FilmIndia (1939)

FILMINDIA March 19 REX PICTURES: Mr. Keki Damania who is supervising this concern is now giving the finishing touches to "Secret Five", a mystery thriller. In the cast we find Vatsala Kumtekar, Jal Merchant and Maruti Pahelwan. The organization of this company is, it is reported, under the close co-operation of the Empire Talkie Distributors. The second picture to be taken in hand will be a comedy starring E. Billimoria, Ghory and Dixit, who were a little while ago with the Ran jit Movietone. WADIA MOVIETONE: "Jungle King" has been completed while "Vijay Kumar", and/ "Jai Swadesh" are well on way towards completion. MINERVA MOVIETONE: "Pukar" a costume picture of the times of the Moghuls has now been completed by Mr. Sohrab Mody. In the absence of authentic studio news from the studio we are not in a position to give any reliable information about the future programme. KRISHIN MOVIETONE: "Zamana" has been received rather too well wherever it was re-| leased in and out of Bombay. The Daryani Brothers are now busy preparing the paper work of the new social picture called "Hindusthan Hamara". ( PARAMOUNT FILM CO.: "Golden Gang" under the direction of Mr. Kikubhai Desai has been practically completed, while "Aflatoon Aurat" in the hands ot\< Nanubhai Vakil is being shot in the interiors. A Punjabi picture is being shot in keeping with the usual enterprise of Mr. Kikubhai Desai. POONA SARASWATI CINETONE: "It's True" is getting the final finishing touches and will come on the screen on the 2nd of March at the Central Cinema in Bombay. The picture has taken unusually long time but it could not be avoided as the theme undertaken involved plenty of research and study of detail. The anxiety of the producers to present an authentic atmosphere for this social story can well be imagined from the fact that scenes have been shot in distant outdoors as Benares and Allahabad. "Bhagwa Zenda" is being simultaneously shot in the studios under the direction of Nanasaheb Sarpotdar and this Marathi picture will come to the screen immediately in the wake of "It's True". PRABHAT FILM CO.: Rehearsals of the new social picture undertaken by Director Shantaram have almost been completed and the shooting will begin in the first week of March. Mrs. Shantabai Hublikar has been given the lead in this picture and Mr. Shantaram expects the picture to be another provocative entertainment with a sound theme and sensible instruction. KOLHAPUR HUNS PICTURES The stupendous success of "Brahmachari" has changed the fortunes of Huns Pictures. To add to this triumph has come "Devata" at the West End Talkies, and it is drawing tremendously big appreciative audiences. Unfortunately the picture happens to be in Marathi and the whole of India is robbed of the chance of seeing a beautiful theme portrayed on the screen in Hindi. It will be worthwhile for these producers to produce a Hindi version of "Devata" as we feel that it will run very well all over. Two pictures are under production at the studios; one is called "Brandy-chi-Batli" in Marathi and Hindi and the other is called "Sukhacha Shodh". An unique event took place the other day in Bombay when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel agreed to be 'shot' in "Brandi-chi-Batli". He has delivered a forcible oration on the advantages of prohibition and the evils of drinking. This lecture incidentally will form the basic theme of this social story. CALCUTTA NEW THEATRES: "Dushman" was released Bombay on the 24th simultan ously at the Krishna Cinema ai the Excelsior. At the st dios, "Bar Didi" in Hindi a) Bengali under the capable dire tion of Amar Mullick has at la been completed and is likely come on the screen immediate after "Dushman". "Snake Cha mer" is being steadily shot by IV Devaki Bose, and is expected to I \\ completed in the month of Apil Nawab is reported to have given J L wonderful performance in t| 1 Hindi version of this picture. "KB palkundala" under the directii of Phani Muzumdar is being sh in the interiors. FILM CORPORATION OF INDIA Not a bit taken back by the fa ure of "Asha", the studio has b gun the shooting of "Rise". Sev ral interior sequences have alrea been taken and in the cast * find Chhaya Devi, Devbala a: others, who are expected to ta the picture to success. EAST INDIA FILM CO.: This company has restarted work after a long rest. "Daksh yagna" in Telugu is being shot the interiors under the directi of Mr. Pulliah while another pi ture called "Vara Vikriyam" also being simultaneously taken the same director. RADHA FILM CO.: "Janaka Nandini" a picture ta Bengali has been released at t Rupabani where it is reported be drawing well. At the stud:ki>| "Nara-Narayan" is being directJB by Jyotish Banerjee. I SOUTH INDIA VAUHINI PICTURES (Madras): Director Reddy has almrt finished "Vandemataram" a socl i story with an elevating thenk Pre-release publicity of this pit 60