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

Marathi Marathi may refer to: *Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India **Marathi people (Uttar Pradesh), the Marathi people in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh *Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Mar ...

-language classic social drama film directed by V. Shantaram, 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 ...

, who also wrote film's screenplay. The film was simultaneously shot and released in Hindi as ''Duniya Na Maane''. The film 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 (, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival held in Venice, Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the ...

.Films
''

Prabhat Film Company Prabhat Film Company (popularly known as Prabhat Films) was an Indian film production company and studio facility founded in 1929 in Kolhapur. It was established by filmmaker V. Shantaram, along with Vishnupant Govind Damle, Keshav Rao Dhaibar, ...

''. 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 practice involving a marriage or domestic partnership, formal or informal, that includes an individual under 18 and an adult or other child.* * * * Research has found that child marriages have many long-term negative co ...

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

Amrit Manthan ''Amrit Manthan'' ( ''The Changes of Amrit'') is an Indian television soap opera that premiered on 26 February 2012 and ran until 2 August 2013 on Life OK. It tells the story of two sisters who become each other's enemies. This 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 the poems " Paul Revere's Ride", '' The Song of Hiawatha'', and '' Evangeline''. He was the first American to comp ...

(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'' () or ''Aarati'' () is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, part of a ''Puja (Hinduism), puja'', in which light from a flame (fuelled by camphor, ghee, or oil) is ritually waved to venerate Hindu deities, deities. ''Arti'' also refers t ...

. 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 ''A ...

). 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 (21 January 1910 – 2 May 1975) was an Indian director of Marathi language, Marathi, Hindi and English language films, a lyricist, poet, and author. Part of the generation that emerged from the Prabhat Film Company i ...

wrote the lyrics to the music of

Keshavrao Bhole Keshav Vaman Bhole (, 23 May 1896 – 1967), also known as Keshavrao Bhole, was a well-known music composer and critic in Indian cinema. Works He was the founder of a theatrical company called Natya-Manvantara. In 1933, he was admitted to P ...

. 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 language, 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 w ...

as Nirmala * K. Date as Kakasaheb *

Raja Nene Raja (; from , IAST ') is a noble or royal Sanskrit title historically used by some Indian rulers and monarchs and highest-ranking nobles. The title was historically used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The title has a long ...

as Jugat * Vimala Vasishta as the Aunt *

Shakuntala Paranjpye Shakuntala Paranjpye (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 during 1 ...

as Sushila *

Master Chhotu Master, master's or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles In education: *Master (college), head of a college *Master's degree, a postgraduate or sometimes undergraduate degree in the specified discipline *Schoolmaster or master, presiding office ...

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