The Light of Asia
About The Light of Asia
Prince Gautama lives inside a palace, kept from the world. He sees old age, sickness, and death. He leaves his wife Gopa, wanders, and reaches the enlightenment from which Buddhism is dated.
Cast & crew
More about The Light of Asia
Franz Osten and Himansu Rai directed and produced it. Niranjan Pal wrote it from Edwin Arnold's 1879 verse book The Light of Asia. Josef Wirsching photographed it. Hansheinrich Dransmann wrote the music. It was released on October 22, 1925. Wikidata gives 97 minutes. Rai plays Gautama. Seeta Devi plays Gopa. The Indian title is Prem Sanyas. The German title is Die Leuchte Asiens. A copy is on Wikimedia Commons.
Themes
Making
Osten and Rai shot Arnold's life of the Buddha with Rai in the part.
Look
Josef Wirsching shot the palace and the sights of age, sickness, and death that send Gautama out.
Music
Hansheinrich Dransmann wrote the music.
Preservation
A copy is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- Sarada Ukil, Rani Bala, and Prafulla Roy are billed.
- The book is in verse. The film is a silent drama taken from it.
- Wikidata lists both Germany and the British Raj.
- The Commons file uses the title Prem Sanyas.
Scenes
- Gautama sees old age, sickness, and death.
- He leaves Gopa and the palace.
Influenced by
- Edwin Arnold's The Light of Asia (1879)
