Deccan Queen. The Deccan Queen was created by Mehboob Khan and appeared in the film Deccan Queen (1936). The Deccan Queen is a Costumed Avenger. After Lala Niranjamal dies his trustees swindle his heirs out of his fortune and estate. Niranjamal’s daughter is sent to prison and his son is forced to beg in the street. When the daughter is released from prison she becomes the costumed vigilante the Deccan Queen and avenges her family’s honor, aided by the noble Inspector Suresh.
I mentioned, the other day, about the Deadly Peasant, about how far ahead China was of the West when it came to gender roles in action films during the pulp era. Well, stand proud, India, because you too put the West to shame. The Deccan Queen is but one of a number of heroines in lead roles in Indian action/adventure films in the pulp era.