Hailed as “the first truly cinematic film made since Indian film began,” Sant Tukaram (1936) follows in a tradition of Indian films about the lives of saints, but is distinguished from most by its sense of humor, as well as by its attention to historical detail. The revered poet and holy man Tukaram is “enlightened” further by an earthy wife, who teaches him that, above all, his children should not starve. In the village, Tukaram has a jealous rival, Salomalo, whose attempts to bring the poet's downfall lead only to further opportunities for good deeds on the part of Tukaram.
“Around 1000 A.D., a new socio-religious movement caused an upheaval in Indian society. It has been called the ‘Bhakti' (‘Faith') movement.... Sant Tukaram was a saint very much at the heart of the Bhakti movement. He was a poet who used to the full the earthy, unsophisticated vitality of his Marathi language. His songs became immensely popular and in the process upset the established class....” --“Film India: Looking Back,” Museum of Modern Art