Pukar is a 1939 historical film produced and directed by Sohrab Modi (a prominent actor, and filmmaker born in the present day Mumbai in Maharashtra) and his production house Minerva Movietone. The movie traced Mughal and the Rajput rulers and their strong commitment to justice unlike the then Rule of Law. It traces the story of two star-crossed couples. The first romance is between Mangal Singh and Kanwar (whose families are caught in a bloody feud) and between the emperor Jehangir and his wife Noorjehan. A poor washerwoman accuses queen Noorjehan of killing her husband by mistake during a hunting expedition. When the case is brought to the court, an upright king, Jehangir, pronounces the queen guilty. Jehangir who dearly loves his queen offers to lay down his own life to establish that the law is equal for all. The washerwoman is moved by the king’s sense of justice and forgives the queen. The movie's strong Urdu dialogues and dramatic Parsi theatre style made it popular. The movie came at a crucial time when the British were trying to put through their divide and rule policy and create disharmony between people.
Pukar was one of the earliest movies which captured the country’s composite culture. At the time Pukar was being made, communal riots were raging in the country and most filmmakers shied away from subjects that involved interaction between Hindu and Muslim characters. However, Sohrab Modi courageously dealt with this subject. Several historical movies of the period, including Pukar and Sikander, evoked the glory of India and how the Indian nation and its unity were rooted in the mists of time.
Source: Indian Culture Portal