Ishwarlal

A jaded socialite, Vinakumari, and her lover, Dr. Rasik, discover purpose at a Gandhian ashram. Vinakumari dedicates herself to the poor as the ashram battles challenges from urban temptation to famine and greedy landlords. Dr. Rasik eventually joins the cause, bringing much-needed medical aid to the struggling community.

A devoted woman, Badi Maa dedicates her life to raising her deceased friend's child, her love and sacrifices influencing all around her, leading to emotional conflicts as the child matures.

Amar (Bilimoria) and Ila's (Shantakumari) love is disrupteted by the dashing Samar (Ishwarlal). The rivals get embroiled in the Kashmir war and Samar dies in Amar's arms. Amar returns to find that Ila has become an ascetic but they eventually get married.

A tearful melodrama about a progressive writer, Pushpa (Gohar), and her weak husband, Kulin (Billimoria). She has to fight her domineering mother-in-law and the tyrannies of a conservative household. When falsely accused of theft and infidelity by her wayward sister-in-law Gulab, Pushpa is forced out of the house. In her final state of penury, she recalls the examples of the great female Saint-Poets of Indian history, like Meerabai. Secondary characters are used to caricature Bombay's merchant class e.g. Mahatma Ramanand Adambar, a fortune-teller who suspects his wife of infidelity, and a gold collector called Prof. Pyarelal.

An early Indian drama centered on a grievance or plea for justice

Two identical women, city-bred Chandni and village teacher Devi, swap clothes on a train, leading to their husbands mistakenly taking home the wrong wife. As chaotic domestic lives unfold, their interwoven fates unravel through illness, mistaken affections, and a final public revelation of their switched identities.

The tyrannical Jabbar attacks a village and kidnaps the son of the devout Sayyed, named Iqbal. Raised by his captor, Iqbal becomes a tyrannical commander in Jabbar's army, forcing people to accept Jabbar as their god. During a campaign, he meets a group of "true" religious believers led by Sadiq, his daughter Sadika, and Princess Hamida. Hamida falls in love with Iqbal, much to the dismay of her suitor, Shaddad. As the plot unfolds, Iqbal learns of his true ancestry and is faced with a profound choice.

An early Indian social drama revolving around a visitor or unexpected arrival whose presence impacts the lives of others, likely leading to drama, complications, or revelations within the household.

Dhiraj (1942) was a Hindi social film directed by Chaturbhuj Doshi and produced by Ranjit Movietone. It featured actors like Sitara Devi and Ishwarlal. Dhiraj was banned by the British government due to alleged inclusion of "symbols like pictures of national leaders," suggesting a plot with nationalist themes.

The evil Chand (Motilal) and his rich father Mangaldas (Date) persecute the nice Sunder (Ishwarlal): he kidnaps Sunder's sister Kokila (Khursheed) and frames him for theft. Sunder is jailed. The abducted Kokila succumbs to the villain's charms and her love reforms him. When released, Sunder, unaware of the fact that his enemy has reformed, seeks revenge on the very day that Chand and Kokila are to marry.

Lily and Vasant's suicide pact is thwarted, leading to Lily's forced marriage. She cares for an invalid Vasant, causing her husband to disown her and ban her from their daughter, Indu. Years later, their paths collide. Lily, now a servant, meets Vasant again, who is painting her lawyer daughter, Indu. Their renewed death pact leads to Vasant's death and Lily's arrest. In a dramatic trial, Indu defends Lily, facing her boyfriend (the prosecutor) and her father (the judge).

1946 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film

An Indian drama about a woman's courageous quest for personal goals.

In this mythological tale, Babruwahan, son of Arjuna, returns from the Mahabharata war. He defiantly stops a horse from his father's army, leading to a battle in which he beheads Arjuna. As he prepares to commit suicide, Krishna appears, instructing him to retrieve the magical Sanjivani Mani from the land of the serpents to revive his father. This quest pits him against Ullupi, the serpent king's daughter and a former wife of Arjuna. When she surrenders the Mani but takes Arjuna's head instead, Krishna is forced to intervene to resolve the situation.

Raj Kumar is a wealthy businessman and dislikes everything ugly. When his wife, Kamla, becomes pregnant and gives birth to an ugly son, he asks the attending Dr. Mathur to inform his wife that their child was still-born. Dr. Mathur places the child in the hands of Rahmat and his wife, Naseeban, who welcome him with open arms. But misfortune follows them, as the child, who is named Pyare, accidentally burns their dwelling down, killing Naseeban. Rahmat then re-locates to his village when he teaches Pyare the skills required to play musical instruments and sing. Years later, Rahmat passes away, and informs Pyare that he is really a Hindu. Dr. Mathur fills the rest of the blanks for Pyare, and arranges a song and dance play and hopes that Raj will overcome his dislike for his now-grown son.

Gohar-centered adventure movie. She is the ruthless Princess Hansa determined to acquire a treasure map from rival King Sujansingh (Bawa). She daringly steals the map but the king's misogynist son, Dilipsingh (Bilimoria), manages to get it back. Together they are caught by the outlaw Vijay (Ishwarlal) who also wants the treasure. The film was replete with sword fights, tribal magic and a horse battle at the end when Sujansingh attacks his former friend Vijay to find his imprisoned son.

Anil, a rich banker, loves Leela but is arranged to marry the poor orphan Suman. A complex love triangle/quadrangle unfolds with misunderstandings and separations, ultimately ending with both Leela and Suman realizing their shared love for Anil.

Dhanna and his young daughter Tulsi struggle in poverty until Tulsi, trying to help her sick father, is arrested for theft and sent to jail. She later comes under the care of Dr. Kailash, whose household is held together by Rekha, the prosecuting attorney’s daughter in love with him. As Tulsi’s presence stirs tensions between Rekha and Kailash, the story weaves through themes of love, money, and morality, moving from hardship and conflict toward reconciliation and harmony.

Film starring Khursheed and Sitara Devi

Widowed Mrs. Lal lives with her two sons, Ram and Ratan; an unmarried daughter, Sheela; Ram's wife, Parvati and her children. While Ram is employed in a mill, Ratan is studying engineering in Calcutta. When Ratan returns, he is offered a job at the same mill, falls in love with a Typist named Manju, much to chagrin of Malti, the daughter of the mill-owner, Sewakram. When Ratan finds out that Sewakram has been defrauding the employees, he decides to form a union, a move that is opposed by Ram, who is very devoted and loyal to Sewakram.

The educated Harbala battles the oppressive traditionalism of her husband, Seth Gopaldas. Desperate for her children, Somnath and Neelam, to live freely, her frustration leads to a tragic act. Haunted by guilt, her children ultimately follow. The film, aptly titled "The Unfinished Tale," suggests hope for a more liberated future.

A devoted traditional wife heals her ailing husband, only for him to abandon her for a dancing girl. Can a modern, educated woman's revolutionary ideas mend the broken marriage and restore love?

This horror spoof was the first film in which the future comedy duo Dixit and Ghory appeared together. They were often referred to as the Indian Laurel and Hardy.

A romantic drama or a social film exploring themes of love, emotional expression, hidden feelings, or personal desires and the conflicts or joys that arise from them

1946 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film