Page 45 - Seniors Today - Vol1 Issue 3
P. 45
The famous “kissing scene”, the first ever on the Indian screen
killing animals. A determined maharani decides dozens of careers. A major scandal ensued when
to go ahead anyway, and organises a big festival Devika Rani eloped with the handsome actor
for the disgruntled populace hoping it will Najmul Hassan. She was eventually persuaded
soften their mood. to return, but because of this incident, Hassan’s
During the hunt, the prince accidentally kills a career as a leading man was ruined. His
man and is also bitten by a cobra; The maharani loss proved to be Ashok Kumar’s gain when
rushes to her unconscious beloved’s side and Himanshu Rai chose a laboratory assistant,
kisses him in a fit of desperation (cue the famous Kumudlal Kunjilal Ganguly, renamed him, and
kissing scene) pleading to the Gods for her made him the new hero of Jeevan Naiya (1936).
prayers to be answered. The snake charmer goes To Devika Rani goes the credit of discovering
off to look for the snake—he believes if the snake a fruit merchant’s handsome son, Yusuf Khan,
bites the prince again it will work as an antidote better known as Dilip Kumar, and casting him
to the poison. The maharaja placates the angry in Jwar Bhata (1944). She was also instrumental
public and his bad karma by giving alms to the in the making of Kismet (1943), one of the
poor. The snake is found, the prince is saved and biggest blockbusters of Indian cinema.
the film ends on an abrupt but happy note. In 1945, she married the Russian painter
After it flopped, Rai quit acting and Svetoslav Roerich and retired from the industry.
concentrated on movie-making. Bombay Talkies She was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb
produced over a hundred films and launched Phalke Award, when it was instituted in 1970.
A memorial to Svetoslav Roerich and Devika Rani Roerich in Nicholas Roerich’s museum in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh
45 SENIORS TODAY | Volume 1 | Issue 3
