Achhut Kanya (Hindi: अछूत कन्या) is a 1936
Hindi film by Bombay Talkies. The film was one of several successful
Bombay Talkies collaborations between Franz Osten, who was a German
filmmaker, Niranjan Pal, Himanshu Rai, and their leading lady, Devika
Rani. Ashok Kumar played the male lead. Music was by Saraswati Devi.
Among the early super-hits in the Hindi film industry, the film dealt
with the social position of low caste girls and the problems they faced.
The film opens at a railway crossing where a man is about to kill his wife when the narrative spins into the past via a song. The story is of the unhappy love affair between Kasturi (Devika Rani), the Harijan (untouchable) daughter of a railway crossing guard, and Pratap (Ashok Kumar), the Brahmin son of a grocer. At first, rumour and mob violence are deployed to lethal effect in order to maintain a traditional and oppressive morality.
Later, when the main protagonists are about to marry, rumours and malicious methods are employed to trigger renewed violence until the on-rushing train of fate stops the strife.
Ashok Kumar & Devika Rani – Khet Ki Muli :
Ashok Kumar & Devika Rani – Main Ban Ki Chidiya Banke :
Ashok Kumar – Kise Karta Moorakh Pyar Pyar :
Ashok Kumar – Peer Peer Kya Kahe Pyare :
Devika Rani – Udi Hawa Mein Jati Hai :
Mumtaz Ali & Sunita Devi – Chooriyan Laya Anmol :
Saraswati Devi – Kit Gaye Ho Khewanhar :
Kusum Kumari – Nadiya Dheere Baho, Hum Utrat Paar :

