Aaj Ka Hindustan (1940)

Dhiraj and Umang belong to a village, and so do Shashi and Urmi. The main drama moves between these two families with Unmad, an interloper, thrown in for grace. Evidently, the families are well off in worldly goods, for we find Umang returning to the scene of the drama as an educated man from Calcutta. On the other hand Urmi goes one better and returns with some overseas training. Strangely enough, the other brother Dhiraj and the other sister Shashi remain in the village and become simple rustics. Shashi and Dhiraj are in love with each other till Umang comes on the scene. Shashi is soon attracted by the glamorous Umang. Dhiraj is surprised, shocked but ultimately submits. He goes out of the village with a characteristic prodigal son gesture and allows Umang to marry Shashi, but not without threatening that he would break Umang's head if Shashi was ever made unhappy. Urmi, the complication in reserve, now turns up and provides intrigue and entertainment with a wild abandon, where she begins work by seducing Umang. A crisis is soon reached and Umang mortgaging his ancestral property to Unmad, elopes with Urmi to the city, leaving his wife and family. Unmad soon throws the family into the streets. while Umang is throwing money into the streets in the city. Dhiraj is now in charge of the family - the father having died of shock. He tries to maintain his mother and the pregnant wife of his brother. The child is born, and to get it milk, he robs Unmad and is arrested and sent to jail. Umang has also by now spent all his money and rather too suddenly turns over a new leaf, only to throw Urmi into an accidental death. A fugitive from law, he disguises himself and becomes "Emile Zola" by writing books under the name of Kaviraj. There is a dramatic meeting between the two brothers - in fact a complete family gathering.