Sohrab Modi

Directing·Nov 2, 1897

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Sohrab Modi (1897–1984) was one of the towering figures of early Indian cinema—a director, producer, and actor whose work brought historical grandeur and social reform to the silver screen. Known for his booming voice and Shakespearean gravitas, he began his career in theatre and was deeply influenced by Parsi stage traditions. He founded Minerva Movietone in the 1930s, a studio that became synonymous with epic historical dramas and socially relevant films. Modi’s hallmark was his dedication to moral seriousness and elaborate period detail. His most celebrated works include Pukar (1939), Sikandar (1941), and Prithvi Vallabh (1943), films that combined visual splendor with stirring oratory and nationalist undercurrents. He was also a pioneer of courtroom and social dramas—Jhansi Ki Rani (1953), one of India’s first Technicolor films, and Ek Din Ka Sultan (1945) reflected his enduring interest in justice, reform, and strong historical women. Though later overshadowed by more contemporary styles of filmmaking, Sohrab Modi’s legacy remains vital. He helped define the moral and aesthetic vocabulary of early Indian cinema, and his work continues to be remembered for its theatrical eloquence, patriotism, and cultural pride.

Film	Credit
Rustom1982 · Actor	Actor
Indian Talkie1981 · Self	Self
Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari1971 · Raisaheb Surajbhan Chaudhary	Raisaheb Surajbhan Chaudhary
Woh Koi Aur Hoga1967 · Professor	Professor
Yahudi1958 · Ezra	Ezra
Jailor1958 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Nausherwan-E-Adil1957 · Sultan-e-Iran Nausherwan bin Kavad, Director	Sultan-e-Iran Nausherwan bin Kavad, Director
Raj Hath1956 · Actor, Director, Producer	Actor, Director, Producer
Kundan1955 · Kundan, Director, Producer	Kundan, Director, Producer
Mirza Ghalib1954 · Producer, Director	Producer, Director
Waris1954 · Producer	Producer
Jhansi Ki Rani1953 · Raj Guru, Director, Producer	Raj Guru, Director, Producer
Sheesh Mahal1950 · Director	Director
Shama1946 · Producer	Producer
Ek Din Ka Sultan1945 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Parakh1944 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Prithvi Vallabh1943 · Prithvi Vallabh, Director	Prithvi Vallabh, Director
Phir Milenge1942 · Director	Director
Sikandar1941 · King Porus, Producer, Director	King Porus, Producer, Director
Bharosa1940 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Pukar1939 · Sardar Sangram Singh, Director	Sardar Sangram Singh, Director
Talaq1938 · Director	Director
Meetha Zaher1938 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Jailor1938 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Khan Bahadur1937 · Actor, Director, Producer	Actor, Director, Producer
Atma Tarang1937 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Said-e-Havas1936 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Khoon Ka Khoon1935 · Hamlet, Director	Hamlet, Director