When the ‘first lady of Indian cinema’ married a legendary Russian artist

For an Indian visitor to Moscow’s State Museum of Oriental Art, one of the most striking images is a painting of a beautiful and elegant woman in a sari. Many of us born several decades after India’s independence would not immediately recognize that the woman in the painting is Devika Rani Roerich, who was widely acknowledged as the ‘first lady of Indian cinema.’

An accidental actress, Devika Rani entered the world of Indian cinema after meeting film producer Himanshu Rai during her student days in London. She would go on to marry Rai and then rise to heights in Bollywood both as an actress, who was often paired with Ashok Kumar, and as the head of the Bombay Talkies studio that she co-founded with Rai. She continued to produce popular films after Rai’s death in 1940.

Devika Rani was a path-breaker in many ways in Indian cinema, acting in ‘Karma,’ India’s first talkie film in 1933, where she also sang the first English song in an Indian film.

A lifelong romance

‘Hamari Baat,’ the last film she acted in (produced in 1943) had a then unknown actor called Raj Kapoor in a minor role. A year later, when she was working on the production of ‘Jwar Bhata’ (one of Dilip Kumar’s first films), Devika Rani met Svetoslav Roerich.

The son of the mystic, artist, philosopher and writer Nicholas Roerich, Svetoslav was already a famous artist in his own right. 

Devika Rani visited Svetoslav Roerich’s studio while looking for an artist to design the sets for her last film. “The meeting changed the course of her life,” the International Roerich Memorial Trust wrote in a tribute to Devika Rani. They established a strong rapport that would lead to their marriage in a year.

Devika Rani and Svetoslav Roerich were married for almost 50 years. Source: Press photo

“The people of Kulu celebrated the wedding,” Shakti Singh Chandel said. “Followers of all 365 devtas (local gods) of the valley sent their representatives to meet Devika. The locals sang and danced and threw flowers on to the palanquin on which Devika was carried.”

Devika Rani then moved to Kulu completely abandoning her film career. Her stay in the valley would be relatively brief, as the couple would move to Bangalore four years later. However the people and landscapes of the Kulu Valley left an indelible mark on her life.

“Kulu was home of his (Svetoslav Roerich’s) people, his mother and father – Madam Roerich, Professor Roerich, George Roerich, his brother,” Rani recounted in the 1980s. “And the most beautiful scenery... Himalayas... snow on the mountains and spring flowers... It became our home, my home. I was treated there as a daughter. And Svetoslav, apart from being my husband was a really good friend.”

Tataguni Estate

The couple left Kulu in 1949 and settled in the sprawling Tataguni Estate in the outskirts of Bangalore.

“She managed Svetoslav’s public relations, took part in organizing his painting exhibitions in India and abroad and setting up the Nicholas and Svetoslav Roerich Art Gallery in the Roerich Estate in Naggar,” the International Roerich Memorial Trust wrote. “Her unflagging support and inspiration allowed Svetoslav Roerich to concentrate on art and create a wonderful series of Himalayan and South Indian landscapes and exquisite portraits, including those of Devika Rani suffused with love and affection.” 

Svetoslav Roerich took Indian citizenship and lived in Bangalore for the rest of his life. Such was his popularity among the Indian elite that three of his paintings adorn the Central Hall of Indian Parliament. They are portraits of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

We are proud of the Roerich legacy – Himachal CM

Although the couple largely led a reclusive existence in Bangalore, they were a part of the cultural and artistic scene. The couple devoted a lot of time and energy in developing the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, one of the most prominent cultural institutions in the city.

“She was one of the most beautiful women of her time,” R. Devdas, a friend of the family told the Bangalore Mirror.  “I was casually introduced to the couple and that evolved into a strong, wonderful friendship between my family and Madam's (Devika Rani's). Doctor (Roerich) was a busy man and he was in a different league.”

The couple suffered from ill health during the 1990s and there were widespread allegations of theft of their property and belongings. Svetoslav Roerich passed away in 1993 and Devika Rani died a year later. The childless couple’s estate was a subject of wide litigation. India’s Supreme Court finally ruled in favour of the Karnataka government, which claimed the 468-acre estate.

Tailpiece

The Karnataka government is converting the Tataguni Estate into a museum and cultural centre with a permanent gallery for Svetoslav Roerich’s paintings. One can only hope that the estate can be restored to what it was like in its heyday, and have the same serenity and spiritual vibrations as the Roerich family estate in the Kulu Valley.

Ajay Kamalakaran is RBTH’s Consulting Editor for Asia. Read more of his articles here. Follow Ajay onTwitter and Quora.

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