Kunku


Kunku is a 1937 Marathi classic social drama film directed by V. Shantaram, and based on the novel, Na Patnari Goshta by Narayan Hari Apte, who also wrote film's screenplay. The film was simultaneously shot and released in Hindi as Duniya Na Maane.
The movie went on to become both a critical and commercial success, and was shown at the Venice International Film Festival. The film is now hailed for "its daring attack on the treatment of women in Indian society." and depiction of child marriage.
For film's lead actress, Shanta Apte, it was third most memorable performance in a row, after V.Shantaram's previous classics, Amrit Manthan and Amar Jyoti. Besides other songs, she also sang a full-fledged English song in the film: "A Psalm of Life", written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Plot

The basic storyline revolves around a young woman, Nirmala rebelling against her marriage to a much older widower, Kaka Saheb, as was the practice in those days. The story is based on a novel by Shri. Narayan Hari Apte. It reminds us instinctively of the story of Sharada, a play by Deval which had long been a classic of Marathi theatre.
Neera, a young girl, is married off to an old widower by her foster-parents, an uncle and his orthodox wife. The deal is obviously motivated by considerations of money. The shock of the marriage is too much for the girl, but she bravely tries to accommodate herself in the house. The widower deceives himself into believing that he is still not old enough to have lost his manhood. His college-going son tries to flirt with his young stepmother, while a widowed daughter of his sympathises with her in her woe. The marriage does not work. Some cheer is added to Neera's life through the company of a teenage girl belonging to the household. However, when the old man fully realises the implications of his action, he commits suicide, leaving the girl he has married against her will to go her own way.

Music

The songs are from the lead actress Shanta Apte even sung. Shantaram Athavale wrote the lyrics to the music of Keshavrao Bhole. The English text of the song in the world's broad field of battle... Be not like dumb, driven cattle is a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Cast

Shanta Apte... Nirmala
Keshavrao Date Keshavrao Date... Keshavlal Pleader
Vimala Vasishta Vimala Vasishta... Chachi
Shakuntala Paranjpye Shakuntala Paranjpye... Sushila
Vasanti Vasanti... Shanta
Raja Nene Raja Nene... Jugal
Gauri Gauri... Mami
Chhotu Chhotu... Mama
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Karmarkar Karmarkar