Muqabala
About Muqabala
Shivnath kills Seth Dinanath and Radha and kidnaps one of their twin daughters. Rani grows up with a gang and dances in a nightclub. Madhuri is raised by Rai Bahadur, with the dog Gunboat beside her. When Madhuri learns what happened to her parents and sees Rani dance, she goes after Shivnath. Fearless Nadia plays both sisters. Yakub plays Niranjan, the man who sides with Madhuri. The sisters and their friends fight Shivnath to free their father.
Cast & crew
More about Muqabala
J. B. H. Wadia produced it. Nanabhai Bhatt, billed as Batuk Bhatt, co-directed with Babubhai Mistri. This was Bhatt's start as a director; he used the Batuk name again on Mauj (1943). Khan Mastana composed the music, with lyrics by A. Karim, and also appears as a singer in the club.
Themes
Background
Wadia Movietone was still turning out stunt films in 1942, with Fearless Nadia as the draw.
In film history
Nadia's twin role gave later Hindi double-role plots a stunt-film ancestor, though the picture itself stays a Wadia action story.
Making
Babubhai Mistri, already known for trick work, shared the direction on a Wadia stunt picture built so one actress could meet herself.
Music
Khan Mastana wrote the music and A. Karim the lyrics. Mastana also sings in the club scene.
Notes
- Fearless Nadia, born Mary Ann Evans, plays both Madhuri and Rani.
- Gunboat, her dog, is billed in the credits and on the posters.
- The English Wikipedia calls it the first Indian film to use a double role.
- Agha plays Ramu, Dalpat plays Shivnath, and Jal Khambata plays Dinanath.
- The language on the print is Hindustani.
Scenes
- Madhuri watches Rani dance in the nightclub and recognizes her own face.
- Gunboat is billed alongside the human cast.
