Jhansi Ki Rani | |
---|---|
Directed by | Sohrab Modi |
Written by |
|
Produced by | Sohrab Modi |
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Ernest Haller assisted by M. Malhotra and Y. D. Sarpotdar |
Edited by | Russell Lloyd |
Music by |
|
Production company | Minerva Movietone |
Release date |
|
Running time | 148 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Hindi |
Budget | ₹6 million[1] |
Jhansi Ki Rani (transl. Queen of Jhansi) is a 1953 Indian Hindi-language historical drama film produced and directed by Sohrab Modi for his Minerva Movietone production banner. It is credited as the first Technicolor film made in India[2] and starred Modi's wife, Mehtab in the title role, with Modi in the important role of her mentor, Rajguru (royal adviser).[3] The film was dubbed in English as The Tiger and the Flame, which released in 1956 with the same star cast.[4] The cast besides Mehtab and Sohrab Modi included Mubarak, Ulhas, Sapru, Ram Singh, Baby Shikha, Marconi and Shakila.[5]
Set in the 19th century against the backdrop of the Mutiny of 1857, the film is about the bravery of queen Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, who took up arms and led her army against the British. She was one of the first Indians to do so.[6] It was the most expensive Hindi film up until then, with a budget ₹6 million, but became a box office failure.[1]