The film Béhula is based on a medieval epic on the cult and power of the snake goddess, Manasa. A rich merchant who refuses to accept the goddess is taught a tragic lesson in humility. It is the almost supernatural sense of faith of his daughter-in-law, Béhula, that ultimately appeases the goddess. Notably, the film – only recently rediscovered in the collection of the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation – is a valuable addition to research, as only the names of a fortunate few from the silent film era have been preserved in historical and collective memory.

With Kusum Kumari and Patience Cooper

The film features Kusum Kumari and Patience Cooper in the lead roles – forgotten actresses occupying multiple performing worlds of the early twentieth century. Cooper was a performer in the Parsi theatre, a form of cosmopolitan public entertainment that was very popular in the late 19th and early 20th century while Kumari was an actress in Bengali theatre.

Films with Patience Cooper (selection)
Nurjehan 1923 | Dhruva Charithra 1921 | Nala Damayanti 1920

Films with Kusum Kumari (selection)
Bishabrikha 1922 | Shivaratri 1921