indian cinema heritage foundation

Badal (1951)

  • Release Date1951
  • GenreAction, Romance
  • FormatB-W
  • LanguageHindi
  • Run Time147 min
  • Length3919.11 meters
  • Number of Reels14
  • Gauge35mm
  • Censor RatingU
  • Censor Certificate NumberU-1724/51-MUM
  • Certificate Date21/05/1951
  • Shooting LocationShree Sound Studio, Bombay
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Badal is the name of a youngman of the souil reaved up to believe in the mercies of God, in the love of his neighbours and a firm loyalty to his King.

The story opens on a sultry afternoon. Badal returns home with medicine for his ailing father only to find that there is no home for him. Jai Singh, the right hand man of the Jagirdar, is there to attach the house for non-payment of revenue. Myna, his childhood friend gives him shelter. But, from deep down his soul, hatred begins to well up against the heartless tyrants and Badal becomes a rebel, “robbing the rich to feed the poor”.

At this epoch, Ratna, the lovely daughter of the Jagirdar, is captured by the rebels in the absence of Badal. Badal takes his men to task and rescues Ratna from his own den in the disguise of a gay cavalier. Ratna loses her heart for the man. Badal is not indifferent to her, while poor, Myna bears the pangs of silent fortitude.

While Badal becomes the idol of the oppressed people and remains uncaptured, the King threatens the jagirdar with expulsion. Ratna, to save, her father from disgrace, seeks the help of the gay cavalier to capture the outlaw. A queer manipulation of fate brings Badal face to face with Jai Singh and he stands helplessly revealed in front of the girl who loves him.

Shamed and humiliated Ratna walks out of the life of the outlaw. But hatred turns into repentance when Ratna learns from Myna the tragic story of Badal and the tyranny to his own father.

To solve the problem, Ratna pleads for Badal’s amnesty. Jai Singh plays up on the pardon and when Badal comes to surrender he is clamped into prison but Ratna manages to set Badal free.

When King gets the news of Badal’s escape, he decides to investigate the matter himself. Dressed up as a prosperous merchant, he goes into the mountain haunts of the rebels and allows himself to be captured by them. But what he sees there of the outlaws surprises him beyond measure.

What follows only proves how an intrepid soul in its fearless pursuit of Truth and justice will inevitably triumph.

 

(From the official press booklet)

Cast

Crew

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