Kulin Kanta

Kulin Kanta
Kulin Kanta
Directed by	Homi Master
Written by	Mohanlal G. Dave
Based on	Bawla murder case
Produced by	Kohinoor Film Company
Starring	Khalil; Miss Moti; Miss Yakbal; Behram Vasania
Cinematography	G. K. Gokhale
Production; company	Kohinoor Film Company
Release date	1925;
Country	India
Language	Silent film

Kulin Kanta is Indian cinema's 1925 crime thriller silent film directed by Homi Master.^[1] Based on a true incident the Bawla murder case, Kulin Kanta featured the story of the Maharaja Holkar of Indore and a dancing girl who wanted to escape from the harem.^[2] The film starred the "macho hero" Khalil cited as Indian cinema's "first ever star" in the role of the "lecherous Maharaja".^[3] The director of photography was G. K. Gokhale, with story written by Mohanlal G. Dave.^[1]

Mumtaz Begum's role was played by Miss Moti while the rest of the cast included Miss Yakbal, Moman Behram, Gani Babu, Jamuna and Behram Vasania.^[4]

Production and story edit

Based on the infamous Bawla Murder case of 1925,^[5] Homi Master made use of the story elements involving a courtesan, royalty, romance, and murder. The case involved Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar III of Indore and a Muslim courtesan called Mumtaz Begum. Mumtaz escaped from the Holkar's zenana quarters in Indore and went to Bombay. Here she sought refuge from a rich benefactor and protector called Bawla.^[6]

While driving around Malabar Hill one evening, Mumtaz and Bawla were attacked by Holkar's men in full view of spectators. The attackers killed Abdur Kadir Bawla and tried to kidnap Mumtaz. Three British army officers came to the rescue of Mumtaz. Her evidence in court caused Holkar to abdicate in 1926. According to authors Gokulsing and Dissanayake the film was an "early form of the courtesan genre in Hindi cinema".^[7]

Cast edit

Khalil
Miss Moti
Miss Yakbal
Moman Behram
Gani Babu
Jamuna
Behram Vasania

References edit

^ ^a ^b "Kulin Kanta". indiancine.ma. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
^ Phil Hardy (1997). "Indian Crime Films". The BFI Companion to Crime. A&C Black. pp. 180–. ISBN 978-0-304-33215-1. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
^ Ashok Raj (1 November 2009). Hero Vol.1. Hay House, Inc. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-93-81398-02-9. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
^ "Kulin Kanta". citwf.com. Alan Goble. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
^ "Bawla Murder Case-1925". bombayhighcourt.nic.in. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
^ "A Girl's Persecution-Bawla Murder Case". Reuters. The Examiner. The Examiner, Launceston. 1 May 1925. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
^ K. Moti Gokulsing; Adjunct Fellow East-West Center Hawaii Scholar in Residence Wimal Dissanayake; Wimal Dissanayake (13 January 2009). Popular Culture in a Globalised India. Routledge. pp. 145–. ISBN 978-1-134-02307-3. Retrieved 14 June 2015.