Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai's Kiss in Early Indian Cinema in Karma (1933)
Table of Contents
- Introduction to the Famous Scene
- Key Details About the Film Karma (1933)
- What Is the Story of Karma?
- Clearing Up Myths About the Kissing Scene
- Why This Scene Matters in Film History
- Cast and Crew of Karma
- Legacy of Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai
- Main Sources
Introduction to the Famous Kiss Scene
One of the most talked-about intimate scenes in early Indian film history appears in the 1933 movie Karma. The stars were Devika Rani and her real-life husband Himanshu Rai. In the film, the princess kisses the prince to try to wake him after a snake bite.
Many popular stories call this “the first kiss in Indian cinema” and claim it lasted four full minutes. Film historians and reliable reports show these claims are not fully correct. Silent films had kissing scenes years earlier. The sequence in Karma is a series of short, one-sided kisses lasting roughly one-and-a-half to two minutes. Still, the scene remains important because it was one of the earliest and best-known kisses in an Indian talkie (sound film).
Key Details About the Film Karma (1933)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Film Title | Karma (also known as Song of the Serpent or Nagan Ki Ragini in Hindi) |
| Release Year | 1933 (London premiere: May 1933) |
| Director | J.L. Freer Hunt |
| Producer | Himanshu Rai |
| Languages | English and Hindi (bilingual film) |
| Running Time | About 68 minutes |
| Countries | India, United Kingdom and Germany (co-production) |
| Main Stars | Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai |
| Story by | Dewan Sharar |
| Music | Ernst Broadhurst (with Roy Douglas) |
| Famous For | One of the earliest well-known kissing scenes in an Indian talkie |
The film was shot mainly in India. Post-production work was done in London. It was aimed largely at Western audiences at first.
What Is the Story of Karma?
The story is simple. A princess (Devika Rani) falls in love with a prince (Himanshu Rai) from a neighbouring kingdom. The prince’s father does not approve. He feels the princess has modern ideas that go against tradition.
Near the end of the film the prince is bitten by a snake and falls unconscious. The princess kisses him again and again, hoping to bring him back. A snake charmer and holy man then help remove the poison. The prince wakes up and the couple is happy.
Clearing Up Myths About the Kissing Scene
Over the years several myths grew around this scene. Here are the main ones and the facts:
- Myth: It was the first on-screen kiss in Indian cinema.
Fact: Silent films already showed kissing earlier. One clear example is the 1929 film A Throw of Dice (also called Prapancha Pash), which featured a kiss between Seeta Devi and Charu Roy. Other silent films also had intimate scenes. Karma is important mainly as an early talkie example. - Myth: The kiss lasted a continuous four minutes.
Fact: It is a series of short, one-sided kisses and embraces (the princess trying to revive the unconscious prince). The total length is about 1.5 to 2 minutes. Author Kishwar Desai, in her National Award-winning book The Longest Kiss: The Life and Times of Devika Rani (2020), confirms this after careful study. - Myth: The scene caused immediate big trouble with strict Indian censors.
Fact: The film was first made and shown for Western audiences (it premiered in London). Intimacy on screen was more accepted there. When the Hindi version reached India later, reactions were mixed. Stricter rules on kissing grew stronger in the following years.
These corrections come mainly from the BBC News report (January 2023) by Geeta Pandey and from Kishwar Desai’s research.
Why This Scene Matters in Film History
Even with the myths corrected, Karma is still a landmark. Devika Rani’s acting and clear English won praise from British critics. The film helped the couple start Bombay Talkies in 1934. That studio became one of the most important early film studios in India and launched many big stars.
The scene shows that early Indian cinema was more open in some ways than many people think today. It also reminds us how stories about old films can grow larger than the facts over time.
Cast and Crew of Karma
| Role / Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Princess (Lead Actress) | Devika Rani |
| Prince (Lead Actor & Producer) | Himanshu Rai |
| Holy Man | Abraham Sofaer |
| Director | J.L. Freer Hunt |
| Story | Dewan Sharar |
| Screenplay / Dialogue | Rupert Downing |
| Music | Ernst Broadhurst |
Legacy of Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai
Devika Rani is often called the First Lady of Indian Cinema. She later received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1970) and the Padma Shri. Himanshu Rai helped build professional film-making in India through Bombay Talkies.
The kiss in Karma is still discussed today. When we look at the real facts, the story becomes even more interesting — a bold moment from the early days of sound cinema, made by a real-life couple, and later surrounded by popular myths.
Main Sources
- BBC News article “Devika Rani: Did Bollywood’s longest kiss really happen in 1933?” by Geeta Pandey (January 2023)
- Kishwar Desai’s book The Longest Kiss: The Life and Times of Devika Rani (2020) – winner of the National Film Award for Best Book on Indian Cinema
- Wikipedia entry on Karma (1933 film), which cites the BBC report and other film histories
These sources help separate fact from the long-standing popular stories. The real scene is still a fascinating part of Indian film history.
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