Seeta Devi

Seeta Devi

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Category: Cinema

Seeta Devi Profile

  • Name:
  • Seeta Devi
  • Other Name:
  • Renee Smith

Seeta Devi Biography

Seeta Devi was one of the earliest heroines of the silent era of Indian movies. She is an Anglo-Indian who made her debut through 1925 movie, Prem Sanyas. The same movie is also known by the English title, The Light of Asia. Its German title was Die Leuchte Asiens. Her original name is Renee Smith and she changed her screen name to Seeta devi, the character she played in her debut movie. The movie proved to be her big break to movies. Apart from Prem Sanyas, Shiraz and Prapancha Pash are her worth mentioning works. It was widely rumoured that she and her sister Percy Smith alternately appeared on screen as Seeta Devi.

 

Parsi theatre and silent films were the trademarks of early 20th century. In the period of transition from the second half of 19th century, the public image of Indian women was crafted through theater works as well as silent movies. Prem Sanyas was one such early attempt. Renee Smith was paired with noted Indian actor Himansu Rai for her debut movie, Prem Sanyas in 1925. The movie was a big break to her acting career. Shiraz (1928) and Prapancha Pash (1929) established her as an actress of Indian screen. All these movies were produced by the collobration of Indian filmmaker cum actor Himansu Rai and German film director Franz Osten, along with Bavarian company Emelka. Seeta devi (1925), Shiraz (1928) and Prapancha Pash (1929) was a trilogy of this association.

 

The movies of the trilogy were connected to three different religions based on three Indian history/mythological stories. She also appeared in Durgesh Nandini, Kapal Kundala and Krishnakanter Will – based on the great works of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.

Published: N/A

Updated: May 20, 2014

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