Curated Recommendations Seeking the Same Brilliance as Die Dame in ...

Dir: Franz Osten

A nationalist rural drama- Janmabhoomi was the first patriotic Hindi movie. The plot has Dr. Ajay Ghosh and his girl friend Protima working to improve the lives of Indian villagers, incurring the enmity of the local zamindar and his vicious, scheming henchman Sanatan. Ajay's relentless goodness eventually persuades the zamindar to bequeath his property to the hero, and general well-being reigns as class conflict is transmuted into class collaboration. The film includes the nationalist song 'Jai jai janani janmabhoomi' and other choruses with a similar thrust.

Dir: Franz Osten

This adaptation of Arnold's 1861 Orientalist epic opens with documentary shots of tourists in Bombay watching street performers. Then a white-bearded old man sitting under the bodhi tree tells the tourists the story of Gautama (Rai), son of King Suddodhana (Ukil) and Queen Maya (Bala), who left his consort Gopa (Seeta) and became a wandering teacher credited with founding Buddhism. The religious epic, with its idealized figures, takes up the narrative in flashback and ends with Gopa kneeling before Gautama asking to become his disciple.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Prem Sanyas perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Franz Osten

An "untouchable" girl and a Brahmin boy fall in love, but the strict caste system and the gossip of the villagers threaten to keep them apart.

Dir: Franz Osten

A romantic crime thriller. Kamala elopes on her wedding day with her childhood friend Ratanlal. Her father Manganlal chases the couple and catches them on a train. His furious exchanges with Ratanlal are interrupted by gunfire and in the mysterious gloom of the evening a body is thrown off the train. The suspects are Ratanlal, who cannot furnish an alibi, Kamala, who insists on being the murderess, ex-convict Sukhdev, who confesses to the murder claiming robbery to be the motive, and the lunatic Tarachand, who also admits his guilt.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Achhut Kanya perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Franz Osten

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Franz Osten

A historical romance set in the Mughal Empire. Selima (Enakshi) is a princess-foundling raised by a potter and loved by her brother, Shiraz (Rai). She is abducted and sold as a slave to Prince Khurram, later Emperor Shah Jehan (Roy), who falls for her, to the chagrin of the wily Dalia (Seeta Devi). When Selima is caught with Shiraz, the young man is condemned to be trampled to death by an elephant. A pendant reveals Selima's royal status and she saves her brother, marries the prince and becomes Empress Mumtaz Mahal while Dalia is banned for her machinations against Selima. When Selima dies (1629), the emperor builds her a monument to the design of the now old and blind Shiraz, the Taj Mahal. The film contains a number of passionate kissing scenes.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Jawani Ki Hawa perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Franz Osten

A hunter provides meat for a monastery in the mountains and finds romance as well.

Dir: Franz Osten

Two neighboring Indian kingdoms are ruled by cousins - King Ranjit and King Sohat. Unbeknownst to Ranjit, Sohat is plotting to seize control of his kingdom.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Mamta perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Franz Osten

After another successful performance at the Teatro Real, opera singer Carlo Baloni decides to spend the evening at a cabaret. The beautiful Giuseppa, with her amazing voice, appears on stage.

Dir: Franz Osten

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.