FILM STUDIES

1. FILM STUDIES . Aravindan S.S

2. The early versions of cinematic elements in India can be traced back to the musical dramas (Sangeet Natak), the Parsi Theatre, the drama companies of Madras and the jatra in Bengal.Music, dance and songs were an integral part of these performing traditions. when Lumiere Brothers started their ‘Cinematic exhibitions’ at Bombay on July 7 1896, the dramatists, photographers, magicians, musicians and singers identified in them great potential for retelling of Indian myths and folklore. Such experimentation startd with making short films. A person called Harishchandra S. Bhatwadekar shot a wrestling match held at Bombay’s Hanging Gardens. To him goes the credit of shooting one of the earliest Indian newsreels, Return of Wrangler Paranjpe, which recorded the triumphant welcome accorded to R.P Paranjpe, an Indian student who had won honours in mathematics at Cambridge.

3. The first feature film in India was Shree Pundalik by Ramachandra Gopi Torne in 1912. It was based on the legend of a famous Maharastrian saint.

5. Cinema as a genre has a great impact across the world. India is one of the largest producers of films in the world of which a staggering number are feature films. Films have played a major role in developing a post-independence Indian identity. The first feature film in india was Shree Pundalik by Ramachandra Gopi Torne in 1912. It was screened in London. The first short film in India was directed by Hiralal Sen starting with The Flower of Persia in 1898.

7. By the turn of the 20th century, Indian film industry witnessed the arrival of a visionary who changed the complete perception of cinema in India. He is none other than Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, better known as Dadasaheb Phalke. He was a futuristic person who was gifted enough to foresee the awesome potential of films almost a century ago. He is the true pioneer of Indian cinema for he laid the basic building blocks of the industry with his creative zeal and persistent efforts. He took daring steps of entering into an industry which was facing odds at that time.

10. Undeterred by skepticism, he went ahead and brought out his ground breaking first film ‘Raja Harischandra’ in 1913 at ‘The Coronation Theatre’ in Bombay. It was mostly shot outdoors on sets designed by Phalke. Indoor scenes were recreated on sets under his close supervision. Phalke was a one man army and donned many hats. He was a cameraman, art director, costume –designer, editor, processor, printer, developer, projectionist and distributor, all rolled into one.Even the successful culmination of Phalke’s efforts couldnot shake off the stigma associated with the medium of films.

11. Mohini Bhasmasur

12. Satyawan Savitri, Lanka Dahan and Krishna Janma. Phalke experimented with color by tinting frames with brush work on the original print. Using colour chemicals, entire sequences were toned to simulate blue for sea or red for fire. By burning down two vast sets, reality was depicted in Lanka Dahan to show Lanka consumed by fire. Phalke’s techniques were compared to French pioneer George Melies. It was Phalke who first introduced women actors in his Bhasmasur Mohini. In 1931, Phalke produced his last silent film Setu Bandhan.

13. By 1920 film making was transformed into a regular industry and number films produced increased upto 207. The first Indian love story Dhiren Ganguly’s ‘ Bilat Ferat’ was released in1921. Baburao Painter, Suchet Singh, Chandulal Shah, Ardershir Irani and V. Shantaram were the prominent film-makers of twenties.

14. Some of the important silent films of the period were Baburao Painter’s Maya Bazar(1923), Kala Naag(1924) Chandulal Shah’s Bhaneli Bhamini(1927) Ardershir Irani’s Anarkali(1928) V. Shantaran’s Gopal Krishna (1929)

15. Ardershir Irani

16. Fatima Begum who was perhaps the first Indian woman producer and director released her film Bulbul-e-Parastan in 1926.Kohinoor production’s Bhakta Vidur which was banned in Madras in1921 became Indian cinemas first censorship controversy. Entertainment tax on film was first levied on film in Calcutta in1922. The silent films were of several genres like mythological, folklores, historical and fantasies. Silent movies were never completely silent. They were often seen in the theatres with the accompaniment of harmonium, table or violin. They had the main titles in English and one regional language.

17. The British did not interfere with film-making as long as it did not interfere with their rule. The film Amar Jyoti (1936) directed by V. shantaram was the earliest film to tackle the subject of women’s issues. Among the important actresses of the 1920s mention may be made of Patience Cooper, sinora Minelli, Sulochana, Sita Devi and Tara. Actors include D. Billimoria, Sampat, Himansu Rai, Charu Roy, V. Shantaram, Gohar and Raja Sandow.

18. A number of films of this period like V. Shantharam’s Duniya Na Mane, Aadmi and Padosi, Franz Osten’s Achut Kanya, Mehboob’s Watan, Ek hi Raasta and Aurat made a strong plea against social injustices. Veteran historical film-maker Sohrab Modi played a remarkable role in shaping the Indian films by enriching their style and presentation. Prabaht fims Sairandhri by V.Shantharam was processed and printed in Germany in 1933, became India’s first colour film. However the first indigenously made colour film was Ardarshir Irani’s Kisan Kanya (1937) directed by Gidwani. Prem Sagar (1939) produced and directed by K. Subrahmanyam was the first Hindi film to be made in South India.

19. India’s first dream girl, Devika Rani began her career in 1930’s, starring in movies such as Kara and A Throw of Dice. Other renowned female leads were Durga Khote, Nadia, Jamuna, Padma Devi, and Kanan Devi. Important male leads of the 1930s were Prithviraj Kapoor, K.L Saigal, Asok Kumar and P.C. Barua.

20. Devika Rani

21. The 1940s was a tumultuous decade; the first half was ravaged by the second world war and the second half saw the drastic political changes all over the world. The 40’s witnessed the production of several memorable films. V.Shantaram came out with Dr. Kotnis Ki Amarkahani, Padosi, Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Pinjara, Chaani, Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje, Geet Gaya Patharon Ne.

22. Ranjit’s Achhoot, Mehboob’s Aurat and Roti (the original version of Mother India), Chetan Anand’s Neecha Nagar, Abbas’ Dharti Ke Lal, Sohrab Modi’s Sikander, Pukar, and Ek din Ka Sultan S. Nazir’s Laila Magnu Kidar Sharma’s Chandralekha Vijay bhatt’s Bharat Nilap Rajkamal Kalamandir’s Shakuntala S. Mukherjee’s Kismat Santoshi’s Shehnai etc

23. More than 100 Hindi films were released in 1947, the year of India’s independence. In 1948 the famous modern dancer Uday Shanker made his only film Kalpana which was woven entirely in dance numbers. In 1949, Western India Theatre’s Ajit was the first picture to be photographed in India on Kodachrome 16mm film and then blown up in USA.