This film is part of Free

Karma
Lavish British-Indian romance that caused controversy in India with its record-setting screen kiss
Overview
This lavish British-Indian romance was shot on location in actual palaces and temples in India, giving it an authentic feel. The story of a forbidden love affair between a princess and a prince, Karma was a great success on its London release. But it was less well-received in India, shocking many with its long screen kiss (lasting four minutes: a record still unbroken more than 80 years later), though it may have helped that the actors involved, Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai, had been for three years.
Devika Rani (grand-niece of revered Indian poet, novelist, musician and artist Rabindranath Tagore) starred in numerous films during the 1930s and 1940s and is often seen as the first lady of Indian cinema, while Himanshu Rai was something of a mogul, a driving force behind several international co-productions, including The Light of Asia (1925), Shiraz (1928) and A Throw of Dice (1929). The couple would go on to found the respected Bombay Talkies studio a year after Karma was released.
Related

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Bell of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.

Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.