Manoos

Manoos also called Life's for Living is a 1939 Indian Marathi social melodrama film directed by V. Shantaram. The movie then remade in Hindi as Aadmi. The film was based on a short story called "The Police Constable". The story was by A. Bhaskarrao with screenplay and dialogue by Anant Kanekar. The cinematographer was V. Avadhoot and the music was composed by Master Krishna Rao with lyrics by Kanekar. The cast included Shahu Modak, Shanta Hublikar, Sundara Bai, Ram Marathe, Narmada, Ganpatrao, Raja Paranjpe.

Manoos, termed as a "reformist social melodrama", involved the subject of an honest policemen's love for a prostitute and his attempts to rehabilitate her, and the rejection by society.

Plot

Shahu Modak plays the role of an honest policeman, Ganpat, who on his beat round meets a prostitute, Maina (Shanta Hublikar). He saves her when there is a police raid on the sex-workers. Over their several meetings he falls in love with her. He attempts Maina's rehabilitation by getting her out of that atmosphere by marrying her. In this endeavour he takes her to meet his mother to get her approval. The social disapproval brings misery. Modak resorts to drinks and descends into alcoholism. Maina is driven by guilt and is unable to bear the jeers and snide remarks. She finally kills her evil uncle and refuses Ganpat's help when arrested.