Gujarati cinema or Gujarati film industry is one of the largest regional and vernacular film industry of Cinema of India, dating back to April 9, 1932, when the first Gujarati language film titled, Narsinh Mehta was released.[1][2] After flourishing through the 60s, 70 and 1980s, the industry saw a decline, in 2005 the Government even announced 100% tax exemption for Gujarati film [3]
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It all started in year 1932 when first Gujarati film "Narsinh Mehta" was released.It was directed by Nanubhai Vakil.The film starred Mohanlala, Marutirao, Master Manhar, and Miss Mehtab. It was of the `Saint film` genre and was on the life of the saint Narasinh Mehta . The film was matchless as it avoided any depiction of miracles. In 1935, another movie `Ghar Jamai` was released, directed by Homi Master. The film starred Heera, Jamna, Baby Nurjehan, Amoo, Alimiya, Jamshedji, and Gulam Rasool. The film featured a `resident son-in-law` (ghar jamai) and his escapades as well as his problematic attitude towards the freedom of women. It was a comedy oriented movie and was a major success in the industry.The Gujarati movies such as 'Kariyavar', directed by Chaturbhuj Doshi, Vadilona Vanke directed by Ramchandra Thakur, 'Gadano Bel' directed by Ratibhai Punatar and 'Leeludi Dharti',which was inspired by the novel of same name by Chunilal Madia,was directed by Vallabh Choksi. The problems of modernisation are the underlying concern of several films. The movies like 'Gadano Bel' had a strong realism and reformism.
A special mention should be made on the film “Guasundari” which was thrice made from 1927 to 1948. The film was such a success in its first appearance in 1927, that director Chandulal Shah remade it in 1934. The film was again remade in 1948 by Ratilal Hemchand Punater. In its last version Hindi films’ eternal Mother Nirupa Roy made her debut as its heroine. “Gunasundari” is the story of an Indian poor woman who is disliked by her husband for her moral stand. The woman finally lands in the street where she meets with a person who is just like her – a social outcast. The story ends here. The three versions of the film , however, have made some changes here and there to meet the demands of the time. In a filmdom which was theatrical and melodramatic and often shunned by the audience, “Akhand Saubhagyabati” , that starred Bollywood queen Asha Parekh, made a success in 1963. Asha also has immense contribution to Gujarati television serial making. Her TV production ’Jyoti’ was a household show for a long time.
In the year 1975 'Tanariri', directed by Chandrakant Sangani presents highlights the little known side of Akbar who is usually presented as a consistently benign ruler. The first cinemascope film of Gujarati cinema was 'Sonbai ni Chundadi', directed by Girish Manukant released in the year 1976. Besides these, 'Bhavni Bhavai' released in the year 1980 was directed by Ketan Mehta. It boasted of superlative performances, fine camerawork and won awards like - National Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, National Film Award for Best Art Direction for Meera Lakhia and another award at the Nantes festival in France. In 1992,' Hun Hunshi Hunshilal', directed by Sanjiv Shah was sought to be post-modern.
The scripts and stories dealt in the Gujarati films are intrinsically humane. They include relationship and family oriented subjects with human aspirations and deal with the Indian family culture. Thus, there can be no turning away from the essential humanity of these Gujarati cinema.
Many famous actors have worked in Gujarati film industry like Sanjeev Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Bindu, Asha Parekh, Kiran Kumar, Upendra Trivedi, Arvind Trivedi, Aruna Irani, Mallika Sarabhai, Asrani, Naresh Kanodia, Sneh Lata, Jayshree T. etc.
Actors like Sanjeev Kumar, Aruna Irani, Arvind Trivedi, Prachi Desai, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal, Deepshikha, Darshan Jariwala, Pooja Bhatt, Sharman Joshi, Nirupa Roy, Satish Shah, Dina Pathak, Ratna Pathak, Supriya Pathak, Tina Ambani, Parveen Babi, Dimple Kapadia, Ameesha Patel, Tulip Joshi, Ayesha Takia, Anang Desai, Deepika Chikhalia, Neelam Kothari, Upen Patel, Himesh Reshammiya, Shruti Seth, Farooq Shaikh, Manav Gohil etc. are well known personalities who have contributed to Hindi film industry popularly known as Bollywood.
Directors and producers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali,Jiten Purohit Vijay Bhatt, Nanabhai Bhatt, Manmohan Desai, Ketan Desai, Mehboob Khan, Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt, Vikram Bhatt, Chandra Barot,Nariman A. Irani, Sanjay Gadhvi, Indra Kumar, Dhirajlal Shah, Abbas-Mustan, Mehul Kumar, Vipul Shah, Rahul Dholakia are also inseparable part of Bollywood.
Alisha Chinai, Alka Yagnik, Manhar Udhas, Pankaj Udhas, Falguni Pathak,Himesh Reshammiya are well known singers of this industry.Kalyanji Anandji, Ismail Darbar and Jaikishan(famous pair of Shankar-Jaikishan who made many great compositions for R.K.Films) are known for their music.
Namitha, born as Namita Mukesh Vankawala, is very popular heroine in Kollywood or Tamil film industry.
Kalpen Modi,popularly known as Kal Penn is known name in Hollywood.Dev Patel is world famous name for his work in Slumdog Millionaire movie. Ben Kingsley ,a winner of Academy Award for Best Actor for his work in title the role of the film Gandhi (film), is also Gujarati origin.
From the year 1965 to 1990 can be considered as industry's golden era.
'Bhavni Bhavai' released in the year 1980 was directed by Ketan Mehta. It boasted of superlative performances, fine camerawork and won awards like - National Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, National Film Award for Best Art Direction for Meera Lakhia .
Recently "Little Zizou", a 2009 film in Hindi, Gujarati, and English, written and directed by Sooni Taraporevala won "Silver Lotus Award" or "Rajat Kamal" in 'National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare' category at 56th National Film Awards.
The state has also thrown up formidable acting talent of the calibre of late Sanjeev Kumar (his actual name was Haribhai Jariwala), Dina Pathak, Urmila Bhatt, Manoj Joshi, Paresh Rawal and Asha Parekh. Says Bhuta, “One of the main reasons why Upendra Trivedi, better known as the Dilip Kumar of the Gujarati film industry, has been relegated to relative anonymity on the national film scene is the fact that he was not able to adapt well to the Hindi film industry because of language handicap.” Given the scenario its not surprising that Dhollywood has little to show both in terms of the quantity and quality of films which have been produced in the 75 years of its existence. Compared to Bollywood which has been churning out movies at amazing speed with more than 10,000 films to its credit so far, a minuscule 762 Gujarati films have been made thus far. “For instance, while an average of 5,000 to 8,000 shots are taken for an 80 to 100 scene Hindi film, for a Gujarati film, a mere 500 to 800 shots are taken as the film maker can neither afford the cost of camera or the feet of raw stock required for such footage. Further, a Gujarati film is made in 16 mm as the producer cannot afford the 35 mm format,” he elaborates.
However, it now remains to be seen after The Gujarat government has decided to give 100 per cent tax exemption to the film industry in the state. It has also announced a Re one rise in the service charge per cinema ticket to encourage theatre owners to screen Gujarati films. whether the sops dished out by the state government will do any good to the Gujarati film industry, that is perhaps passing through its worst patch ever.
Perhaps its only then that 5t will be able to rise from serving pedestrian fare to cinemagoers to providing quality cinema. “There’s no dearth of brilliant regional novels which are churned out year after year. These can be made into films. Why should we have to depend on a Shyam Benegal to take the story of Operation Flood to the masses through his cine classic Manthan when it could so easily have been made by a Gujarati. And why should a Sanjay Leela Bhansali weave celluloid magic out of the vibrant beauty of Gujarat only for his Bollywood blockbuster Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam when he can so easily do that for regional cinema of the state as well?” ruminates Harshadbhai Shah, Chairman of GFDAC for the fifth successive year.
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Gujarati cinema