Directing
The firste ever Lahore made film. Anwari Begum and Rafiq Ghaznavi - the grand parent of Salma Agha - played title roles in this memorable film. Rafiq Ghaznavi was a famous musician in the 30s and 40s and Anwari Begum appeared in many films, one of them was Anmol Ghari.
A kind-hearted, widowed landlord, Thakur, lives a wealthy lifestyle with his son, Ramesh; daughter, Roopa; and an adopted child, Shankar. Ramesh hates Shankar and often abuses him. Years pass by, Thakur has passed away, and all three children have grown up. While Ramesh visits a stunningly attractive Courtesan, Tara, drinks alcohol, and continues to abuse and mercilessly beat Shankar, who bears this in silence as he and Roopa are in love with each other. When Ramesh finds out that Roopa wants to wed Shankar, he has him severely beaten and thrown off a cliff. He then arranges Roopa's marriage with another wealthy man, Satish, while he continues to romance Tara and even signs over his entire estate and home to her name.
Directed by Abdul Rashid Kardar.
Kardar’s ultra-conservative ode to patriarchy tells of Binod (Jairaj) and Indira (Sitara Devi) who were married as children and never meet as adults. Indira grows into a ‘modern’ young woman while Binod, disinherited when his stepfather has a son, works in a distant village. Indira haughtily refuses a relationship with a pauper but she eventually realises her duties to her husband and goes to meet him disguised as Shanta, a beggar woman. Binod then falls in love with her, not realising she is in fact his wife.
The naive Saroop (Nandrekar) romantically renounces earthly pleasures under the influence of a sadhu (Ashraf Khan). Arrested at a fairground and jailed, fellow convicts change his view of the world. Working in the prison’s garden, he meets the superintendent Sohanlal’s (Nazir) daughter Durga (Kumari), who was married as a child to a boy now believed dead. Ranjit (Singh) covets her and on her wedding day to the nasty Ranjit, it is discovered that Saroop was her child-husband.
Living a life of privilege in post-colonial India, wealthy young Prem Shankar faces a crisis when his businessman father insists on an arranged marriage to a rich family's daughter. While juggling the affections of his close friend Kasturi, Prem falls desperately in love with the free-spirited gypsy woman, Dulari. When his enraged father issues an ultimatum—never see Dulari again or forfeit his inheritance—Prem must confront the agonizing choice between his duty to his privileged family and the true, forbidden passion of his heart.
Indian classic starring Shyam Kumar, Nusrat and Munawar Sultana
Two lovers are separated by the girl's conniving uncle, who marries her off to another man. Heartbroken, the man wanders around aimlessly until a common friend decides to reunite the two lovers.
A. R. Kardar’s Pooja tells a disturbing story of two estranged sisters whose lives are fractured by a violent act of revenge and years of buried truths.
Chandragupta is a 1934 historical film that chronicles the rise of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire. Directed by A.R. Kardar, the film depicts Chandragupta's journey from a humble background to becoming a powerful emperor, guided by the strategic brilliance of his advisor, Chanakya. The narrative likely covers the political turmoil of ancient India, including the decline of the Nanda Empire, the threat posed by Alexander the Great's invasion, and Chandragupta's efforts to unite various kingdoms to establish a vast and influential empire.
A young prince named Ashok falls in love with a girl named Lali whom he encounters for the first time while hunting in a forest. Later on he learns that Lali belongs to a nomadic community that is at present, inhabiting his region. Ashok meets Lali again and both confess that they are in love with each other. In the meantime Lali's father, who is the head of his community, sends a man named Phulwa to look for her.
Sundari is a stage dancer and singer, a flirt, quarrelsome, and generally up to no good. She meets with Havaldar Pritam, and both are attracted to each other. Circumstances force Pritam to arrest Sundari for viciously assaulting another woman, but he lets her escape, and is severely reprimanded by the Kotwal. Sundari feels sorry for him. She meets with the Kotwal and pleads with him to forgive Pritam, which he does. Pritam is grateful to Sundari for saving his career, and both continue to romance each other. What Pritam does not know that Sundari belongs to a gang of thieves, the leader of which is her long-time boyfriend, currently in prison, a notorious gangster by the name of Rahu.
A. R. Kardar's Silent film Gadderia Sultan was made in Lahore before partition.
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.
A powerful and princely Sheikh lives in 18th Century Persia, makes a living renting out properties, and recovering taxes and dues on them. He lives in a palatial house with his wife, Zubeda, and son, Ahmad. When Ahmad grows up, Zubeda notices that he is spending too much time with women in their harem, and wants his father to get him involved in their business. Sheikh accordingly instructs Ahmad to collect all revenue, which he does so. A few days later, Sheikh is informed that Ahmad has been spending time with a friend named Farid, and is romantically involved with a dancing girl named Yasmin. A visibly upset Sheikh accordingly warns Ahmad to mend his ways, give up on Yasmin and return home, where he has planned his marriage with Nadira, the daughter of Amir Qasim.
Premnath, a once-worldly man who finds peace as a devout ascetic. His detached existence is disrupted when he's compelled to become the guardian of Radha, the orphaned daughter of his old friend. As he guides her, he's drawn back into the world's complexities, fighting for her happiness and confronting societal challenges, ultimately questioning the boundaries of his spiritual vows in the face of human responsibility.
A. R. Kardar made a plagiarized version of a well-known Rudolph Valentino film, The Son of Sheikh, with the local title of Wandering Dancer or Awara Raqqas, according to Mushtaq Gazdar.
A social drama exploring contemporary societal themes. The film features a prominent cast including Shobhana Samarth, P. Jairaj, and Mazhar Khan, alongside supporting actors like Azurie and Hari Shivdasani. It delves into a "social story" penned by Ahmed Abbas, focusing on interactions and challenges within its "New World" (Nai Duniya) setting.
Film starring Ali Athar and Anwari Begum.
A social drama by A. R. Kardar, was a hit for Rampyari and Moti Mahal Pictures. It's famous for introducing Indian cinema's first "vamp" prototype, with Rampyari seducing Prithviraj Kapoor in an off-shoulder dress and using a cigarette-holder. Music by K. C. Dey.
