Balram Shri Krishna (1968)

Balram Shri Krishna retells episodes from the lives of the brothers Balram and Krishna, the elder famed for his strength and his plough, the younger for his wisdom and divine play. Their adventures against demons and wicked kings are staged in the colourful, song-filled manner of 1960s Hindi mythologicals. The casting is the draw: Dara Singh, the champion wrestler who became one of the busiest stars of Hindi action and mythological films, plays Balram, while Shahu Modak, who had played Krishna many times since the 1930s and became closely identified with the role, appears as Krishna. Marathi star Jayshree Gadkar, a regular in devotional and mythological films of the era, completes the lead cast. A natural choice for Janmashtami viewing.