FilmIndia (Dec 1937 - Apr 1938)

STUDIO CLOSE-UPS BOMBAY. Sagar Movietone: "300 Days & After", a comedy produced by Sagar Movietone has been running well at the West End Cinema. Incidentally the picture is one of the best produced by the company in their career of film production. At the studio, Director Virendra Desai is busy with his "Gramaphone Singer" and another subject called the "Postman" is also under shooting. By the time this is in print, Director Luhar's "Dynamite" will be released at the Imperial Cinema. Harindranath Chattopadhyaya is taking up "Kabirdas" for the international market which will be produced in Hindi and English. Two more Tamil pictures will be going into production next month and altogether the programme of Sagar Studios for 1938 seems to be very ambitious. Imperial Film Co : Director Hafisji's "Prisoner's Wife" which was released at the Imperial Cinema, was not, unfortunately, well received owing to poor publicity. Immediately in its wake, "Search Light" produced by Homi Master, was released at the Imperial Cinema and met with disaster. "Vasant Bengali" is reported to have run well at certain centres. Sometime by the end of this month "Mother India", a co lour picture will be completed by Mr. Gunjal. "Actress" and "Why", two black and white pictures, featuring the famous star Padmadevi will have been completed by the time this issue is in your hand. Owing to a number of pictures being unreleased the Studio executives have restricted their activities for the present and will not take up a new subject for a couple of months to come. Ranjit Film Co : Director Erza Mir's "Rickshawalla" is due to be released in Bombay sometime in the month of May. The picture was released in the Northern Circuit and is reported to have run well at certain places. At the studios Director Jayant Desai is shooting "Prithvi Putra" with Madhuri and E. Billimoria in the lead. They expect to complete the picture by the end of April. Director Chaturbhuj Doshi is concentrating all his attention on "Gorakh-Aya", a costume picture with an ancient theme. It features Rajkumari, Mazhar, with Trilok Kapur and Kalyani in the supporting cast. Mr. Chandulal Shah is taking up an ambitious subject in "Achhut" or "The Untouchable" for Miss Gohar. The picture is to be produced in three languages namely, Hindi, Gujrathi and Eng ine notes given under this section are not necessarily our views though the language is ours. Studio close-ups are prepared from the reports received from the Studios to which are added the whispers in the Studio corners. These reports, are therefore, expectations entertained by the producers and the people working in the Studios, and Heed not be the source of guidance for bookings: lish. The . English scenario of the story is reported to have been sent to Hollywood for dialogues and actions, at a prohibitive cost. Mr. Shah's ambitions seem to sore high during this year as he has managed to secure the services of Mr. Vishnupant' Pagnis, the Prabhat star in "Tukaram" for featuring in "Sant Tulsidas" in Marathi 'and Hindi. As time goes by, some more important names will be secured by the Ranjit people and altogether the 1938-39 programme of the company will not only be ambitious but also be very expensive. "Bajigar" directed by Vyas ia lying ready for release. Bombay Talkies: "Nirmala" a social story with a thought provoking theme has been released at the Roxy Tai kies in Bombay, to a crowded audience. The picture is being well appreciated and is likely to run for a number of weeks here. The next subject which is to be taken in hand at the studios almost immediately is also a social subject with a theme which is till now being kept a secret. 53