Toofani Tarzan

Toofani Tarzan (Typhoon Tarzan/Stormy Tarzan) is a 1937 Hindi action adventure film directed by Homi Wadia.[1] Produced by Wadia Movietone, the film had music by Master Mohammed with lyrics by Gyan Chander.[2][3] It starred John Cawas, Gulshan, Nazira, Boman Shroff, Chandrashekhar and Dalpat.[4]

Toofani Tarzan
Toofani Tarzan
Directed by	Homi Wadia
Produced by	Wadia Movietone
Written by	JBH Wadia
Screenplay by	JBH Wadia
Starring	John Cawas Gulshan Boman Shroff
Music by	Master Mohammed
Production company	Wadia Movietone
Release date	1937
Running time	146 min
Country	India
Language	Hindi

The film typically had the theme of ‘mad scientists looking for the elixir of life’ as per Rosie Thomas (2005), cited by Gokulsing and Dissanayake [5] and was publicised as ‘India’s first jungle adventure film’ with remakes in the 1950s as Zimbo series.[6]

Plot

Scientist Ramu and his wife Uma (Nazira) live with their four-year-old son Leher in the jungle where he carries out experiments. He has discovered the elixir of life. Lions attack their house killing him, while his wife goes mad with grief. Ramu’s son, Leher, and their little dog Moti, escape with the help of a half-man, half-ape called Dada (Boman Shroff). Several people arrive in the jungle fifteen years later from the city. One of them is Ramu’s father with his adopted daughter, Leela. Bihari, one of the people in the group wants the formula for his own purpose. The formula was put in a pendant around Leher’s neck by his father before he died. Leher now grown-up and known as Tarzan (John Cawas), has been brought up in the jungle and there are some amusing incidents between Leela and Tarzan, due to his lack of language skills. Tarzan saves Leela from Bihari’s unwanted advances. The story then moves to tribal cannibals trying to attack the group along with Tarzan, with ‘stunt scenes’ involving the cast and animals like elephants, the dog Moti, lions and apes. The story ends with the grandfather re-uniting with Tarzan and the mentally unstable mother meeting up with them.

Cast

• John Cawas as Tarzan
• Gulshan as Leela
• Boman Shroff
• Chandrashekhar
• Dog Moti
• Nazira
• Muhammad Rehmani
• Chandrashekhar
• Dalpat
• Ahmed Dilawar

Music

The music was composed by Mohammed Master with lyrics by Pandit Gyan Chandra. There were three songs in

the film two of them sung by Ahmed Dilawar.[7]

Songlist

#	Title	Singer
1	Bhooli Hui Yaad Aayi	Ahmed Dilawar
2	Khuda Rakhe Abad Jeevan Tumhara	Ahmed Dilawar
3	Prem Karat Ban Mein	Gulshan

References

1. Annette Wannamaker; Michelle Ann Abate (2012). Global Perspectives on Tarzan: From King of the Jungle to International Icon. Routledge. pp. 122–. ISBN 978-0-415-89724-2. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
2. "Toofani Tarzan (1937)". Gomolo.com. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
3. "Toofani Tarzan 1937". Latest Hindi Songs Lyrics. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
4. "Toofani Tarzan (1937)". Alan Goble. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
5. K. Moti Gokulsing; Adjunct Fellow East-West Center Hawaii Scholar in Residence Wimal Dissanayake; Wimal Dissanayake (17 April 2013). Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas. Routledge. pp. 288–. ISBN 978-1-136-77284-9. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
6. "Still Magic". Tasveer Ghar. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
7. "Toofani Tarzan 1937". Muvyz, Inc. Retrieved 24 September 2014.

External links

• Story at Memsaab
• Short clip at YouTube