Miss Kamla

Actress Miss Kamla, also credited as Kamala, is known for her work in films such as Watan Ke Liye (1939), Khazanchi (1941), Room No. 9 (1946), and Diler Detective (1948). Working from the silent era to the end of the 1940s, she acted in approximately 13 films in the course of her career. She worked in both lead and supporting roles.

In the drama film Gori Bala (1930), one of the earliest films she acted in, she starred alongside Zillu and S B Nayampalli, in this Parshwanath Yashwant Altekar directorial written by Mama Varerkar. She played a character named Madeline in the film which portrayed a prince being taken advantage of by a foreign adventuress. Also known as Hell’s Paradise, the film was produced by the Imperial Film Company. 

The same year, she featured in Pahadi Kanya (1930), directed by Nandlal Jaswantlal and Jayant Desai, with a cast that was headlined by Dinshaw Billimoria and Gohar Jan. 

In 1933, she acted in New Western India Film Company’s Parwana, directed by H E Khatib. The cast included Padmadevi, Ramkuver, and Agha Mohamed. The following year, she acted in Tara Sundari (1934), directed by Chandulal Shah and starring Keki Adajania, M Bhagwandas, and Bhupatrai. The film was a Ranjit Movies production. 

The drama film Bharat Ki Beti (1935) saw her feature in a cast comprising Rattan Bai, Gul Hamid, D Sarkari, Hari Shivdasani and Gope. Produced by Eastern Arts, the film was directed by Premankur Attorthy. A Hindi social film, it focused on the nationalistic viewpoint while India was still under British rule.

In Watan Ke Liye (1939), she was directed by M Udvadia in this action genre film produced by Vanraj Pictures. The cast included Navinchandra and Hari Shivdasani. 

She was part of the cast of the pre-partition blockbuster Khazanchi (1941). A mystery genre film, it was directed by Moti B Gidwani and written by Dalsukh M Pancholi. The cast of this Pancholi Art Pictures’ production comprised M Ismail, Ramola, Manorama, Jankidas, Ajmal, S D Narang, Durga Mota, and Nafees. The plot revolved around a cashier who faces false allegations for killing an actress, and needs to prove his innocence. A big hit, the film was the top earner of 1941. 

In 1942, she featured in Sheikh Chilli, a comedy-fantasy genre film directed by Kikubhai Desai and starring Moti, Navindchandra and Vasantrao. It was produced by Paramount Films (India). The film was about the eponymous Indian Sufi saint.

Rukmini Swayamvar (1946) saw her directed by Baburao Painter in this Pradeep Production film. The cast of this mythological included Ratnamala, Chandrakant, Durga Khote, Salvi, Baburao Pendharkar and Master Vithal. 

In 1946, she featured in Navyug Chitra’s drama film Room No.9, directed by Vedi and written by Shahid Latif. It starred Geeta Nizami, Shyam and K N Singh. 

The M A Mirza-directed Toote Dil (1947) saw her star alongside Rani Bala, Hadi and Trilok Kapoor. The following year, she acted in Diler Detective (1948), directed by Mohammed Hussain. The cast of this Victory Pictures’ production comprised M H Douglas, Rajkumari, Arvind Kumar, Dalpat and S M Razi. 

In 1949, she acted in Girdhar Gopal Ki Mira, directed by Prafulla Roy and produced by Shri Bharatlaxmi Pictures. She was part of the cast that was headlined by Arunadan, Arun Das and Kamala Jharia.