Achhut Kannya (1936) stands as one of the many successful collaborations between Franz Osten, Niranjan Pal, Himanshu Rai, and their iconic leading lady, Devika Rani, under the Bombay Talkies banner. The film, addressing the social position of Dalit girls, is regarded as a reformist period piece. It marked the debut of Ashok Kumar, who starred alongside Devika Rani in the lead roles. The film's music was composed by Saraswati Devi, with lyrics penned by J.S. Kashyap. Based on Niranjan Pal's story The Level Crossing, which he also adapted into the screenplay, Achhut Kannya captured the public's imagination with its portrayal of an "untouchable" girl and a Brahmin boy falling in love—an unconventional and taboo subject in the conservative society of the time. Despite this, the film became an instant hit with both audiences and critics, cementing its status as a timeless classic. The story, set against the backdrop of the growing anti-caste movement in India, critiques the oppressive caste system, focusing on the societal pressure and gossip that threatens to tear the couple apart. Beyond the class divide that reflects the social fabric of the era, the love story between a young couple from different castes, forbidden to be together, resonated deeply with the masses. Achhut Kannya proved particularly popular with young audiences, who were profoundly moved by the portrayal of the untouchable girl. While some critics lauded the film's visual aesthetic, others deemed it too radical for its time. A few also critiqued the dialogue, calling it somewhat unnatural. The immense success of the film catapulted Ashok Kumar to stardom, propelling him to become one of Hindi cinema's leading actors. He went on to feature in several successful films, including Kangan (1939), Bandhan (1940), and Jhoola (1941). His career reached new heights with the 1943 film Kismet, which became the first Hindi film to gross one crore at the box-office. Known for his pioneering natural acting style, Ashok Kumar's contributions to Indian cinema earned him the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Padma Bhushan.