Shiraz (film)
| Shiraz | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Franz Osten |
| Produced by | Himansu Rai |
| Written by | William A. Burton |
| Starring |
Himansu Rai Enakshi Rama Rau Charu Roy Seeta Devi |
| Cinematography |
Emil Schünemann Henry Harris |
| Distributed by |
British Instructional Films UFA Himansu Rai Film |
Release date |
|
Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country |
India United Kingdom Germany |
Shiraz (Shiraz: a Romance of India) (Das Grabmal Einer Großen Liebe in German) is a 1928 silent film, directed by Franz Osten and starring Himansu Rai and Enakshi Rama Rau. It was adapted from a stage play of the same name by Niranjan Pal, and based on the story of the commissioning of the Taj Mahal – the great monument of a Moghul prince for his dead queen.
Production
It was an Indian/British/German co-production, and the second of three silent films made on location in India by star and producer Himansu Rai. The others are Prem Sanyas (The Light of Asia, 1926) and A Throw of Dice (Prapanch Pash, 1929). All three films draw on Indian classical legend.
Plot
Shiraz (Rai) is a potter's son, who is brought up as brother to Selima (Rau), a girl of unknown but royal lineage who was rescued from an ambush in childhood. Shiraz falls in love with Selima as a young adult and when she is kidnapped by slavers and sold to Prince Khurram, Shiraz follows her to Agra, where he will risk a horrible death to protect her and one day design her great memorial.
Cast
- Himansu Rai as Shiraz
- Enakshi Rama Rau as Selima/Empress Mumtaz Mahal
- Charu Roy as Prince Khurram/Emperor Shah Jahan
- Seeta Devi as Dalia