FilmIndia (1940)

PICTURES IN MAKING BOMBAY TALKIES With Mr. and Mrs. Kishore Saliu in the lead "Punar Milan" the new social picture is fast nearing completion. The picture is expected to be ready by the end of November and should be on the screen during Christmas, if "Bandhan" will permit. "Bandhan" threatens to become a record success of Bombay Talkies. So well is the picture going on at all centres that the producers are expected to land in huge profits on this picture. In the first twelve weeks at the Roxy in Bombay the picture collected Rs. 1,00,898-15-0, which figure over that period constitutes a record for Bombay. Already people are seeing "Bandhan" over and over again, but Sir Douglas Young, the Chief Justice of the Punjab says that he met a man who had seen the picture twentyfour times. That is some success. RANJIT MOVIETONE At the studios, Jayant Desai; is making "Shadi" a successor to "Diwali." "Shadi" which stars Madhuri and Khurs'heed, is expected to be a sensational social play. Chaturbhuj Doshi calls his picture "66" — that is, by the way, the serial number of pictures produced by Ranjit. But whatever the number Chaturbhuj is busy shooting it as a social melodrama. Imagine Charlie directing a picture— but, by Jove, he is doing it and it has something to do with a chair, as he says. The Diwali sees some more pictures going into production with the debut of a young director Mr. Ratilal. This young man has been in training pretty long but now he is coming out with two pictures "Father and Son" and "Bhakta Surdas." And let it be known that this new director of Ranjit is the smartest one in the lot and it won't be long before he proves a serious competition to the old stagers. NAVYUG CHITRAPAT Khandekar's social story "Amrit" has been completed in the indoor sets by Mr. Winayak. And now the production unit "'ill go to Goa for the outdoor shooting along with another social comedy called. "Chimanrao" in which the title role is played by Mr. Damuanna Malvankar. "Amrit" features Baburao Pendharkar Meenaxi and Lalita Powar. NATIONAL STUDIOS "Sanskar" the second social picture of National has been released at the Pathe, for the Divali holidays. Backed up by National's splendid trade name, the picture which is directed by Mr. Virendra Desai, is drawing crowds at the cinema. The studios at Tardeo are busy with several other pictures. Director A. R. Kardar has finally completed his social melodrama "Pooja" starring Sardar Akhtar and Sitara while Director Mehboob is half way through his "Man" another successor to "Woman." Director Virendra Desai is busy with "Radhika" a costume phantasy starring Miss Nalini Jaywant, a new comer to the screen, while Director Ramchandra Thakur has begun shooting "Kasoti" another social picture with Rose in the lead. Two new directors, Messrs. Lalit Chandra and Chimankant are shoe ting a social melodrama called "Asra" and they are well on way with their work. WADIA MOVIETONE The news of the day is "Raj Nartaki" the picture which Wadia Movietone is producing in English, Hindi and Bengali. They are progressing rapidly every day and will be able to release the Hindi version at the Royal Opera House on the 21st December. "Raj Nartaki" is expected to become one of our best costume pictures of the season. "Manthan" a classic romance is also on the sets under director Ramjibhai. The name of the director doesn't sound very thrilling, but the picture is with Radha Rani looking more seductive than ever. Few girls can dance as Radha Rani does with her alluring figure Lalita Pawar in "Nirali Duniya" at Imperial Cinema. and one hopes to see one of her classic dances in this picture. SARASWATI CINETONE "Devyani" was well received by lovers of mythology. The singing of Padma Shaligram proved very popular. At the studios in Poona, Dadasaheb Torney is busy with "Narada's Wedding" another mythological story. Still another picture called "Bridegroom" a social comedy is in the paper-work stage but will go into shooting very shortly. PRABHAT FILM CO. "Padosi" is coming to the screen on the 7th December in Bombay <6