https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Janmabhoomi_1936_filmJanmabhoomi 1936 film - Revision history2026-08-01T06:46:08ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Janmabhoomi_1936_film&diff=464173&oldid=prevYogiindia at 07:08, 7 March 20262026-03-07T07:08:17Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}<br />
{{Infobox film<br />
| name = Janmabhoomi<br />
| image = Janmabhoomi film.jpg<br />
<br />
| caption = ''Janmabhoomi''<br />
| director = [[Franz Osten]]<br />
| producer = [[Himanshu Rai]]<br />
| writer = [[Niranjan Pal]]<br />J. S. Kashyap (dialogue)<br />
| screenplay = <br />
| story = <br />
| based_on = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} --><br />
| starring = [[Devika Rani]]<br />[[Ashok Kumar]]<br />
| music = [[Saraswati Devi (music director)|Saraswati Devi]]<br />
| cinematography = [[Josef Wirsching]]<br />
| editing = <br />
| studio = [[Bombay Talkies]]<br />
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1936}}<br />
| runtime = <br />
| country = India<br />
| language = Hindi<br />
| budget = <br />
| gross = <br />
}}<br />
[[File:Janmabhoomi, 1936.webm|thumb|x220px|''Janmabhoomi'']]<br />
<br />
'''''Janmabhoomi''''' ({{langx|en|Land of Birth}}) is a [[List of Bollywood films of 1936|1936]] Indian [[Hindi]]-language film directed by [[Franz Osten]] and starring [[Devika Rani]] and [[Ashok Kumar]] in the lead roles. Music of the film was by [[Saraswati Devi (music director)|Saraswati Devi]], who had worked extensively with [[Bombay Talkies]].<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
Protima Devi (Devika Rani) is in love with Dr. Ajoy Kumar Ghosh (Ashok Kumar), whom she has already accepted as her husband even though they are not married. Ajoy is living in a village where he is the only doctor.<br />
<br />
Inspired by the death of a friend, Ajoy decides to devote his life serving his native village (a metaphor for [[Indian independence movement|serving the country]]). Dedicated to the cause, Ajoy decides to renounce all worldly pleasures, including his love. Protima gets a rude shock when Ajoy writes to her urging her to forget him. Determined not to give up easily, she sets off to the village, where she discovers that Ajoy is out to improve the lives of the villagers.<br />
<br />
Ajoy attempts at enlightening the villagers against blind faith and achieving unity by breaking down [[Caste system in India|caste]] barriers brings him in direct conflict with the old order, represented by the hedonistic [[zamindar]], his assistant Sanatan (P. F. Pithawala), the village [[Hindu priest|priest]], and the village [[moneylender]]. Together, the four band together to discredit Ajoy in the eyes of the villagers.<br />
<br />
After several failed attempts, the wily Sanatan dreams up a diabolical conspiracy to get rid of the vacillating Zamindar and replace him with his drunkard, hedonistic nephew (Mumtaz Ali), who will prove more pliable. The zamindar is poisoned under circumstances that point to Dr. Ajoy's involvement, resulting in his imprisonment.<br />
<br />
The doctor's report establishes that the Zamindar died due to [[arsenic poisoning]]. Further investigation reveals that Sanatan had purchased arsenic from a chemist shop in a nearby town. Suspicion automatically turns to Sanatan, who is apprehended. Under interrogation he confesses to his crime. Ajoy is released with his name and reputation intact, free to carry on with his reforming ways.<br />
<br />
==Cast==<br />
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2023}}<br />
;Main Cast<br />
*[[Devika Rani]] as Protima<br />
*[[Ashok Kumar]] as Ramchandra<br />
*Kamta Prasad as Panditji<br />
*Chandraprabha as Pagli<br />
*Sunita Devi<br />
*[[Mumtaz Ali]]<br />
*[[P. F. Pithawala]] as Sanatan<br />
*[[Esther Victoria Abraham|Pramila]] <br />
;Supported by<br />
*Jhaverbhai Kaiser as The Zamindar<br />
*N. M.Joshi<br />
*Ahteramuddin<br />
*D. A. Kamat<br />
*H. S. Naik<br />
*Madhurika<br />
*Khosla <br />
*Ishrat<br />
*Talwar<br />
<br />
==Legacy==<br />
Released during the [[Indian independence movement]], Janmabhoomi was the first patriotic movie in the history of Hindi cinema.<ref>{{Cite web |last=दुबे |first=स्नेहा |date=2024-08-11 |title=हिंदी सिनेमा की पहली देशभक्ति फिल्म कौन सी है? अंग्रेज ने बनाई थी ये मूवी, जानें नाम |url=https://www.abplive.com/entertainment/bollywood/first-hindi-patriotic-movie-was-janmabhoomi-1936-directed-by-franz-osten-ashok-kumar-lead-actor-2758741 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=www.abplive.com |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2023 |title=Bombay Cinema and the Freedom Struggle |url=https://cmsadmin.amritmahotsav.nic.in/district-reopsitory-detail.htm?25127 |website=amritmahotsav.nic.in}}</ref><br />
<br />
It was also the first ever Hindi movie to have an explicitly nationalistic song: "Jai Jai Janani Janmabhoomi" (Hail the land of our birth), written by Jamuna Swarup Cassyap.{{Sfn|Pauwels|2007|p=207}} The song was extremely popular song in its era{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} and inspired freedom struggles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mankotia |first=Ajay |date=2020-08-14 |title=How Did Indian Movies and Songs Inspire Our Freedom Struggle? |url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/indian-cinema/indian-independence-day-freedom-struggle-gandhi-netaji-hindi-patriotic-films-songs-british-rule |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
A tune from the film was utilised by the [[BBC]] as a signature tune for its "Indian News Service".{{Sfn|Ranade|2006|p=114}}{{Sfn|Ranchan|2014|p=40}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<br />
===Citations===<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
===Sources===<br />
{{refbegin}}<br />
*{{cite book|last=Ranade|first=Ashok Da.|title=Hindi Film Song: Music Beyond Boundaries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZI1wqkWsIjYC|year=2006|publisher=Bibliophile South Asia|isbn=978-81-85002-64-4}}<br />
*{{cite book|last=Ranchan|first=Vijay|title=Story of a Bollywood Song|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3h2AgAAQBAJ|year=2014|publisher=Abhinav Publications|id=GGKEY:9E306RZQTQ7}}<br />
* {{cite book|first=Heidi R. M. |last=Pauwels|title=Indian Literature and Popular Cinema: Recasting Classics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OAI0scTDAjIC&pg=PA207|year=2007|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-06255-3}}<br />
{{refend}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
{{Commons category|Janmabhoomi (1936 film)|Janmabhoomi}}<br />
<br />
* {{IMDb title|0027815}}<br />
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgU9yYq9Jes Full movie on YouTube]<br />
<br />
{{Franz Osten}}<br />
[[Category:1936 Hindi-language films]]<br />
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]<br />
[[Category:Films about landlords]]<br />
[[Category:Films about medical doctors]]<br />
[[Category:Films about poisonings]]<br />
[[Category:Films about social issues in India]]<br />
[[Category:Films about the caste system in India]]<br />
[[Category:Films directed by Franz Osten]]<br />
[[Category:Films set in the Indian independence movement]]<br />
[[Category:Films à clef]]<br />
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian musical drama films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian patriotic songs]]<br />
[[Category:Indian romantic musical films]]<br />
[[Category:Bombay Talkies films]]<br />
<br />
{{1930s-Hindi-film-stub}}</div>Yogiindia