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Shehnai Was the First Film Released in Independent India
On August 15, 1947, India became free from British rule after about 200 years.
On that very special day, the first movie of free India was released.
Its name was Shehnai.
It starred a very famous actor-singer named Kishore Kumar.
The movie was about a struggling entertainer who runs a music and dance troupe with his daughters.
Their mother thinks the work brings disrespect to her girls.
The movie also tells the love stories of the daughters.
The songs were made by C. Ramchandra and became quite popular.
People were so excited that there were long queues outside movie theatres for days.
The movie was a hit and ran for 25 weeks in big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur.
It is remembered as the start of a new era in Indian cinema.
Shehnai became the first film released in free India when it hit theatres on August 15, 1947, the day the country gained independence.
The movie starred Kishore Kumar, Rehana, Indumati, Nasir Khan and V.H. Desai, and was directed by PL Santoshi.
The plot follows a struggling entertainer who runs a music and dance troupe with his daughters, whose mother disapproves of the work, alongside the daughters' love lives.
Music for the film was composed by C. Ramchandra, with lyrics by Santoshi, including songs like 'Jai Krisna Hare Shre Krishna Hare'.
Shehnai reportedly earned under Rs 1 crore and enjoyed a silver jubilee run of 25 weeks in Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur, with long queues outside theatres.
- Who
- Kishore Kumar, Rehana, Indumati, Nasir Khan and V.H. Desai starred in the film, directed by PL Santoshi with music by C. Ramchandra.
- What
- Shehnai, the first film released in free India, opened in theatres on the day of independence.
- Where
- India, with silver jubilee runs in Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur.
- When
- August 15, 1947.
- Why
- Released on the momentous day of independence, the film marked the start of a new era in Indian cinema.
Key facts
- Film
- Shehnai
- Release date
- August 15, 1947
- Director
- PL Santoshi
- Star cast
- Kishore Kumar, Rehana, Indumati, Nasir Khan, V.H. Desai
- Music
- C. Ramchandra
- Lyrics
- PL Santoshi
- Box office
- Reportedly under Rs 1 crore
- Theatrical run
- Silver jubilee run (25 weeks) in Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur
Sources
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