INDIAN FILM SONGS AND THE 1940S

Madhubala in scene from Bollywood film, "Mahal" (1949)

This page is but a small sampling of film songs for the 1940's. So sit back, relax, and enjoy

** World Events ** South Asian Events ** Film World Events ** Notable Films ** Film Song Videos ** Non-Musical Videos **
Last Decade ** 1940's ** Next Decade

WORLD EVENTS OF THE 1940S

World War II ends, leaving countless millions of people dead, maimed, or displaced.

Much of the world was devastated by World War 2

(l to r) Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, & J. Stalin at a wartime conference
First Arab - Israeli war (1948-1949).
Cold War begins.
US drops 2 atomic bombs on Japan.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki destroyed by atomic bombs
The Bikini first makes its appearance on French beaches (1947). It derives its name from the atoll in the Pacific where nuclear tests are conducted.

The classic bikini

** World Events ** South Asian Events ** Film World Events ** Notable Films ** Film Song Videos ** Non-Musical Videos **
Last Decade ** 1940's ** Next Decade

MAJOR SOUTH ASIAN EVENTS OF THE 1940S

"Quit India" Resolution passed by the AACC (1942), this prompts civil disobedience across India.
1943 - Approximately 2 million people die in the Bengal famine.
1945 - Subash Chandra Bose dies in plane crash.
1945 - Bajaj Auto formed.
1946 - Discussions begin for the independence of India and Pakistan (1946 Cabinet Mission).
1946 - Tata Airlines becomes Air India.
1947 - India and Pakistan gain independence from Great Britain.
1947 - Thousands die in communal violence due to the partition

Dead after communal riots.
1948 - War Breaks out between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
1948 - Mahatma Gandhi assassinated.
Pramila - Esther Abraham becomes the first "Miss India" in 1947.

Pramila - Esther Abraham

Gandhi and Nehru at AICC meeting (1946)

Illustrated Weekly of India

** World Events ** South Asian Events ** Film World Events ** Notable Films ** Film Song Videos ** Non-Musical Videos **
Last Decade ** 1940's ** Next Decade

Scene from "Aurat" (1940)

FILM WORLD EVENTS OF THE 1940S

1940 - Movie Mogul Himanshu Rai (1892-1940) passes away. He was founder of Bombay Talkies which was responsible for a number of early hits including "Goddess" (1922), "Light of Asia" (1925), and "Karma" (1933).

Himanshu Rai
1940 - The Film Advisory Board is established to promote propaganda films to aid the "war effort". The F.A.B. is given a monopoly control over all raw film stock in India.
1940-1941 - World War II causes there to be a restriction on the availability of raw film stock. By 1941, annual production of Hindi films dropped to 78 (In 1935 there were 154 Hindi films made.)
1941 - The first film in Pashtu is made. It is Laila Majnu made by Sarhad Pictures
1943 - Asha Bhonsle sings for her first film "Majha Bal".
1943 - The film "Kismet" is released. This became one of the biggest hits of the time.
1944 - Dilip Kumar makes his film debut in "Jwar Bhata"

Dilip Kumar
1944 - Dadasaheb Phalke, the "Father of Indian Cinema" dies at the age of 73.
1945 - Hindi Film industry continues to suffer from wartime restrictions and shortages. Only 74 Hindi films are made this year.
1946 - Hindi Film industry rebounds after the War. In this year, 156 Hindi films are made.
1946 - Chetan Anand's "Neecha Nagar" shown at the Cannes Film Festival. This film featured the music of Ravi Shankar.
1946 - Information Films of India, one of the offshoots of the old Film Advisory Board, is disbanded.
1947 - The film "Sindur" creates a stir by dealing with the topic of Hindu widow remarriage.

Scene from "Sindoor"
1947 - Udaya Studios, the first film studio in Kerala, opens.
1947 - Actor / singer Saigal passes away in Jalandar.

K. L. Saigal
1947-1948 - Noor Jehan (actress/ vocalist) and a number of Hindi film talents leave India for Pakistan.

Noor Jehan
1948 - Raj Kapoor's RK Films opens. Its first film is "Aag"
1948 - Nehru orders a freeze on the construction of all new movie theatres.
1949 - The Indian government orders compulsory showing of "approved" documentary films.
1949 - Entertainment taxes are increased. Around the country theatres close in protest of these tax increases.
1949 - The "A"(Adult) and "U"(Unrestricted) classifications are officially established.
1949 - The Films Division is established