FilmIndia (1945)

OUR REVIEW " Chandragupta " Historically Incorrect But Entertaining! Jayant Desai Presents A Polished Production ! Mohanlal Dave Proves Himself A Prize'Fool ! Is it perhaps too much to expect an historically correct story from that popular film scribe, Mohanlal Dave? Nothing definite is known about his educational qualifications or about his precise knowledge of history. It is, therefore, not surprising to find "Chandragupta" an historically incorrect tale which is likely to confuse our students who are taught something else in their school-rooms. According to Vincent Smith (The Early History of India, pp. 1 18-19), Seleukos, conventionally described as the King of Syria crossed the Indus in or about 305 B.C. for the first time. Seleukos was one of the great generals of Alexander, the Great. The other was Antigonos. In 312 B.C., i.e., seven years before Seleukos invaded India, he defeated Antigonos and recovered the possession of Babylon. Antigonos and Seleukos were therefore sworn enemies. Vincent Smith writes that Seleukos defeated and ultimately slew Antigonos in Ipsos, 2,500 miles from the Indus, in 301 B.C. i.e., two years after his treaty with Chandragupta. According to the following historians: Justin (XV, 4); Appian (Syr. 55); Strabo (Bk. ii, Ch., ii 9) and Vincent Smith (The Early History of India, pp. 118), Chandragupta defeated Nanda, the King of Magadha in 322 B.C. (i.e., 17 years before Seleukos invaded India) under the guidance of Chanakya and inherited from Nanda a huge army of 30,000 cavalry, 9,000 elephants, 600,000 infantry and a multitude of chariots. In the picture this Nanda episode is dated after the invasion by Seleukos. All these historians confirm that Seleukos crossed the Indus in or about 305 B. C. and found Chandragupta already ruling as a powerful emperor. Chandragupta gave battle to the invader and Seleukos was compelled to conclude a humiliating peace giving away a large part of Ariana (known as Kabul, Herat and Kandahar) and his daughter in a matrimonial alliance. This alliance was con eluded in 303 B.C. These are the true historical facts on which a historical subject like "Chandragupta" should have been based. Film-scribe Mohanlal Dave has, however, given his own history of Chandragupta, something which the CHANDRAGUPTA Producers: Jayant Desai Productions Story: Mohanlal G. Dave Language: Hindi Dialogues: Shahid Lateef and Sagar Hussein Songs: Pandit Madhur Music: C. Ramachandra Photography: Dronacharya Sound: P. C. Subedar Cast: Renuka Devi, Ishwarlal, Nayampally, Sooraiya, Sulochana Chatter ji, etc. Released At: New West End, Bombay. Date of Release: 24th Feb. 45. Directed By JAYANT DESAI Nurjehan keeps the home fires burning in "Zeenat", a social story of Eastern Pictures. original never lived. For instance: (1) Chandragupta had never even once become the prisoner of Seleukos (2) When Seleukos invaded India, Chandragupta was a well-established and very much feared ruler of India having defeated Nanda of Magadha years before. (3) Seleukos and Antigonos were sworn enemies and the former killed the latter, two years after his treaty with Chandragupta. SHIFTING DEATH 2,500 MILES According to Mohanlal Dave, Chandragupta in saving the life of Seleukos, himself becomes his prisoner at the hands of Antigonos, who is shown in the picture as a general of Seleukos. The captive Chandragupta now falls in love with Helen, the daughter oi Seleukos and begins teaching her horsemanship. With the help of Chanakya, Chandragupta is shown as escaping from his captivity to give a battle to Seleukos in which Seleukos, Antigonos and others become prisoners. On the wedding day of Helen with Chandragupta, Seleukos makes an attempt to poison Chandra gupta, but through a happy accident succeeds in killing Antigonos, his commander, who drinks the poison with an air of bravado. Actually Antigonos died 2,500 miles away from India and two years later. A historical picture is a great responsibility both for the producer and the writer. In this case the producer is Jayant Desai, but he can be acquitted as he is completely innocent of history. Jayant never claims any knowledge of history or letters. He is merely a film craftsman who does his best, under all circumstances, of the story material placed before him. He wouldn't mind even if Charlie had 29