Ruby Myers, known as Sulochana, was a trailblazing Indian Jewish actress who rose to fame during the silent era of Indian cinema. From a telephone operator to the highest-paid actress of her time, she captivated audiences with her versatility and charm, leaving an indelible mark on the industry despite challenges posed by the transition to talkies.
MORE THAN A CENTURY AFTER the birth of Indian cinema in 1913, marked by Dadasaheb Phalke’s Raja Harishchandra, India’s cinematic journey has garnered attention from across the globe. Today, not just Bollywood films but Indian movies in different languages have also become a topic of discussion among international critics.
However, long before audiences got to witness the on-screen wonders of industry veterans such as Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala and Guru Dutt, the silent era of Indian cinema welcomed several Anglo-Indian faces who ruled the industry, delivering some of its finest performances. From Rose Musleah, aka Miss Rose, to Esther Victoria Abraham, aka Pramila, the silent era of Indian cinema flourished, thanks to the contributions of the forgotten Indian Jewish actresses who once ruled the screens.
They came and conquered the screens, but not many talents could survive in the industry after the silent era for several reasons, the most prominent being their inability to speak Hindi. One such name was Ruby Myers, who won the hearts of several avid moviegoers with her mesmerising eyes and screen persona. If readers fail to recognise Ruby Myers by her original name, their memory might be jogged by her screen name, Sulochana, a Hindi name that means ‘one with beautiful eyes’.
According to the Bombay Jewish Archives, Ruby Myers was the first woman to act in a silent film. As astonishing as it sounds, one of the most jaw-dropping facts about Raja Harishchandra, India’s first silent film, is that the female characters were portrayed by male actors due to the lack of female actors at the time. Then came Ruby Myers.
Ruby Myers was born in 1907 in Poona (now Pune), in British India. She was born into a Baghdadi Jewish family. Her family belonged to an immigrant community that came to India from Baghdad, Basra and Aleppo towards the end of the 18th century. From working as a telephone operator to being called Sapno Ki Rani (dream girl), she was discovered by film director Mohan Bhavnani, who persuaded her to join the world of cinema.
She initially refused to work in cinema when Bhavnani approached her, as the film industry was considered a questionable line of work for women. However, after persistent persuasion, Myers eventually agreed to Bhavnani’s offer, changing the era of silent films forever.
Her debut film was with the Kohinoor Film Company, under the direction of Mohan Bhavnani. However, she later moved to the Imperial Film Company, which made her the highest-paid actress of her time and established her as a successful star of the silent film era. According to the Bombay Jewish Archives, at one point in her career, Sulochana was earning more than the Governor of India. A luxurious lifestyle followed, and with a reported salary of Rs 5,000, she even owned a Chevrolet.
To connect with and relate to Indian audiences, she eventually adopted the name Sulochana. Her most popular films include Cinema Queen (1926), Typist Girl (1926), Balidaan (1927) and Wildcat of Bombay (1927). In Wildcat of Bombay, directed by Mohan Bhavnani, Sulochana played eight characters in the film, including a policeman, a gardener, a street urchin, a European blonde and a pickpocket, among others. Later, in the 1930s, she started her own film production house, named Rubi Pics.
With a flourishing career in films, Sulochana became a star. However, her sparkle eventually began to fade when the Indian film industry transitioned from the silent era to talkies in 1931 with Alam Ara, directed by Ardeshir Irani. The industry now needed actors who were proficient in Hindi, a language Sulochana was not fluent in. However, she never took a step back and continued moving forward. Sulochana learned Hindi and returned to the screen with Madhuri (1932). Several of her silent films were also remade as talkies.
One of Sulochana’s most popular films was Jugnu, starring Dilip Kumar, who had just begun his film career, and Noor Jehan. In the film, Sulochana played a supporting character. The film was embroiled in controversy when Jugnu was banned in several provinces. It was labelled “dirty”, “disgusting” and “vulgar” for its portrayal of college romance. The then Home Minister, Morarji Desai, also objected to the film, according to some reports. Following the ban in several provinces, 28 minutes of footage were removed before the film returned to theatres a few months later.
After 1947, Sulochana began appearing in supporting and cameo roles and gradually faded from the list of big names that had once ruled the film industry. Her final film was Khatta Meetha, which was released in 1978, when Sulochana was 71 years old. For her contributions to Indian cinema, Ruby Myers, more popularly known as Sulochana, received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1974. Sulochana passed away in 1983 at the age of 76. She was survived by her adopted daughter, Sarah Myers, who changed her name to Vijaylaxmi Shreshtha after marriage.
Ruby Myers, a Jewish Indian actress who ruled the Indian film industry during the silent era, is remembered as a star whose legacy never faded, even though her name gradually began to disappear from public memory. She was one of the many Anglo-Indian celebrities who contributed to the Indian film industry during its early days.
[Og/VS]
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