Manoos
1939 · British Raj · 164 min
- Director
- V. Shantaram
- Music
- Krishnarao Phulambrikar
- Production company
- Prabhat Film Company
Cast
What it is about
An honest policeman on his beat meets a woman who works as a prostitute and gradually falls in love with her. Determined to free her from that environment, he tries to build a new life for them both, but society keeps rejecting them. It is a message melodrama that focuses on social prejudice and on the difficulties faced by those trying to escape marginal lives.
How it was made
Directed by V. Shantaram for the Prabhat Film Company, the film is based on a short story titled 'The Police Constable'. A. Bhaskarrao wrote the story, Anant Kanekar wrote the screenplay and dialogue, and Master Krishnarao composed the music. Shantaram visited Bombay's red light areas to study them, and S. Fattelal recreated the sets at Prabhat Studios. Shahu Modak, who had earlier worked as a child actor, played the lead. A Hindi version, Aadmi, was made at the same time.
Reception and legacy
The film was well received by audiences and praised by Charlie Chaplin. It is often cited as one of Shantaram's most notable social films, alongside Kunku and Shejari, and its treatment of alcoholism and the situation of women continues to be discussed in the history of Indian cinema.
Trivia
Military training
A retired army officer was hired to train Modak and the other actors playing policemen. The sessions were so demanding and lengthy that Modak had to ask for them to stop.
Multilingual song
The song 'Kashala Udyachi Baat' mixes six Indian languages: Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati and Punjabi.
More films by V. Shantaram
Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje
Navrang
Kunku
Geet Gaya Patharon NeOriginal Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (es) and Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.