Nishan - Hindi - 1949 - Bhanumathi, Ranjan

Nishan, 1949
Director: S.S. Vasan
Music Directors: B.S. Kalla, M.D. Parthasarathy, S. Rajeswara Rao
Lyrics: Pandit Indra
Choreography: Jaya Shankar, Natanam Nataraj, A.K. Chopra
Playback: Shamshad Begum, Zohrabai Ambalewali, Moti
Cast: Bhanumati, Ranjan, Nagendra Rao, J.S. Casshyup, Maya Banerjee, V.P.S.

No translation, sorry. The source was a VHS tape provided by Mrs. Anand by way of Mr. Surjit Singh. My sincere thanks to the both of them.

The December 1949 issue of FilmIndia has a full review of Nishan, written in the usual caustic style of editor Baburao Patel:

Producer-director S. S. Vasan of Madras, who stormed the box-offices with his mammoth picture “Chandralekha” and set fire to the ambitions of other producers by collecting over 20 million (2 crores) rupees, has now given us a second box-office hit in “Nishan”, the Hindustani version of “The Corsican Brothers”, a novel by Alexandre Dumas. In comparison with “Chandralekha”, “Nishan” is a modest picture in spectacle but “Nishan” has more speed and action than “Chandralekha”. “Nishan” is also a better knit picture with the vein of the story constantly in view and not lost in a circus or a spectacular dance.

Having decided to film a famous novel the producer hasn’t worried much about changing any sequences and with the usual additions of songs and dances, “Nishan” could be said to be quite a good screen adaptation of the original work. It is the usual Ruritanian story with two feudal lords at loggerheads. One of them, Zorawar Singh kills the other, Mahendra Singh, and burns down his palace. But a loyal family doctor saves the twins of Mahendra Singh. One of these twins is looked after by a friend while the other is brought up in the forest by Madho Singh, a faithful servant of the family. The city twin is called Vijay Singh, while his forest counterpart is called Vikram Singh. They look alike as twins usually do but the city-bred boy is more patient and cultured while the other fellow is more primitive and violent. They become 21 and the doctor brings them together and tells them to avenge the murder of their father. The boys take the usual oath and from that day onwards Zorawar Singh becomes a marked man. To make the story a romantic triangle, a girl named Bhanumati is now introduced. Vijay falls in love with her and she reciprocates his love. Vikram also feels the same way about the girl while Zorawar Singh wants to marry her by hook or by crook. With the girl tossed between the twins and Zorawar Singh, a lot of thrilling drama is created on the screen, till at the end Zorawar manages to kill Vikram but is himself killed by Vijay. It ends well.

The picture is smartly produced being good in photography and recording. The sword and dagger fights are very well taken and both Ranjan and Nagendra Rao give a a good account of themselves. The illusion of twin acting by the same artiste is well maintained in camera and action. The dances are well presented with young and attractive girls who are not a disgrace to their sex. The dances have in addition some theme and school. A couple of tunes are attractive and the music generally is quite suitable for a story of this type and so are the love songs sung by Bhanumati and attractively tuned by Balkrishna Kalla. The dialogue of Pandit Indra is short and pointed and fits the lips of the Tamilian characters very well. Vasan has done a good job of direction, especially in maintaining a fast tempo for the story.

From the players Bhanumati attracts attention. Though she is not beautiful, she has yet a sex-appeal which she uses very effectively in her romantic sequences with Ranjan. The song at the piano, which is incidentally beautifully begun, reveals this girl’s talent for some natural flirting. Bhanumati plays her role very well. She has that illusive “it”. Another one with an unsympathetic face for a hero is Ranjan. With thick lips, big bulging eyes and short curled-up wig, Ranjan could be said to have Negroid looks. But the boy is extremely active and has talent for acting. He plays the twins, Vijay and Vikram, and despite his rugged Negroid looks does his job well. Nagendra Rao who plays Zorawar Singh gives a good performance. His photogenic value would improve a lot if he gets his upper front teeth removed and new ones put in to suit his short upper lip. J. S. Casshyap, a versatile film man gives a fine stoic performance as the doctor of the story. He almost lives his role of a loyal family doctor. Maya Bannerjee makes many ugly faces as the mistress of Zorawar Singh and fails miserably. V. P. S. Mani who plays Himmat, the henchman of Zorawar does a good job in a straight role. The rest are just the rest.

In fine, “Nishan` is a good entertainer for women and children and with Gemini’s trade name well established, it is bound to become another box-office hit. This picture is a good money-spinner.

Here's Chandrakekha:

   • Chandralekha - 1948 - Hindi - T.R. Ra...  

No longer protected by copyright.