Duniya Na Mane(1937)

V.Shantaram’s ‘दुनिया न माने’ was released in 1937 when the status of Indian women was very low. Nirmala(Shanta Apte) is an orphan, brought up by her uncle and aunt, get her married to an old man for money. Nirmala believes she is marrying a young man and sees her aged husband’s face for the first time during the wedding ceremony. Nirmala is a rebel and refuses to accept Vakilsaheb (Keshavrao Date) as her husband. The only support comes from Susheela, her husband’s educated, progressive daughter from his previous marriage.

Her defiant stand against her husband puts him in a fix as he gets mocked for marrying an unwilling young woman. He can’t win her over either by force or reasons, since she refuses to submit to injustice.

Eventually, her husband sees the error of his ways and decides to free Nirmala from this unjust marriage. Vakilsaheb wipes off the vermilion mark of marriage, leaves home and commits suicide. In a letter to her before leaving home, he apologises to Nirmala and advises her to remarry.

‘Duniya Na Mane’ was made with the passion and sensitivity that was a hallmark of Shantaram’s early films. Actress Shanta Apte was perfectly cast as Nirmala, since she was also known to be a firebrand in real life. Whenever films about strong women and important issues are listed, ‘Duniya Na Mane’ will find a place right at the top as a landmark film.