''Kadu Makrani'' is a 1960

Gujarati Gujarati may refer to: * something of, from, or related to Gujarat, a state of India * Gujarati people, the major ethnic group of Gujarat * Gujarati language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by them * Gujarati languages, the Western Indo-Aryan sub- ...

historical fantasy Historical fantasy is a category of fantasy and genre of historical fiction that incorporates fantastic elements (such as magic) into a more "realistic" narrative. There is much crossover with other subgenres of fantasy; those classed as Arthur ...

film directed by

Manhar Raskapur Manhar Rangildas Raskapur (8 May 1922 – 14 February 1980) was an Indian film director primarily known for his works in Gujarati cinema. Biography Raskapur was born in 1922 in Surat, Gujarat, India. He studied up to the first year of college be ...

from India. The film tells the story of the historical figure

Kadu Makrani Qadir Baksh Rind Baloch (1811 — November 1887) (famously known as Kadu Makrani) was a 19th-century Indian revolutionary who operated mainly in Kathiawar region of Gujarat but was born and raised in Makran. He is famously known for opposing and ...

, a

bandit Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws typically involving the threat or use of violence. A person who engages in banditry is known as a bandit and primarily commits crimes such as extortion, robbery, and murder, either as an ...

, fighting the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

. The lead role was played by

Arvind Pandya Arvind Pandya (21 March 1923 – 22 July 1980) was an Indian actor. In his career spanning 35 years, he acted in more than one hundred films including 73 Gujarati films. He also worked in Hindi films and Gujarati theatre. Early life Pandya w ...

. The music was composed by

Avinash Vyas Avinash Vyas was an Indian music composer, lyricist and singer of Gujarati films who composed music for over 190 Gujarati films. He was a winner of Gujarat State Film award for the best lyricist and best music 25 times. He was honoured by the ...

. It was a commercial success.

Plot

A century ago, Makrani clan of Inaj, a settlement in

Junagadh State Junagarh or Junagadh ( ur, ) was a princely state in Gujarat ruled by the Muslim Babi dynasty in British India, until its integration into the Union of India in 1948. History Muhammad Sher Khan Babai was the founder of the Babi Pashtun d ...

, defy the

British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...

. The British invades the settlement thus four Makrani members become bandits and harass the British. The British orders Harbhai Desai who was an administrator under the Nawab of Junagadh, to capture or kill their leader Kadar Baksh, also known as Kadu Madrani. Harbhai Desai and Kadu Makrani were childhood friends who clash on the battlefield with each other. Kadu retracted but was identified and finally captured. In 1887, he was

hanged Hanging is the suspension of a person by a noose or ligature around the neck.Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. Hanging as method of execution is unknown, as method of suicide from 1325. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' states that hanging in ...

in Karachi jail.

Cast

The cast is as follows: *

* Shalini * Champshibhai Nagada * Mahesh Desai * Bhudo Advani * Babu Raje Other cast members included Champak Lala, Radha,

Ruby Myers Ruby Myers (1907 – 10 October 1983), better known by her stage name Sulochana, was an Indian silent film actress of Jewish ancestry, from the community of Baghdadi Jews in India. In her heyday she was one of the highest paid actresses of h ...

(Sulochana), Ulhas, Jaya Bhatt,

Honey Chhaya Honey Chhaya (1930 – 28 February 2016) was an Indian writer, actor and director. He directed and acted in both Hindi and Gujarati films and plays. Life Honey Chhaya was born in 1930. He started his acting career in 1944. Initially, he act ...

, Vishnu Vyas, Padmakumar Joshi, Ajit Soni, Mukund Desai, Devika Roy, Bhimjibhai,

Upendra Trivedi Upendra Jethalal Trivedi (14 July 1936 4 January 2015) was an Indian film and stage actor, director and producer who was one of the most prolific actors of Gujarati cinema. As an actor films like '' Mehndi Rang Lagyo'' (1960), ''Jogidas Khuman' ...

, Gunvant Kayastha, Bagla, Manjula Moti.

Production

The film was a anti-Imperialist historical fantasy. The film was based on a biographical story of

by Gujarati author

Gunvantrai Acharya Gunvantrai Popatbhai Acharya (9 September 1900 – 25 November 1965) was a Gujarati language novelist and journalist from India. His experience with seafarers impacted his adventure and novel writings. His works include several historical fict ...

. It was directed by Mahnar Raskapur and produced by Champshibhai Nagada under banner of film company Sadhna Chitra. The production was launched on 18 September 1958,

Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi (ISO: ), also known as Vinayak Chaturthi (), or Ganeshotsav () is a Hindu festival commemorating the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha. The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha's clay idols privately in homes and p ...

Soundtrack

The soundtrack is as follows:

Reception

The film was a commercial success. It is Raskapur's best-known film. Film critic

Amrit Gangar Amrit Gangar is an Indian film scholar, historian, critic, curator and writer from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He worked as consultant content developer for the National Museum of Indian Cinema set up by the National Council of Science Museums ...

has considered the film as one of the "landmark" films of Raskapur.

Legacy

The film started a tradition of films depicting the struggle with the establishment in Gujarati cinema. Large number of such films were produced subsequently and the tradition was also mirrored in the Hindi cinema after a decade and half. The film's success pushed for more films based on folklore in Gujarati cinema. The film was remade in 1973 in Gujarati by Manu Desai.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title 1960 films 1960s historical fantasy films 1960s biographical films Films set in 1887 Films set in Gujarat Films shot in Mumbai Films shot in Gujarat 1960s Gujarati-language films Indian biographical films Indian historical fantasy films Films set in the British Raj Films set in the Indian independence movement Films based on real people Indian black-and-white films 1960s Indian films Films about outlaws