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Bharosa (1940)
Character: Rasik
Gyan leaves his wife Shobha in the care of his friend Rasik while he travels abroad. In his absence, Shobha and Rasik fall in love and have a child, Indira. Years later, unaware of the truth, Gyan returns and unknowingly arranges Indira’s marriage to Rasik’s son—her half-brother—setting the stage for a dramatic and morally complex revelation.
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Preet (1945)
Character: N/A
A romantic drama exploring the various facets of love
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Apna Ghar (1942)
Character: Narendra
Apna Ghar tells the story of a middle-class family whose peace is shattered when the father, Narendra, is falsely accused of fraud, forcing him to lose everything. His strong-willed daughter, Mira, becomes unwittingly entangled in the deception. The family's struggles are further complicated by the return of Jeevan, an ex-convict, whose past brings societal judgment. The film explores their fight to maintain their home's integrity and the true meaning of family amidst adversity.
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Naukar (1943)
Character: Fazlu
Fazlu, a lifelong servant, is wrongly imprisoned after being blamed for his master's son's death. He escapes, believing his newborn is the child reincarnated. The film follows Fazlu's heartbreaking journey as he watches his family crumble under economic hardship, ultimately leading him back to prison.
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गीता (1940)
Character: Shankar/Mohan
Shankar abandons his religious wife Durga and takes their son Mohan into a life of crime. Years later, Durga raises her second son Kumar to be virtuous. When Mohan is arrested, he ends up being prosecuted by Kumar—his own brother—leading to a dramatic family reckoning and Mohan’s path to redemption.
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Pannadai (1945)
Character: Banbir
Set four hundred years ago, Pannadai is an epic tale from Rajasthan centered on the loyal nurse Pannadai. After Rana Sang of Chittorgarh dies, his Queen Karunavati is besieged by Bahadursingh. Pannadai cleverly secures help from Emperor Humayun, but after the Queen's death, she is entrusted with safeguarding the child-king Udai Singh. Pannadai then faces the treacherous schemes of Banbir, Rana Sang's illegitimate son, who seeks to usurp the throne, leading to the ultimate sacrifice of her own son to protect the rightful heir.
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Fashion (1943)
Character: Yusuf
Yusuf moves to Bombay with his wife to prove himself but gets entangled with a glamorous woman, putting his marriage and values to the test.
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Jwala (1938)
Character: Angar
This period fantasy is a tale about a good general Angar (Chandramohan) who is corrupted by ambition. Echoing 'Macbeth', the loyal Angar is told by the witch Kuntala (Ashalata) that his king (Bulbule) shall die and that he shall be king instead. Angar then kills that king and seizes power. Departing from 'Macbeth', Angar's wife Mangala (Ratnaprabha) and his friend Tarang (Chandrakant) do not approve and they eventually join forces with the people against Angar.
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Raunaq (1944)
Character: N/A
Raunaq (1944), directed by Dwarka Khosla, is a Hindi social drama set in 1940s Bombay. It stars Swaran Lata, Noor Mohammed Charlie, Chandra Mohan, Motilal, and Subarnalata .
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Shalimar (1946)
Character: Emperor Jehangir
A historical drama that delves into the human side of the legendary romance between Emperor Jehangir and Empress Nur Jehan. The film explores the complexities of their lives, encompassing themes of love, conflict, jealousy, passion, and the pursuit of peace, moving beyond mere regal splendor to portray their emotional journey.
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Jhankar (1942)
Character: N/A
A social drama that delves into the troubles faced by a young woman named Kuki, played by Pramila. Her path crosses with Chandramohan, whose presence appears to complicate her life. The film explores themes of societal challenges and perhaps redemption, as it's described as a "social picture."
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Bade Nawab Saheb (1944)
Character: N/A
A Muslim social film that explored themes of aristocracy, family dynamics, and societal norms within a Muslim community, focusing on the life and challenges of a "Great Nawab" (Bade Nawab Saheb
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Wahan (1937)
Character: Kodanda Verma
Kodandavarma, a dictator in an ancient Aryan society, rules with a firm hand. When a collapsing statue threatens slaves, Jeevan, a young aboriginal king, saves them and falls in love with Princess Jayanti. The villainous Madhuvrat plots against Kodandavarma, entrapping heir Uttam and forcing dancing girl Lata to seduce him to help the slaves.
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Ramayani (1945)
Character: N/A
Ramayani is a 1945 Hindi mythological film directed by Sarvottam Badami for Purnima Productions. The music direction was by S. N. Tripathi with lyrics written by Bekal Several films were made in that era based on the Ramayana. Vijay Bhatt made his famous Ram Rajya (1943), and Purnima Productions made their version of the epic, titling it Ramayani The film starred Pahari Sanyal, Nargis, Chandra Mohan, Rose, Kanhaiyalal and Amirbai Karnataki [Wikipedia]
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अमृत मंथन (1934)
Character: Rajguru
This classic opens with a sensational low-angle circular track movement as Chandika cult followers meet in a dungeon of flickering lights and deep shadow. As the more rationalist King Krantivarma (Varde) banned human or animal sacrifices from the increasingly fanatical festivals dedicated to the goddess, the cult's high priest (Chandramohan/Date) orders the hapless Vishwagupta (Kelkar) to kill the king.
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Pukar (1939)
Character: Shahenshaah Jehangir
A love affair and two feuding families who play out a Romeo and Juliet type drama in 17th century India, under the Emperor Jehangir.
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Ram Baan (1948)
Character: Ravan
The ancient Indian epic of the Ramayana. It follows Prince Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshman as they embark on an exile to the forest. During their time there, events unfold that lead to the abduction of Sita by the demon king Ravan. The narrative then chronicles Rama and Lakshman's journey to find Sita, their encounters with various allies, and the ultimate conflict to rescue her from Ravan's kingdom.
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Shakuntala (1943)
Character: King Dushyanta
Following a passionate encounter with King Dushyanta (Chandramohan), the comely Shakuntala (Jayashree) finds herself pregnant and rejected by the royal court. She gives birth in a forest to a son which she names Bharat (Kumar Ganesh). When the King tracks his former lover down and tries to take her back, she flatly refuses him.
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Shaheed (1948)
Character: Seth Rai Bahadur Dwarkadas
A freedom fighter faces opposition from both his father and an ambitious police officer.
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तकदीर (1943)
Character: Justice Jamunaprasad
In between his more ambitious Najma (1943) and Humayun (1945), Mehboob made this lightweight comedy about Justice Gangaprasad (Chandramohan) and theatre-owner Seth Badriprasad (Charlie) who lose their daughter and son respectively in the Kumbh Mela.
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Mumtaz Mahal (1944)
Character: Emperor Shah Jahan
Mumtaz Mahal tells the story of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal, tracing their deep love, her death during childbirth, and his grief that leads him to build the Taj Mahal in her memory.
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Roti (1942)
Character: Laxmidas
Roti made in the early 1940s inspired by the German Expressionism, is a real critique of Indian society with prophetic insight. It deals with two models - one of a millionaire, possessed by money and power in an industrial civilisation, the other of a tribal couple living in a primeval state of nature. The millionaire is saved by the couple after an air crash, the tribal couple emigrate to the city, do not find happiness and return. The millionaire is ruined in the city, tries futilely to find salvation among the tribal.
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Amar Jyoti (1936)
Character: Durjaya
Faced with extreme patriarchal laws in an ancient seaport kingdom and denied the legal custody of her infant son, a young woman becomes a pirate declaring war on the state's tyrannical minister of justice.
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हुमायूं (1945)
Character: Rajkumar Randhir
The film follows Humayun’s rise to the throne, his struggles to maintain the empire, and his conflicts with rivals—especially Sher Shah Suri, who defeats him and forces him into exile. Amid political upheaval and personal loss, the story also explores Humayun’s relationships, particularly with his noble wife Hamida Banu. Eventually, with Persian support, he regains his empire, but his triumph is short-lived, as his reign ends with a fatal accident.
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धर्मात्मा (1935)
Character: Mahant
Sant Eknath, a 16th-century poet-saint who challenges caste discrimination by serving and dining with the untouchables. His actions provoke outrage from orthodox Brahmins, leading to his excommunication. Despite opposition, Eknath stands firm in his belief in equality and devotion, inspiring others to join his cause and defending his principles through his spiritual teachings.
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