A Throw Of Dice / Prapanch Pash (1929) :
Brief Review -
A gambling and fascinating Romance by a German Director based on Indian Epic Mahabharata. Now who doesn't know the gambling chapter from Mahabharata in India, we all know it as our culture and we even the consequences of it. Franz Osten's A Throw Of Dice is inspired from the 'Dice Trick' chapter of Mahabharata but rest of the narrative is completely different. Two neighboring Indian kingdoms are ruled by cousins - King Ranjit and King Sohat. Unbeknownst to Ranjit, Sohat is plotting to seize control of his kingdom and wishes to marry his girl. This part we have already learned from Mahabharata but here the ending is different and yes it is a Happy Ending. The composer of the new version said a great thing about the film which i think is the best sum up - "A cross between Chaplin, Cecil B. DeMille and an early Bollywood movie." Yes i mean it is exactly that and if not then anything closest to it. That DeMille's reference seemed unethical to me though, rest I agree with it completely. A fine Romance is captured with its essence and is normalised according to the period and situations. Additionally, the gambling trick and hero's realisation of harms caused by it are one of the major highlights of the film. Not to forget the great villainous character which has everything fit in realistic manners. It does not over-use the cinematic liberty even though it had a chance to do so after having such period set in it and that's what makes it a little special from a common film. Osten has worked very well while catching the correct tone and sense of Indian Culture. Overall, it's a Classic fascinating Romance that we have been loving since decades but it was made much before people started loving this genre.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest
A gambling and fascinating Romance by a German Director based on Indian Epic Mahabharata. Now who doesn't know the gambling chapter from Mahabharata in India, we all know it as our culture and we even the consequences of it. Franz Osten's A Throw Of Dice is inspired from the 'Dice Trick' chapter of Mahabharata but rest of the narrative is completely different. Two neighboring Indian kingdoms are ruled by cousins - King Ranjit and King Sohat. Unbeknownst to Ranjit, Sohat is plotting to seize control of his kingdom and wishes to marry his girl. This part we have already learned from Mahabharata but here the ending is different and yes it is a Happy Ending. The composer of the new version said a great thing about the film which i think is the best sum up - "A cross between Chaplin, Cecil B. DeMille and an early Bollywood movie." Yes i mean it is exactly that and if not then anything closest to it. That DeMille's reference seemed unethical to me though, rest I agree with it completely. A fine Romance is captured with its essence and is normalised according to the period and situations. Additionally, the gambling trick and hero's realisation of harms caused by it are one of the major highlights of the film. Not to forget the great villainous character which has everything fit in realistic manners. It does not over-use the cinematic liberty even though it had a chance to do so after having such period set in it and that's what makes it a little special from a common film. Osten has worked very well while catching the correct tone and sense of Indian Culture. Overall, it's a Classic fascinating Romance that we have been loving since decades but it was made much before people started loving this genre.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest