Sikandar became such a big hit that it was eventually banned in some British Indian army cantonments. Sikander’s strong nationalistic message was said to have ignited similar sentiments in the public. Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement was gaining ground. World War II was going on, as was the Quit India movement. The film also has historical significance in India, as it was released during a period of war and upheaval in the country. It reminds you of historical epics that came out in the last 10 years, until you realise that they probably got their inspiration from Sikandar. Apart from the skilled sword-fighting, horses and elephants are also used to great effect. Stunts were performed manually, and by the actors themselves. The film’s battle scenes are a delight to watch, especially when you think about the lack of technology at the time.
Sohrab Modi’s Porus is also formidable, and a true match to Alexander, albeit losing to him finally. She shows that women aren’t mere ‘distractions’ to be dealt away with. Sikandar also starred Vanamala Devi as the strong and intelligent Rukhsana, Alexander’s love interest. The battle scenes were shot across Kolhapur, using hundreds of extras and animals, and it was on a scale that Indian audiences hadn’t experienced before. The palatial setups were magnificent and luxurious. Directed by Sohrab Modi, who also stars as King Porus, Sikandar was a lavishly mounted film in Bollywood. It’s straight-forward and mostly sticks to historical facts, sometimes peppered with fictional elements. The film is a re-telling of Alexander’s conquest of Persia and northwestern India. His curly hair, Greek clothing, and aura of grandeur added to his act. The theatre actor in Prithviraj Kapoor popped in this larger-than-life role on screen. Sikandar refuses to listen to his generals, dismisses reality and ignores the warnings of his mentor – Aristotle.Ī lot of Sikandar’s pride and ego comes from his long list of achievements, and to an extent, it is justified, but when he is almost killed by King Porus in battle, the old adage of vanity being the fall of man comes to mind. He is arrogant and selfish - qualities that cost him. Sikandar tells the tale of Alexander not just as a great warrior and emperor, but also a man with flaws. On his 48th death anniversary, we look at the film that cemented his position as one of the greatest actors of all time. At the same time, Sikandar’s army suffered heavy losses. And perhaps his most famous role was in 1941 epic, Sikandar, where he played Alexander the Great. King Porus bravely fought with Alexander, but in spite of a conflict between Sikandar and King Porus, for the purpose of overthrowing the kingdom of King Poros, he had to fight against Alexander, but despite a lot of conflicts and attempts, he had to face defeat. The head of the famous Kapoor family of Bollywood, Prithviraj was the quintessential Hindi cinema hero on the silver screen. He was one of the country’s foremost actors, and even played a role in India’s first talkie in 1931. Bollywood started with Prithviraj Kapoor.