This review is written by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh
This was yet another movie from the Ranjit’s assembly line production.
From 1937 to 1948,Ranjit churned out about 120 films,working out to about 10 films in an year or in every 40 days,one movie. They had many small, medium and big artists-actors, musicians, directors, technicians etc in their stable. But majority of these films only added name to Ranjit,not cash.
This film SHAHENSHAH BABAR-1944 was one such movie too. It was directed by Wajahat Mirza and MD was Khemchand Prakash. After Gyan Dutt, it was Khemchand Prakash and then it was Bulo C Rani in Ranjit. There were 3 lyricists-Pt.Indra, Munshi Aziz and Munshi Shams.
The cast was Shaikh Mukhtar, Khurshid, Majid, Sushil Kumar, Sulochana Chatterjee, Nagendra, Agha Jani, Hasan etc.
The film was supposed to be on the reign of Babar-from childhood to invasion of India period.
This was a film in 1944,competing with Biggies like Ratan, Panna, My sister, Bhanwara, Duniya, Chaand(first film of Husnalal Bhagatram), Chal chal re Naujawan(first film of Filmistan), Dost etc.The mediocre music of Babar was no match for above mentioned musical hits of Naushad and Saigal.
About kusum Mantri.
She was also one of the many new and upcoming singers that Ranjit had kept on its payroll.She sang under all the MDs of Ranjit and also under Firoze Nizami.Her songs featured in Badi Baat, Safed Daku, Safed Chehera, Vishwas, Umang, Us paar, Piya Milan, Nek Parveen etc. Her career span was 1943 to 1949. After that,no trace.
Bollywood movies 