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Bhakta Vidur
aka Dharma Vijay 1921 St 6835 ft b&w d Kanjibhal Rathod pc Kohinoor Film s Mohanlal G. Dave c Gajanan S. Devare lp Dwarkadas Sampat, Sakina, Maneklal Patel, Homi Master, Prabhashankar, Gangaram
One of the most famous silent mythologicals proposing a politically subversive allegory, causing a major censorship row. The Mahabharata story was advertised as a 'series of events between Pandavas and Kauravas which led to the decline and downfall of the ancient empire and culminated in terrible war between the two rival factions. A Swadeshi film. Glory of the East, portrayed with a skill of acting which defies European art.' (Bombay Chronicle, 13 August 1921). Starred the studio's owners, Dwarkadas Sampat as Vidur and Maneklal Patel as Krishna, with Homi Master as Duryodhan. Initially successful in Bombay, it was first banned in Karachi, then in Madras, for being 'a thinly veiled resume of political events in India, Vidur appearing as Mr Gandhi clad in Gandhi-cap and khaddar shirt' (quoted in ICC Report, 1928). It was made partially in the wake of the anti-Rowlatt Act (1919) agitations and continued the studio's political documentaries representing Sampat's Gandhian nationalist adherences. Also known for a specially written music score performed live with every show, esp. the stridently nationalistic song in praise of the charkha (spinning wheel and Congress Party symbol) Rudo mam rentiyo, rentiyama nikle taar, taare taare thai Bharatno udhaar. Re-released as Dharma Vijay in 1922. Rathod and Dave courted notoriety again with MahasatiAnsuya? 0921).