Karma

"Karma" (1933) tells a simple story: a Maharani (Devika Rani) defies her father's wishes and falls for a neighboring prince (Himanshu Rai).

Devika Rani's performance is particularly noteworthy, earning praise from London critics for her portrayal of the rebellious Maharani.

While the plot itself is a familiar forbidden love trope, the film's historical significance cannot be ignored. What truly sets "Karma" apart is its portrayal of romance. By contemporary standards, it might seem tame. But for 1933 India, the film's four-minute kissing scene was a scandal. This extended on-screen intimacy, described as "a sort of American romance done against an Indian background," was unheard of at the time.

It's an interesting watch for cinephiles curious about the evolution of Indian cinema and its social norms.