Badi Maa
About Badi Maa
During the Second World War, Dinesh is in London in the Blitz. In the village of Dinapur his father Durgadas owes money to Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam's son Rajinder spies for the Japanese with the dancer Mona. Ghanshyam offers to cancel the debt if Durgadas's daughter Usha marries Rajinder. Durgadas refuses, and his property is taken. Dinesh comes home, finds his father ruined and the village under Japanese attack, and fights beside Hema, Ghanshyam's daughter, who loves him and did not know her brother's work. Usha is killed by enemy fire. Rajinder turns and dies fighting. Hema and Dinesh live through the war.
Cast & crew
More about Badi Maa
Master Vinayak produced and directed for Prafulla Pictures in Kolhapur. V. S. Khendekar wrote the story. Zia Sarhadi wrote the screenplay and the lyrics for six songs. Anjum Pilibhiti and Raja Badhe wrote other lyrics. K. Datta (Datta Koregaonkar) wrote the music. The title means Elder Mother.
Themes
Background
A 1945 Hindi war drama set in the Blitz and in an Indian village facing a Japanese attack.
Making
Vinayak made the war drama at the end of the fighting, with Japanese spies inside a village debt plot.
Music
K. Datta wrote the music. Zia Sarhadi wrote lyrics for six of the songs. Anjum Pilibhiti and Raja Badhe wrote others.
Preservation
A copy is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- Noor Jehan plays Hema. Ishwarlal plays Dinesh. Yakub plays Rajinder. Sitara Devi plays Mona.
- Meenaxi plays Usha. D. S. Salvi plays Durgadas.
- Lata Mangeshkar sang in the film. Asha Bhosle had a small singing part.
- The title Badi Maa is used in the story for India, the country they fight for.
Scenes
- Ghanshyam offers to wipe the debt if Usha marries Rajinder.
- Usha is killed in the attack, and Rajinder dies after he changes sides.
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (Badi Maa (1945).webm)