Leather Face

Leather Face, also known as Farzand-e-Watan, is a 1939 Indian Hindi-language action film produced and directed by Vijay Bhatt for his production company Prakash Pictures.[1][2] Bhatt cast the young Mahjabeen, then six years, who went on to become the famous actress, Meena Kumari.[3] The story writers were Batuk Bhatt and Sampatlal Srivastava. The music direction was by Lallubhai Nayak and Shankar Rao Vyas with the lyrics written by Pandit Anuj. It starred P. Jairaj, Mehtab, Jal Writer, Shirin, M. Zahur, Lallubhai Nayak, Bholaram and Baby Mahjabeen (Meena Kumari).[4]

Leather Face
Poster
Directed byVijay Bhatt
Produced by"Vijay-Shankar" Bhatt
StarringP. Jairaj
Mehtab
Jal Writer
Shirin
Music byLallubhai Nayak
Shankar Rao Vyas
Production
company
Prakash Pictures
Release date
1939
Running time
166 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Leather Face, cited as one of Bhatt's successful "stunt" films along with State Express made a year earlier, had features similar to it. The use of a masked protagonist (Jairaj), the dog Tiger, and the stunts made the film popular with the public.[1]

Plot

A state chieftain (M. Zahur) rules over his people in a despotic manner. Samar (P. Jairaj) becomes the hero-bandit to fight the chief. He dons a leather mask, and along with the help of his dog Tiger and horse Bahadur he ventures out to set things right. He also has the help of a group of wayfarers, and Dulari (Shirin), the inn-keeper. Samar falls in love with the Chieftain's sister Ila (Mehtab). Following several action scenes, Samar is able to rid the state of its tyrannical ruler and marry Ila.

Cast

Meena Kumari

Leather Face is also famous for being Meena Kumari's debut role.[5] Meena Kumari was just a six-year-old when her father Ali Bux brought her to Vijay Bhatt, who cast her as Baby Mahjabeen in the film. In the film she plays the daughter of actor Jairaj. She was later to play a lead role opposite him as his lover in the film Maghroor (1950)[6]

Review And Box Office

According to Rajadhyaksha and Willemen Leather Face, along with State Express made a year earlier was one of the "best Known" of Bhatt's "stunt" films, doing well at the box office.[7]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Lallubhai Nayak and Shankar Rao Vyas, with the lyricist being Pandit Anuj.[8]

Song List
#Title
1 "Dheere Dheere Jaat Wohi Prem Naiya"
2 "Aaye Nahin Chitchor Ban Upvan Chhayi Hariyali"
3 "Kis Ki Ada Se Chalte Hain"
4 "Phulwari Mere Desh Ki Phoolon Se Hai Bhari"
5 "Lo Waade Bahari aayi Azaad Hue Sab Bhai"
6 "Raahe Wafa Mein Mar Mit Jao"

References
  1. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen; Professor of Critical Studies Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. pp. 279–. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  2. Ashok Raj (1 November 2009). Hero Vol.1. Hay House, Inc. pp. 43–. ISBN 978-93-81398-02-9. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  3. Ausaja, S M M. "Romancing The Reel". archive.tehelka.com. Anant Media Pvt. Ltd. Tehelka.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  4. "Farzande Watan". Alan Goble. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  5. Raheja, Dinesh. "Meena Kumari: The Queen of Sorrow". rediff.com. rediff.com India Limited. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  6. Singh, Surjit. "A Year in Hindi Movies 1939". hindi-films-songs.com. Surjit Singh. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  7. RajadhyakshaWillemen2014, p. 277
  8. "Songs-Leather Face". Muvyz, Inc. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
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