Jagdish Sethi

Acting

Jagdish Sethi

Born 1903-01-15

Jagdish Sethi (15 January 1903 – 12 June 1969) was an Indian actor and film director born in Punjab, India, whose prolific career spanned nearly four decades and included over 80 appearances in Hindi and regional cinema. He is best remembered for his character‑driven performances in key early sound‑era films such as Draupadi (1931), where he portrayed Duryodhana in one of India's first mythological talkies, Anath Ashram (1937), and Insaan (1952), a socially conscious drama which he also directed. Jagdish Sethi directed several films including Do Dil (1947), Insaan (1952), and Jaggu (1952), and contributed as a screenwriter, lyricist, and producer in industry collaborations with major studios such as New Theatres, Imperial, and Filmistan. Recognized for his versatility in both performance and filmmaking, he remained one of the notable figures of early Indian cinema until his passing in Bombay on 12 June 1969.

Acting credits

Anokha Prem poster
10.0

An early Indian romantic drama exploring an unusual or unique love story and its challenges.

Anokha Prem

1934

Nartaki poster
10.0

Roop Kumari (Leela Desai) a famous court dancer is forbidden entry into a temple monastery run by a strict disciplinarian Priest. The cast listed here is for the Hindi version, there is also a Bengali version with a different cast, but same director and release year.

Nartaki

1940

President poster
7.5

Badi Bahen aka President is a 1937 Hindi social romantic drama film (the Bengali version was called Didi and starred several different actors). The story according to the credit roll of the film is "A tale of love and greater love" developed on an idea by M. M. Begg. It was a love triangle with a social content that highlighted the conditions of the mill workers. It was also the first film to show a liberated educated woman managing her own factory

President

1937

Alam Ara poster
6.5

A period fantasy that told of the ageing king of Kamarpur, and his two rival queens, Navbahar and Dilbahar, and their rivalry when a fakir predicts that Navbahar will bear the king's heir. Dilbahar unsuccessfully tries to seduce the army chief Adil (Vithal) and vengefully destroys his family, leaving his daughter Alam Ara (Zubeida) to be raised by nomads. Eventually, Alam Ara's nomad friends invade the palace, expose Dilbahar's schemes, release Adil from the dungeon and she marries the prince of the realm.

Alam Ara

1931

Bhagya Laxmi poster
9.0

a drama exploring themes of fate, destiny, good fortune, and the challenges and changes in a person's luck

Bhagya Laxmi

1944

Tamanna poster
8.0

The story of Uma and Ramesh, who share a platonic love. Ramesh, an engineer, is dedicated to his villagers' welfare. Their relationship is tested when Ramesh's social ideals conflict with the realities of capitalism. To help Ramesh, Uma sacrifices her fortune and marries another man. However, Ramesh tragically misunderstands her immense sacrifice, leading to a deep emotional crisis in their relationship.

Tamanna

1942

No artwork available
9.0

Chaudhary Karnail Singh is a 1960 Indian Punjabi movie based in the pre-partition times of India. The film was one of the earliest works of Prem Chopra. The film won a National Award. In a village circa post British rule in India, a noble Sarpanch, Karnail Singh, is forced to chose sides between his son, Buta, and a Muslim couple, Shera and Naji, who want to get married amidst violent clashes between Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims before the formation of Pakistan; as well as deal with suspicious Indian Government officials.

Chaudhary Karnail Singh

1960

Street Singer poster
6.5

Two street urchins dream of singing and making it big in the glamorous world of theatre in Calcutta.

Street Singer

1938

Chand Tara poster
10.0

A farcical story about Raju, a village boy who comes to the city after failing college. He tries to make a new life for himself, encountering a generous chieftain and navigating a series of comical misadventures and schemes to impress people. The film satirizes common societal behaviors and urban life through its humorous plot.

Chand Tara

1945

As You Please poster
10.0

An everyday man, Govindlal (secretly wealthy Seth Bansilal), wins a Kashmir trip in a crossword puzzle, as does unemployed Sumant. They land in the same hotel, leading to a hilarious room mix-up. As Sumant and Bansilal's niece Shashi fall for each other amidst comic blunders, a blackmail plot by another guest, Manjri, adds to the chaos.

As You Please

1939

Aar Paar poster
5.6

Kalu is a taxi-driver in Bombay, India. He has two women who love him and would like to marry him. Kalu first wants to establish himself, and become rich, before he can even think of marriage. One of the women who loves him, has a father who is involved in gangster-type activities, and would like Kalu also to join him so that he can get rich soon. Kalu has now to decide to become rich quick or sleep better.

Aar Paar

1954

Waris poster
9.0

An inheritance melodrama about Kunwar (Mahmood), the son of zamindar Himmat Singh (Sethi). Kunmar marries Shobha (Suraiya) and is disinherited, forcing him to join the army during WW2. When he is reported missing and presumed dead, a repentant Rana invites Shobha to stay with him. However, it is Kanta (Nadira), a young woman betrayed by Rana's villainous secretary Kailash (Yakub), who arrives at the house and his mistaken for Shobha. Masquerading as Shobha, who lives nearby in absolute poverty, Kanta moves in, causing a moral dilemma and generating suspense since she could be caught at any moment.

Waris

1954

Village Girl poster
7.3

A village girl's life is complicated by a love triangle or conflict, exploring themes of innocence, love, and loyalty amidst rural challenges.

Village Girl

1945

Phir Subha Hogi poster
7.5

Ram is a bright but destitute law student. Out of love for an even poorer girl, he commits a crime that starts chasing him like a ghost. He is torn between 'wanting a punishment' and 'getting away with it.' But, is it really in his own hands?

Phir Subha Hogi

1958

No artwork available
8.0

R.K. Raju, a private investigator is assigned the task of locating the missing daughter of a wealthy Hindu couple. His investigation take him to different locales, and he comes across Miss Mary, the girl closely resembling the one he is looking for.

Miss Mary

1957

Mera Saaya poster
7.6

A lawyer's wife dies in his arms. Yet, another woman - identical in appearance and accused of aiding a gang of bandits - claims to be the lawyer's wife. A courtroom drama ensues.

Mera Saaya

1966

Do Raha poster
7.0

A young girl, impressed by the crystal clear ideals of a writer, falls in love with him, but ends up losing everything she hoped for as a wife.

Do Raha

1952

Draupadi poster
8.0

A grand Mahabharata adaptation, this film focuses on Duryodhana's plot to usurp the Pandavas' kingdom. It culminates in the infamous dice game where Yudhishthira loses everything, including Draupadi, whose honor is miraculously saved by Krishna during a public humiliation.

Draupadi

1931

Pardes poster
8.0

A teacher falls in love with a wealthy girl but decides to go away from her to earn money.

Pardes

1950

Station Master poster
7.0

A railway employee, Kalicharan, would like Usha, the Station Master of Rangpur Railway Station's daughter, to get married to Niranjan, the DTS of Indian Railways, but Usha has fallen in love with Arun, a Guard with the Railway, wants to marry him, and refuses to marry Niranjan, who is twice as old as her and a widower as well.

Station Master

1942

Nau Bahar poster
8.0

A rich blind man who falls for a poor girl, regains his sight and is forced to marry a wealthy girl whom his father has chosen.

Nau Bahar

1952

Sitaron Se Aage poster
9.0

Film starring Ashok Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

Sitaron Se Aage

1958

Baat Ek Raat Ki poster
7.3

A lawyer investigates the case of a woman who is adamant about taking the rap for a murder, although the details of the case don't add up.

Baat Ek Raat Ki

1962

Amrapali poster
7.0

A historical drama about the conflict between Magadha and Vaishali. When Vaishali refuses Magadha's suzerainty, its commander Abhayaraj is released. Abhayaraj seeks to marry Pali, the Chief Minister's daughter, but she falls for the disguised King Bimbisar of Magadha. Abhayaraj subsequently declares Pali a public woman. Pali, now pregnant, lives as a public woman until her son grows up, leading to a philosophical resolution of the central conflict.

Amrapali

1945

Behind the camera