Dushman (1938)

Made at the invitation of the governmental Tuberculosis Fund in the contest of Lady Linlithgow's immunisation programme. Mohan (Saigal), a radio singer, and Kedar (Najam), a doctor, both love Geeta (Desai). Mohan falls ill and makes way for Kedar, who eventually marries Geeta. After wandering in a delirium, Mohan is admitted to a sanatorium where he is cured of TB. He is then employed in the same institution. In a campaign to set up more sanatoria, Mohan agrees to sing on the radio (the film's song hit <i>Pankhi aaj kon katha koi</i>) to raise funds while Kedar persuades Geeta to give a dance recital. Geeta hears Mohan's broadcast and rushes to him followed by Kedar. To heighten the emotions for the climax of the story, Geeta has a bad accident and is admitted to the very sanatorium where Mohan works. The Hindi version was a major hit and and led to a virtually identical Bengali remake. Seen today, however, it appears hopelessly dated, stringing together shots of carefully lit inividual figures but indicating no control over its rambling narration.