Sikandar (1941 film)
| Sikander | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Sohrab Modi |
| Written by | Sudarshan |
| Produced by | Sohrab Modi |
| Starring | Prithviraj Kapoor Sohrab Modi Zahur Raja |
| Distributed by | Esquire Ltd. (Asia) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 146 min |
| Country | British Raj |
| Language | Hindi |
Sikandar or Sikander (Hindi: सिकंदर, Urdu: سِکندر) is a 1941 epic Bollywood film directed by Sohrab Modi and starring Prithviraj Kapoor as Alexander the Great.[1]
Development
The battle sequences featuring thousands of extras along with horses, elephants and chariots were picturised in Kolhapur.[2]
Plot
The story is set in 326 B.C. The film begins after Alexander the Great (Sikander in Hindi/Urdu) conquers Persia and the Kabul valley and approaches the Indian border at Jhelum. He respects Aristotle and loves Persian Rukhsana (known in the west as Roxana). Sohrab Modi plays the Indian king Puru (Porus to the Greeks). Puru requests neighbouring kingdoms to unite against a common foreign enemy.
The story goes that when Sikander defeated Porus and imprisoned him, he asked Porus how would he like to be treated. Porus replied the same way a king is treated by another king . Sikander was impressed by his answer and set him free.
Cast
- Prithviraj Kapoor
- Sohrab Modi
- Zahur Raja
- Shakir
- Vanmala
- Meena Shorey
- Sheela
- Sadiq Ali
- Shakir
- K N Singh
- Lala Yakub
- Gagendra Singh
- Jillobai
- Zahur Raja
- Abu Bakar
- Ghulam Hussain
- Noor Jehan
- Prakash
- G. S. Shorry
- Athavale
- Mumtaz
and others.
Release
The release of the film coincided with World War II and the quest for Swaraj or Quit India at its peak. In India, the political atmosphere was tense, following Gandhi's call to civil disobedience. Sikander further aroused patriotic feelings and nationalistic sentiment.[3] Thus though Sikander was approved by the Bombay censor board, it was later banned from some of the theatres serving British Indian Army cantonments.[4]
However its appeal to nationalism was so great and direct, it remained popular for years. It was revived in Delhi in 1961 during the Indian march into Goa. After the movie was a huge box office success, it was dubbed and released in Persian.[5]
See also
References
- ^ 100 Bollywood Films. ISBN 9788174369901.
- ^ "Grandly picturised battle scenes". Rediff.
- ^ 101 Hit Films of Indian Cinema. ISBN 9789350836538.
- ^ "Sikandar (1941)". The Hindu.
- ^ "How Sohrab Modi won over Prithviraj Kapoor". Rediff.
music of 'Sikandar' was composed by Meer Sahib. A prominent song was Zindagi hai pyar se, pyar se bitaye ja
