Not currently on display at the V&A

Dr Kotnis ki Amar Kahani (1946)

Indian Film Booklet
1946 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This film recounts the real-life story of Dr Kotnis, who 'lived for the cause of world freedom and laid his life at the altar of liberty'. Part of a medical team sent to fight alongside the Chinese during the Japanese invasion of China in the second World War, he dies treating the wounded. This image depicts his heroism as he carries a body from the rubble. The Buddha standing serenely in the background over Kotnis and his Chinese wife conveys a message of peace.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Dr Kotnis ki Amar Kahani (1946)
  • The Journey of Dr Kotnis
Materials and techniques
Lithograph on paper
Brief description
Indian film booklet for the film 'Dr Kotnis ki Amar Kahani' (1946), graphic, printed, paper, India, C20
Physical description
The front cover has a montage of images; in the top right hand corner is an image of the Buddha overlooking a scene of destruction with damaged buildings and fire. In the centre is an image of Dr Kotnis holding a person/body in his arms and in the botton right hand side is the face of a Chinese woman gazing into the distance. The title in Hindi is in the top left hand side and in English at the bottom. The logo for Rajkamal Kala Mandi Pictures is above the English title. The artist's signature is in the bottom right hand corner.

The inside cover has a synopsis of the film in English and Hindi. There are four pages inside the booklet, the first two have some song lyrics in Hindi, the last two have the equivalent in Urdu. the back inside cover has a synopsis of the film in Urdu. The back cover lists the film credits.
Dimensions
  • Height: 13.9cm
  • Width: 19.7cm
Production typeMass produced
Gallery label
This film recounts the real-life story of Dr Kotnis, who 'lived for the cause of world freedom and laid his life at the altar of liberty'. Part of a medical team sent to fight alongside the Chinese during the Japanese invasion of China in the second World War, he dies treating the wounded. This image depicts his heroism as he carries a body from the rubble. The Buddha standing serenely in the background over Kotnis and his Chinese wife conveys a message of peace.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This film recounts the real-life story of Dr Kotnis, who 'lived for the cause of world freedom and laid his life at the altar of liberty'. Part of a medical team sent to fight alongside the Chinese during the Japanese invasion of China in the second World War, he dies treating the wounded. This image depicts his heroism as he carries a body from the rubble. The Buddha standing serenely in the background over Kotnis and his Chinese wife conveys a message of peace.
Bibliographic reference
Rachel Dwyer & Divia Patel, Cinema India: The Visual Culture of the Hindi Film, Reaktion Press, 2002.
Collection
Accession number
IS.113-1992

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Record createdOctober 1, 2002
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