Achhut

Achhut Untouchable is a 1940 social Indian Bollywood film based on untouchability. It was the third highest grossing Indian film of 1940. The film was produced by Chandulal Shah for his Ranjit Studios. He also wrote the story and screenplay, and directed it. Achhuts premiere was attended by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel onDecember 1939, who stated If the picture helps India to remove this curse, it can be said to have helped India India to win Swaraj as untouchability is one of the chief obstacles in the road to freedom.

When Lakshmi Gohar, the daughter of a Harijan, fetches water from a temple an infuriated Pujari priest breaks the pot on her head. This incident, plus several other injustices that he has faced, forces the father to adopt Christianity into which he brings Lakshmi. The mother refuses to become one and continues to remain a Hindi along with her other child. A rich businessman, Seth Haridas, adopts Lakshmi and she becomes a friend to his daughter, Savitri. Lakshmi gets a good education and the two girls grow up to fall in love with the same man, Madhukar. As Madhukar comes from a high caste family, the Seth, in order to get his daughter married to him informs Madhukars family of Lakshmis background. Lakshmi returns to her mother in the village, where she meets Ramu Motilal actorMotilal, the boy to whom she had been wed as a child. The two get together and rebel against the atrocities against the untouchables Harijans. The message finally gets through and they are allowed to enter the temple.Baburao Patel, editor Filmindia, in his review in the January 1940 issue, having seen the Gujarati version stated The realistic atmosphere, the folklore songs and dances, faithful portrayal of characters, all contribute to make the picture a beautiful poem of instructive screen entertainment.There was praise for the actors, with Gohar giving adynamic performance, and Motilal was perfectly cast with his wonderful restraint of emotions. Sitara Devi, Charlie and Vasanti were also commended for their acting. ........

Source: Wikipedia