''Grihalakshmi'' (''English:'' Educated Wife) (''Hindi:'' गृहलक्ष्मी, lit. House-Goddess of Wealth) is a

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...

Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...

social family melodrama

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

directed by

Sarvottam Badami Sarvottam Badami (1910–2005) was an Indian film director of Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. He started his career as a sound recordist for the first talkie in India, '' Alam Ara'' (1931). In 1948 he helped set up the Films Division for news- ...

with story by Dr. Jayant Shyam and cinematography by

Faredoon Irani Faredoon A. Irani was an Indian cinematographer who worked in Hindi films. He shot Mehboob Khan's films '' Andaz'' (1949), '' Aan'' (1952) and ''Mother India '' (1958). During his career, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer recor ...

. The film was produced by

Sagar Movietone Sagar Movietone also Sagar Films, Sagar Film Company and Sagar Productions was an Indian film production company involved in the making of films for Indian cinema. It was launched by Ardeshir Irani with Chimanlal Desai and Dr. Ambalal Patel in 19 ...

and had music by S. P. Rane. The cast included

Sabita Devi Sabita Devi (1914–1965) was a Hindi film actress in Indian cinema. She is stated to be one of the "prominent" leading ladies of the "pioneering era" of Indian cinema along with Mehtab, Bibbo, Durga Khote, Gohar, Devika Rani and Seeta Devi. ...

, Jal Merchant, Yakub, Kamala Devi,

K. C. Dey Krishna Chandra Dey (24 August 1893 – 28 November 1962), better known as K.C. Dey, was an Indian music director, music composer, musician, singer, actor, and music teacher born in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He was S.D. Burman's first musical te ...

, Swaroop Rani and Asooji. Badami became well known for directing "sensitive" and "socially relevant" films like ''Grihlakshmi'' for Sagar Movietone. The film was a remake of the earlier ''Bhaneli Bhamini'' (1927) which had a relevant social message to impart against sexually transmitted disease according to an advertisement in the ''Bombay Chronicle'' in 1927. This 1934 version differed in context showing an educated steadfast wife going through humiliation at the hands of her husband, but continuing to stay with him.

Synopsis

Malti (

) is the daughter of a wealthy mill-owner Jagmohandas (Asooji), who is an evil, corrupt man. She meets a young man Vinod (Jal Merchant) in college. They both fall in love and decide to get married. However, Vinod's father is humiliated by Jagmohandas and he commits suicide. An angry Vinod decides to take revenge by marrying Malti and putting her through mental and physical abuse. An old friend of Malti's, Sudhakar (Balaram), loves her from college days and watches the treatment Malti suffers through her husband but is unable to do anything. Vinod takes to drinking and bringing nautch girls home. Malti suggests Sudhakar marry Nalini (Swaroop Rani) who is ultra-mod but Malti tries to help her turn traditional. Vinod gets into gambling and when he needs money, Raghu (

Mehboob Khan Mehboob Khan (born Mehboob Khan Ramzan Khan; 9 September 1907
at filmreference.com. – 28 ...

), a worker in the factory helps him out. Vinod in his debauched state eyes first Raghu's wife and then Nalini, when she comes to visit Malti. Malti helps her escape but is beaten up by Vinod. She leaves the house and goes to live with her father. Sudhakar comes to tend to her and Vinod arrives at the same time. Seeing Sudhakar there with his wife Vinod gets jealous and shoots at Sudhakar. Sudhakar dies and Vinod is on the run. In the end he realises Malti's devotion to him and is repentant.

Cast

as Malti * Jal Merchant as Vinod * Yakub as Mill Manager *

as Purohit *

Mehboob Khan Mehboob Khan (born Mehboob Khan Ramzan Khan; 9 September 1907
at filmreference.com. – 28 ...

as Raghu * Asooji as Jagmohandas * Swaroop Rani as Nalini * Lalita Devulkar as Hansa * Balaram as Sudhakar * Panda as Karamsi

Music

There were sixteen songs in the film with music composed by S. P. Rane. The singers were Lalita Devulkar, K. C. Dey, Sabita Devi and Jal Merchant.

Soundtrack

References

External links

* {{Sarvottam Badami 1934 films 1930s Hindi-language films Indian black-and-white films Indian drama films 1934 drama films Melodrama films Films directed by Sarvottam Badami Hindi-language drama films