'LIGHT OF ASIA'..SILENT FILM ON BUDDHA!

Anglo Indian Renee Smith..Seeta Devi & Himansu Rai in 'The Light of Asia' (1925)

On today's Buddha Purnima I remembered one of early landmark films from history of our Indian cinema and that is..'The Light of Asia' which focused on the rise of Buddhism!

'Great Eastern Film Corporation' made this film with the cooperation of Maharaja of Jaipur in 1925. It tells the story about our Indian Prince Siddharth Gautam who.. became the Buddha! Film was based on the book 'The Light of Asia' by English writer Edwin Arnold who also wrote screenplay of it with our Indian playwright Niranjan Pal.

 

Anglo Indian Renee Smith named as Seeta Devi in 'The Light of Asia' (1925).

Notable that founder of 'Bombay Talkies'.. Himansu Rai got his first assignment with this film as codirector & Bavarian filmmaker Franz Osten was his associate for it! And Himansu's wife an actress Devika Rani did the set decoration for it! Shooting of this film took place in - Jaipur and..in Lahore (now in - Pakistan). German cameramen Josef Wirsching & Willi Kiermeier did the cinematography for this!

Poster of silent film 'The Light of Asia' (1925).

Bengali artists Sarada Ukil acted as King Suddhodhana & Rani Bala as Queen Maya in it. With them Anglo Indian Renee Smith who was named as 'Seeta Devi' appeared as.. Gopa. And Himansuji got the main role of.. Gautam in this film!

This well made & critically acclaimed film first released in our India on.. 22nd October, 1925 and then in USA on 11th May, 1928.

Tribute to this great film & early work of our cinema!

- Manoj Kulkarni