''Kunku'' (Marathi title) is a 1937

Marathi Marathi may refer to: *Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India *Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people *Palaiosouda, also known as Marathi, a small island in Greece See also * * ...

classic social drama film directed by

V. Shantaram Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre (18 November 1901 – 30 October 1990), referred to as V. Shantaram or Shantaram Bapu, was an Indian filmmaker, film producer, and actor known for his work in Hindi and Marathi films. He is most known for films such ...

, and based on the novel, ''Na Patnari Goshta'' by

Narayan Hari Apte Narayan Hari Apte, popularly known as Nanasaheb Apte (11 July 1889 – 14 November 1971) was a Marathi popular novelist, writer of advice books and editor from Maharashtra, India. Early life and education Apte was born on 11 July 1889 in the v ...

, who also wrote film's screenplay. The film was simultaneously shot and released in Hindi as ''Duniya Na Maane''. The movie went on to become both a critical and commercial success, and was shown at the

Venice International Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival he ...

.Films
''

Prabhat Film Company Prabhat Film Company (popularly known as Prabhat Films) was an Indian film production company and film studios founded in 1929 by the noted film director V.Shantaram and his friends. It was formed in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India in 1929, towar ...

''. The film is now hailed for "its daring attack on the treatment of women in Indian society." and depiction of

child marriage Child marriage is a marriage or similar union, formal or informal, between a child under a certain age – typically 18 years – and an adult or another child. * * * * The vast majority of child marriages are between a female child and a ma ...

. For film's lead actress, Shanta Apte, it was third most memorable performance in a row, after V.Shantaram's previous classics, ''

Amrit Manthan ''Amrit Manthan'' ( ''The Changes of Amrit'') is an Indian television soap opera, which premiered on 26 February 2012 and ran through 2 August 2013 on Life Ok. It is the story of two sisters who become each other's enemiesThis show was also b ...

'' (1934) and ''

Amar Jyoti ''Amar Jyoti'' (Eternal Flame) is a List of Bollywood films of 1936, 1936 Hindi social, action adventure, drama film directed by V. Shantaram. Produced by Prabhat Film Company and cited as a "noteworthy" film along with Shantaram's earlier ''Am ...

'' (1936). Besides other songs, she also sang a full-fledged English song in the film: "A Psalm of Life", written by

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include "Paul Revere's Ride", ''The Song of Hiawatha'', and ''Evangeline''. He was the first American to completely transl ...

(1807–1882).

Plot

A young woman, Nirmala (Shanta Apte), known affectionately as Neera, is orphaned and comes to live in the house of her maternal uncle. His wife, a very good lady, urges her husband to do his duty and arrange for Nirmala to marry a suitable young man. The uncle finally brings a family to meet his niece, consisting of a handsome young man, his much younger brother, his middle aged father and his widowed aunt (father's sister). The meeting is cordial, and a few days later, Nirmala's uncle comes home with the news that the boy's family have agreed to the match. On the day of the wedding, while Nirmala sits inside a room like a demure bride, her aunt is at the gate to receive the groom with

aarti ''Arti'' (Sanskrit: Ārātrika, Hindi: Ārtī) is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, often part of '' puja'', in which light (usually from a flame) is offered to one or more deities. ''Arti(s)'' also refers to the songs sung in praise of the d ...

. She is horrified and faints when she discovers that the elderly father is the groom! When she recovers, her husband tells her sternly not to make a scene but to ensure that Nirmala goes quietly with her husband, the much older widower, Kaka Saheb (

Keshavrao Date Keshavrao Date (1889–1971) was an Indian film actor, who worked in both silent and sound movies. He tried to run his own drama company but found it difficult to perform the dual roles of manager and actor. Career His role in the drama ''An ...

). The story is based on a novel by Shri.

. It reminds us instinctively of the story of Sharada, a play by Deval which had long been a classic of Marathi theatre. Neera, a young girl, is married off to an old widower by her foster-parents, an uncle and his orthodox wife. The deal is obviously motivated by considerations of money. The shock of the marriage is too much for the girl, but she bravely tries to accommodate herself in the house. The widower deceives himself into believing that he is still not old enough to have lost his manhood. His college-going son tries to flirt with his young stepmother, while a widowed daughter of his sympathises with her in her woe. The marriage does not work. Some cheer is added to Neera's life through the company of a teenage girl belonging to the household. However, when the old man fully realises the implications of his action, he commits suicide, leaving the girl he has married against her will to go her own way.

Music

The songs are from the lead actress Shanta Apte even sung.

Shantaram Athavale Shantaram Govind Athavale ( mr, शांताराम गोविंद आठवले) (21 January 1910 – 2 May 1975) was an Indian director of Marathi, Hindi and English language films, a lyricist, poet, and author. Part of the genera ...

wrote the lyrics to the music of

Keshavrao Bhole Keshav Vaman Bhole ( mr, केशव वामन भोळे, 23 May 1896 – 1967), also known as Keshavrao Bhole, was a well-known music composer and critic in Indian cinema. He was the founder of a theatrical company called Natya-Manvanta ...

. The English text of the song in the world's broad field of battle ... Be not like dumb, driven cattle is a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Cast

Shanta Apte Shanta Apte (1916–1964) was an Indian actress-singer who worked in Marathi and Hindi cinema. Renowned for her roles in films like ''Duniya Na Mane/Kunku'' (1937) and '' Amar Jyoti'' (1936) under the Prabhat Films banner, she was active in In ...

as Nirmala * K. Date as Kakasaheb *

Raja Nene ''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested fr ...

as Jugat * Vimala Vasishta as the Aunt *

Shakuntala Paranjpye Shakuntalā Parānjpye (17 January 1906 – 3 May 2000) was an Indian writer, actress and a prominent social worker. She was a member of Maharashtra Legislative Council during 1958–64, and served as nominated member of, Rajya Sabha (Up ...

as Sushila * Master Chhotu Shanta Apte ... Nirmala Keshavrao Date Keshavrao Date ... Keshavlal Pleader Vimala Vasishta Vimala Vasishta ... Chachi (as Vimalabai Vasistha) Shakuntala Paranjpye Shakuntala Paranjpye ... Sushila Vasanti Vasanti ... Shanta Raja Nene Raja Nene ... Jugal Gauri Gauri ... Mami Chhotu Chhotu ... Mama Rest of cast listed alphabetically: Karmarkar Karmarkar

References

*Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Paul Willemen: Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema, S. 272

External links

*
Full movie on YouTube

Full movie on Dailymotion

{{V. Shantaram 1937 films Indian black-and-white films Films directed by V. Shantaram 1930s Hindi-language films Indian feminist films Films about women in India Films based on Indian novels Prabhat Film Company films Articles containing video clips Indian drama films 1937 drama films Indian multilingual films 1937 multilingual films 1930s Marathi-language films