza Dr. Safdar FOiredoon Irani Y. S. Kothare Anil Biswas Production Chief: N. R. Desai Cast: Sheikh Mukhtar, Nalini Jayioant. Harish, Kanh yalal etc. Released at: Pathe Cinema Date of Release: 6th Aug. 1941 Director:— MEHBOOB They were Director Mehboob's guests at an exclusive preview of "Sister", a National picture. From left to right: Mr. Baburao Patel, Mr. Nanubhai Desai (Production Chief); Miss Rita Carlyle , Mr. Mehboob, Mr. Zabak and Mr. Ahmed Abbas Director Mehboob. who gives an almost classic picture in "Sister" the recent release of National Studios. ing drama, grim in its basic elnmenls and mighty in its sweep. Sheikh Mukhtar, the brother, is called upon to make a decision and in making it is asked to tear his little sister from his heart, for ever and for good. The brother cannot reconcile himself to the idea of his sister going away from him. In a fast series of dramatic incidents, the desired end is reached to the utter relief of the emotional suspense of the audience. KANHYALAL LIVES HIS PART Mehboob's dii-ection is superb, but one wou-'d feel like debating about the psychological interpretation of the role played by Sheikh Mukhtai . There is a lot of -.'nnecessary matter which could have been removed to improve the play. Sound and photography are excellent— from the popular view point, the music score is a little weak. But the grim drama hardly provides any scope for light end lilting music. The best performance is given by Kanhyalal in the role of a pickpocket. He lives the part. Sheikh Mukhtar is too stagy and melodramatic while Nalini Jaywant has acted well for the firsc time. Well, "Sister" must be seen. In its theme there is a provocation, in its presentation there is beauty, though in its entertainment we nuss a bit of exhilaration. 61