Prabhat Film Company
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Prabhat Film Company was formed in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India in late 1920s towards the end of silent films' era. It went on to become the most prestigious film company from Maharashtra in 1930s[citation needed], the first decade of Talkie Films in India. While several companies (Imperial Film Company, Krishna Cinetone, East India Film Company, Madan Theatre, Ranjit, Wadia) were very active during the advent of takie films in India, Prabhat, along with New Theatres of Kolkata, stood out for excellence and social awareness.
[edit] History
Baburao Painter's Maharashtra Film Company, based in Kolhapur, had made a name for itself with its silent films in early 1920s. Firm friends Vishnupant G Damle and Fateh Lal (Damle Mama and Saheb Mama) were very good artists and held senior responsibility at the company.
Baburao Pendharkar became de facto head of operations because of Baburao Painter's distaste for monetary aspects. Pendharkar's cousin Shantaram Vanakudre (V. Shantaram) joined the company and became Baburao Painter's right-hand man.
But in 1927-28, the senior personnel became dissatisfied by Baburao Painter's increasingly lukewarm and erratic behaviour. Damle and Fateh Lal were thinking of starting their own company. V Shantaram and Keshavrao Dhaibar were also thinking of breaking away. Four of them joined hands, and with financier Sitaram Kulkarni as their fifth partner, started a new company on 1 June 1929. Baburao Pendharkar suggested the name Prabhat (meaning "Dawn") and all partners liked it.
Prabhat soon made a name for itself with silent films, most of them directed by the tireless V Shantaram. When India entered the era of talkies with Alam Ara in March 1931, Shantaram predicted that it was a transient phase, and the silent films were the real artistic area. But soon the company realized its mistake, and joined the talkie era with Ayodhyecha Raja (The King of Ayodhya) in Marathi (1932), also made under the name Ayodhya Ka Raja in Hindi. The film is based on Raja Harishchandra's story.
In September 1933, the company moved to Pune because of its proximity to Mumbai. Then followed a golden era of 8-10 years during which the company made some landmark films: Amrit Manthan (1934), Sant Tukaram (1936), Kunku (or Duniya Na Maane in Hindi) in 1937, Manoos (1939), Shejari (or Padosi) in 1941. After Shantaram split away in 1942, and Damle Mama fell ill, the company fell on hard times. Its last major film was Ram Shastri in 1944. The company's property had to be auctioned away in 1952.
Major figures associated with Prabhat are composers Govindrao Tembe, Keshavrao Bhole, Master Krishnarao, Vasant Desai; actresses Durga Khote, Shanta Apte, Shanta Hublikar, Vasanti, Jayashree Kamulkar; actors Bal Gandharva, Keshavrao Date, Shahu Modak.
Other Marathi film companies of note in 1930s include Saraswati Movietone, Shalini Movietone, Hans Pictures. Major film directors : Bhalji (Bhal G) Pendharkar, Master Vinayak. Major music directors : Annasaheb Mainkar, Dhamman Khan, Dada Chandekar.
Later, Anantrao Damle, V G Damle's son, bought back the company's film prints from Mudaliyar of Chennai, who said he was happy to return to Maharashtra its treasures. Damle's sons have followed up his good work and brought out some of Prabhat's vintage films on VCDs and songs from several Prabhat Films on audio CDs.
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