He began his career as an extra (at Imperial Film Company), graduated to acting and then directing (the last, at Sagar Film Company) - Mehboo Khan (real name - Ramjan Khan) was the director of that movie of movies - Mother India.

His films characteristically dwelt on social issues and the schism between capitalism/modernism and the non-self righteous goodness of the tribal/underprevileged folk.

1942 - Mehboob Productions launched.

- Roti.

The film encapsulated the manipulation and subsequent degenenration of a starving man, the generous tribals and their misfortunes in the city - the evil of bonded labour - and the final reckoning. This is considered one of the more important of Khan's films (second only to Mother India) and had Akhtari Faizalbadi (Begum Akhtar, the legendary ghazal singer) excel in the role of a woman who accepts her part in the scheme of things although her heart isn't in it.

1943 - Najma.

- Taqdeer.

1945 - Humayun.

1946 - Anmol Ghadi.

A love triangle that had fine performances by the singer-actresses Nurjehan and Suraiya.

1947 - Elaan.

1948 - Anokhi Ada.

The story of an amnesiac who has two men fighting for her love - one belongs to her past and the other, to her post-amnesia life. The film was shot with a very effective use of chiaroscuro.

1949 - Andaz.

1952 - Aan.

Khan's first colour film that was perfect in its technique, spectacular in its sets and fights, and dubbed in French as the film Mangala Fille des Indes.

1954 - Amar.

1957 - Mother India.

The immortal story of a woman who endures and endures while bringing up her children - harsh poverty, a runaway husband, a plotting moneylender, and later, a wayward son whom she is compelled to shoot.

 

Nargis established her credentials as one of India's great actresses and later married Sunil Dutt, who played her unworthy son.

The film derives much of its power from the rural milieu that recalls the work of Dovzhenko.

1962 - Son of India.

 

SOURCE

So Many Cinemas.
Author - B.D. Garga
Publishers - Eminence Designs Private Limited.

Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema.
Author -Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen
Publishers -Oxford University Press.

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