FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

OUR REVIEW Debaki's Genius Distinguishes "Dpna Ghar" Chandramohan's Masterly Performance Shanta Apte's Glorious Return This is one of those rare pictures which a director stamps with his genius and individuality. After a long time Debaki Bosc has given us a picture in which his towering genius is framed in perfect harmony of dramatic values. It will be a long time befcre another picture of such classic values will be produced in India. In "Apna Ghar", art becomes a lovely handmaid of life, life in i's grim reality, full of sighs and smiles, punctuated with tears and laughter. One would like to see this picture again and again to appreciate the subtle balancing of emotional values, the artistic presentation of life's grim problems and above all the supreme art of the master — Debaki Bose. YES! AN UNUSUAL STORY The picture presents an unusual story but by no means an impossible one. In Narendra, Debaki Babu has created a strong man into whose soul the iron lias entered with the result that life becomes a mock rehearsal and society a crowd of interfering hypocrites. The man, in his self-imposed isolation, develops an overbearing individualism and loses sight of the finer emotional values of life. Shanta Apte returns to the Hindustani screen in "Apna Ghar". APNA GHAR I Producers: Ctrco Productions j Language: Hi7idi & Marathi i Story and Scenario: Debaki Bosc | Music: H. C. Bali i Dialogues: Narottam Vyas Photography: Goverdhanbhai Patel Recording: Minoo Katrak ! Cast: Shanta Apte, Chan dramohan, Jagdish Sethi, Maya Bannerjee, Jeevan, Vimla Vashishta, Maruti Rao etc. ', Released at: Krishna Cinema i I Date of Release: 28th Feb. 1942 Director: DEBAKI BOSE The accidental death of his previous wife brought upon by her excessive fondness for society and its lure, embitters the man and he ' takes himself to his forest estates to lead a stern life of unreasonable isolation. Every day sees him more bitter than before and the inherent goodness of the man fades into the iron mask which the man prefers to wear. Here is a strong, disillusioned man who has come to believe that life has no honest deal to give to a man, emotionally or physically. When Narendra comes to the city for business, he meets Mira accidentally. The first meeting is a skir Debaki Bosc mish. Mira's father, Chowdhary, is old and infirm and is accused of sharp practices by his firm. Narendra happens to be one of the directors of the company and at the meeting which he attends, Chowdhary is asked to give up all his possessions to make up for his fraud. Heartbroken Chowdhary takes to a sick bed from which he never recovers. But before his death Mira, whose young life had hitherto been spent in social uplift work, realizing the sacrifice of an entire lifetime by her father in her interest, agrees to marry Narendra to help her old lather to die happily. CLASH OF WILLS The marriage is more a bargain, as no love on either side is wasted. Mira is also a strong-willed girl and has precise views on life, views which she has harnessed to her social uplift work. Her married life, therefore, becomes a clash of two unbending wills. Narendra with his grim iron will seeks to subdue Mira. Mira with her sweet firmness hopes to convert Narendra. At this stage, Mr mi, Narendra \s maternal aunt, takes a dirty hand in the game and with some poisonous whispers tries to promote an estrangement between the newly married couple. 51