Sitara Devi

The naive Saroop (Nandrekar) romantically renounces earthly pleasures under the influence of a sadhu (Ashraf Khan). Arrested at a fairground and jailed, fellow convicts change his view of the world. Working in the prison’s garden, he meets the superintendent Sohanlal’s (Nazir) daughter Durga (Kumari), who was married as a child to a boy now believed dead. Ranjit (Singh) covets her and on her wedding day to the nasty Ranjit, it is discovered that Saroop was her child-husband.

An early Indian film that explored social issues or class differences within its narrative, it highlight a commentary on contemporary societal norms, inequalities, or interactions.

Film starring Sitara Devi and Kumar.

Ostensibly a Central Asian war fantasy about a conflict between the Cossacks and the Tartars, Mehboob’s film proposes a tale advocating national independence. The Cossacks are oppressed by the despotic Russian king (Siddiqui) and his minister Jabir (Kayamali), who has Tartar blood in him. General Murad (Kumar) covertly sides with the opposition, gets arrested for treason and escapes. He meets the wild Gulnar (Sitara Devi) and gets her to spy as a maid of Princess Nigar (Bibbo). Nigar falls for Murad and Gulnar withdraws from the scene for the sake of her nation. Eventually Nigar, at the head of an army of women, helps defeat the villains.

A devoted woman, Badi Maa dedicates her life to raising her deceased friend's child, her love and sacrifices influencing all around her, leading to emotional conflicts as the child matures.

Kardar’s ultra-conservative ode to patriarchy tells of Binod (Jairaj) and Indira (Sitara Devi) who were married as children and never meet as adults. Indira grows into a ‘modern’ young woman while Binod, disinherited when his stepfather has a son, works in a distant village. Indira haughtily refuses a relationship with a pauper but she eventually realises her duties to her husband and goes to meet him disguised as Shanta, a beggar woman. Binod then falls in love with her, not realising she is in fact his wife.

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.

An Indian drama about a woman's courageous quest for personal goals.

A musician's move to Bombay ignites a love triangle with his new landlord's daughter and his former, unrequited admirer. Misunderstandings and family opposition lead to separation, but a fateful reunion during a crisis ultimately brings the true lovers together with a happy ending.

Set in the Ottoman Empire, it deals with the Caesar's (Pande) army and its skirmishes with the local Muslim rulers. The Sultan's (Asooji) son Ziyad (Kumar) is arrested by the Roman army. The Roman princess Rahil falls in love with him. A Muslim maid Leela (Sitara Devi) and the princess help him escape. Long chase scenes and fights follow, which ultimately lead to success for Ziyad and his people.

An early Indian drama, exploring themes of happiness and sorrow in everyday life, as its title ("Dukh Sukh" translates to "Pain Happiness" or "Sorrow Joy") suggests.

A social drama centered on the themes of reputation and honor, depicting characters' struggles to maintain or regain their standing in society.

Devdas, the son of a zamindar, and Parvati, his neighbour's daughter, are childhood sweethearts. However, class and caste differences prevent their marriage. Devdas is sent off to Calcutta, while Paro is married off to an aged rich widower. In Calcutta, as remorse drives him to alcohol, Devdas meets Chandramukhi, a tawaif.

Nightingale (Kokila) is a 1937 Hindi social family drama film directed by Sarvottam Badami

A. R. Kardar’s Pooja tells a disturbing story of two estranged sisters whose lives are fractured by a violent act of revenge and years of buried truths.

The evil Chand (Motilal) and his rich father Mangaldas (Date) persecute the nice Sunder (Ishwarlal): he kidnaps Sunder's sister Kokila (Khursheed) and frames him for theft. Sunder is jailed. The abducted Kokila succumbs to the villain's charms and her love reforms him. When released, Sunder, unaware of the fact that his enemy has reformed, seeks revenge on the very day that Chand and Kokila are to marry.

Using the moon’s rays, Professor Harnam invents a potion that turns man into a murderous beast. His brother Professor Vaman, realizing the dangers of this invention, realizes the urgent need of producing an antidote to avoid disaster. However, it is too late as Harnam’s daughter drinks the potion during a quarrel with her lover Detective Kishore and the city begins to witness a murder spree amongst its elite and wealthy citizens.

1950 bollywood film.

Dhiraj (1942) was a Hindi social film directed by Chaturbhuj Doshi and produced by Ranjit Movietone. It featured actors like Sitara Devi and Ishwarlal. Dhiraj was banned by the British government due to alleged inclusion of "symbols like pictures of national leaders," suggesting a plot with nationalist themes.

A drama set in a Muslim family. Safhar's inheritance is lost, thanks to his sister-in-law, but he is still expected to complete his late father's work of building a mosque. If he cannot complete the work, then Salim must take over, but he goes off to fight in the Balkans, leaving the sister-in- law's orphaned daughter to complete the task. In doing so, she will lose her freedom, so she has a difficult decision to make.

Sundarlal abandons his wife, Lalita, and children to pursue a living in the city, where he succumbs to a life of depravity. After their son dies, their daughter, Saju, defends her virtue and supports her mother in extreme poverty. Disguised as a man, she searches the city for her father with the help of a blind man, Baldev. Saju falls in love with a drunken millionaire she rescues, who mistakes her for a boy.

A psychiatrist spirals into madness after being tricked into marrying the wrong sister. When his obsession with her sibling grows, he uses his medical authority to turn her insane and imprison her within his own asylum.

Laxmi, an "untouchable" woman fights for her community's rights against societal discrimination. She faces personal hardship and resistance from authorities, ultimately leading a movement for equality and temple access, while advocating for deeper societal change.

Najma is a 1943 Indian film directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Ashok Kumar and Veena. The film's music is by Rafiq Ghaznavi with lyrics by Anjum Pilibhiti. Najma was the first film under Mehboob Khan's Mehboob Productions banner. Due to its financial success upon release, the film became a blueprint for Muslim socials that followed.

Film starring Khursheed and Sitara Devi

The story of an unemployed graduate who falls in love with a woman who ran away from her cruel husband.

In the midst of war, teacher Ashok falls for Shyama, but their love is tested when he joins the air force and faces a cunning love rival and wartime profiteers. As misunderstandings and deceptions mount, can their love survive the chaos of war and betrayal?

Kishore loves Asha, whose father raised him like a son, and sets out to earn money to wed her in great pomp. However, fate has other plans as it lands him in jail under a false charge.

The story of two brothers, Dhiraj and Shashi, and their rivalry. The cunning Dhiraj mortgages their ancestral property, causing complications for his innocent brother Shashi and their family. The plot also explores the contrast between rural (Unmad village) and city life, as both brothers originate from Calcutta.