By ACMI
Treasures from the Dietze Family Trust
A Family Story
Walter, Paul and Peter Dietze are the grandsons of Himansu Rai, the founder of the Bombay Talkies film studio. The Dietze brothers, from Melbourne, Australia, are custodians of a collection of material once owned by Himansu and his wife, actress Devika Rani, who ran the studio after his death. An exhibition of highlights from their collection was held at ACMI in 2016.
Bombay Talkies Family Tree (2019) by ACMIACMI
Peter Dietze spent years researching his family connection to Himansu Rai.
Peter's mother Nilima was the child of Himansu's first marriage to a German actress. Nilima and her husband settled in Australia after WWII.
Himansu Rai married Devika Rani in 1929.
Himansu Rai Portrait (1926) by Himansu RaiACMI
Himansu Rai, born in 1892 to a wealthy Bengali family, went to London in the 1920s to study law. He was drawn to the theatre and formed 'The Indian Players' with writer Niranjan Pal.
After a successful production of Pal's play The Goddess, they made their first film The Light of Asia in 1925, based on the life of Buddha.
Mary HainlinACMI
While in Germany to prepare for the shooting of The Light of Asia, Himansu Rai married actress Mary Hainlin, who gave birth to their daughter Nilima. The couple separated, and Nilima grew up in Germany.
Maria Hainlin, Dancer (circa 1924) by unknownACMI
Mary Hainlin, dancer and actress.
After her relationship to Himansu Rai ended, she married comedian Wiess Ferdl, who became Nilima's stepfather.
Devika Rani (1928) by YVA StudioACMI
Devika Rani, who had studied dance and design, met Himansu in London.
They lived in Berlin, observing film production at UFA and planning for the production of Himansu's silent films.
Devika Rani, studio portrait (1928) by YVA Photography StudioACMI
Devika Rani was the grand niece of celebrated poet Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941).
She was educated in England, had traveled widely in Europe with her father and spoke several languages.
Epic Silent Films
Himansu Rai starred in and produced three silent films which aimed to present traditional Indian culture to a Western audience. The Light of Asia (1925), Shiraz (1928) and A Throw of Dice (1929), were shot in India with a German crew, including director Franz Osten.
The Light of Asia, Program (1925) by The Indian PlayersACMI
Some of the German crew who worked on The Light of Asia remained in India and continued to work with Himansu Rai on various productions.
Filming Shiraz (1928) by Berlin FilmmuseumACMI
Shiraz tells the love story behind the building of the Taj Mahal. It was recently restored by the BFI with a new soundtrack by Anoushka Shankar. Himansu Rai stars as a humble potter.
A Throw of Dice (1929) by Himansu RaiACMI
A Throw of Dice has been restored by the BFI with a new soundtrack by Nitin Sawhney.
The story of princes who gamble their kingdoms for love was based on tales from the Mahabharata
Karma
In 1933 Himansu and Devika star together in Karma, the first Indian Talkie film to be shown in Europe. It was her first acting role and his last. The film received much press attention but was not a commercial success. The couple moved back to Bombay and established the Bombay Talkies studio.
Karma Press Clippings (1933-05-03) by Birmingham Mail NewspaperACMI
A page from one of Devika Rani's personal scrapbooks in which she collected publicity items from the UK press for Karma.
Himansu Rai and Devika Rani (1933) by Unknown Press PhotographerACMI
Himansu and Devika made a glamorous couple as they promoted Karma. The production however had caused them financial hardship and the Dietze Family Trust has many letters from Himansu requesting further funds from investors.
Achhut Kanya (Untouchable Girl), production still #23 (1936) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
Achhut Kanya (Untouchable Girl) was the studio's second film and first major success. The script was by Niranjan Pal, adapted from his short story 'The Level Crossing'.
Achhut Kanya (Untouchable Girl), Production Still #27 (1936) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar play childhood sweethearts who cannot marry due to their caste differences. Rani's character dies trying to save her true love.
Devika Rani in Savitri (1937) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
Devika Rani became a major star. With her delicate beauty and subtle portrayal of emotion, she was often cast in melodramas exploring social issues that impacted ordinary women's lives.
Vachan (The Promise) (1939) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar made seven films together, and his career continued for many years after Bombay Talkies closed.
Mamta (Mother) (1936) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
This program is for a double bill Mother and Always Tell Your Wife.
Devika Rani in Durga (1939) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
Publicity photograph of Devika Rani from the film Durga (1939).
Nirmala Program (1938) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
Nirmala (Devika Rani) is happily married to Ramdas (Ashok Kumar) but following the deaths of their first two babies, she leaves him on the advice of an astrologer to save the third child. After many twists of fate, they are re-united in old age.
Char Anken program (1944) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
When Himansu Rai passed away in 1940, Devika Rani took over the running of the studio.
She commissioned this logo in his honour.
Devika Rani Rai, Studio Head
Correspondence in the Dietze Family Trust reveals Devika's involvement in all aspects of Bombay Talkies film production and distribution. It was exceedingly rare for a woman to run a studio at that time.
Letter from Devika Rani to Mr Lall 1/2 (1940) by Devika RaniACMI
If songs featured in a film were popular, the film would be a hit.
Letter from Devika Rani to Mr Lall 2/2 (1940) by Devika RaniACMI
The Dietze Archive includes many letters concerning music for Bombay Talkie films.
Letter from Devika Rani to Mr Nurie 1/2 (1940) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
'Girls! Woman are always a problem'. Acting in film was not viewed as a respectable career for many women, and Devika was always on the lookout for suitable talent.
Letter from The Gramophone Company to Devika Rani (1944) by The Gramophone CompanyACMI
Devika wrote her replies to business correspondence in red ink on the bottom of letters, to be typed up later by a secretary.
UnknownACMI
As she contemplated what to write, Devika would often doodle on the back of letters...
Letter to Devika RaniACMI
A friend invites Devika to attend a wedding "if you can get away from that infernal work, work - work!!"
Reuters request for interview (1945) by Reuters LimitedACMI
Devika's correspondence contains many letters from fans, requests for interviews and public appearances, and appeals for financial aid.
Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association letter to Devika Rani (1945) by Indian Motion Picture Producers' AssociationACMI
Devika was highly respected in the industry and remains known today as "The first lady of Indian cinema."
Basant (Spring) (1942) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
As head of the studio, Devika Rani oversaw production of some very successful films, including the backstage melodrama Basant.'
Anjaan (The Unknown) cinema queue (1941) by Bombay TalkiesACMI
Devika Rani retired from Bombay Talkies in 1945 when she married the painter Svetoslav Nicholayevich Roerich.
The studio continued under various owners until the mid 1950s. Devika died in 1994.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.