Dr. Kotnis ki Amar Kahani () is a 1946 Indian film in Hindustani as well as English, written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and directed by V. Shantaram. The English version was titled The Journey of Dr. Kotnis. Both versions starred Shantaram in the title role. The film is based on the life of Dwarkanath Kotnis, an Indian doctor who worked in China during the Japanese invasion in World War II. The film was screened in competition at the 1947 Venice Film Festival.
Overview
The film was based on the story "And One Did Not Come Back" by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, which is itself based on the heroic life of Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis, played by V. Shantaram in the film.
Dr. Kotnis was sent to China during the Second World War to provide medical assistance to the troops fighting against the Japanese invasion in Yenan province.
While in China he met and courted a Chinese girl, Gou Qinglan. He died of Epilepsy in China.
Cast
Lead cast: V.Shantaram as Dwarkanath Kotnis Jayashree Kamulkar as Gou Qinglan
Rest of the cast, listed alphabetically: Baburao Pendharkar as General Fong Jankidas as Dr. Mukerjee (as Janki Dass) Keshavrao Date as Dr. Kotnis' father Master Vinayak as Bundoo Pratima Devi as Dr. Kotnis' mother (as Pratimadevi) Prof. Hudlikar as Dr. Atal Rajshree as Dr. Kotnis' son Salvi as Dr. Cholkar Ulhas as Dr. Basu
Poster and artwork
The poster and artwork were designed and executed by the noted calendar artist S. M. Pandit through his studio S. M. Pandit.