FilmIndia (Jan-Jul 1943)

January 1943 FILMINDIA lonely moors surrounding the Prabhat Studios in Poona, when Shantaram would recount to me, with tears in his eyes, the grim and tragic story of his own hard training in film work. Beginning his life as an ordinary bell-boy in the Maharashtra Film Company of Kolhapur, every one expected him to end his career as the chief errand-boy of the studios. Precious little education had that bell-boy with only a nodding acquaintance of the English language. It was an uphill task for the boy with extreme poverty nursed as a family ghost for generations. His meagre monthly earnings of a few rupees helped the family expenses and Shantaram went without an afternoon lunch for years, for the simple reason that ho could not spare the six pies for even a cup of tea. All round him more fortunate people created new art every day. The struggling Maharashtra Film Company, guided by the genius of Baburao Painter, was fast making a big name in the film production field. Between the two tinkles of the office bell calling the faithful to attention, Shantaram decided to learn new knowledge primarily to fight grinding poverty. Holding the slate before the camera — his first direct job in motion picture making — Shantaram gradually advanced through the most grinding mill to become the first assistant to Mr. Baburao Painter, the producerdirector of the Maharashtra Film Company . This uphill journey was punctuated by innumerable obstacles as the film industry was then in a primitive state and every one had to learn by the method of trial and error. A poor boy had no resources for his own experiments, but he watched closely the trials of others and learned from their errors. It was one continuous grind of toil and tears on an empty stomach and even now when Shantaram recalls those times big beads of perspiration crop up on his now fortunate forehead Having learnt all he had to, he had to wait for a long time for an opportunity. Inevitable human rivalry, the cause of so many human miseries in this competitive age, withheld that opportunity from Shantaram for a long long time, till one day he broke the shackles and with faith as his only capital founded the Prabhat Film Company with a few colleagues as his partners. The rapid success of Prabhat is one of the most remarkable romances of the Indian film industry. The part Shantaram played in building this great institution will only be appreciated now after his departure, when his absence will be felt more than when he was a part and parcel of that great concern. Shantaram's remarkable genius in motion picture production had by now become the pride of the nation and the one envy of his competitors. His glorious struggle was crowned when the Government of India ap Believe It Or Not (The following letter is addressed to Editor Baburao Patel by Mr. Jayant Desai, senior-most Director of Ranjit Movietone. The letter is provoked by our recent editorial: "The Snake And The Snake Charmers" and provides interesting reading. — The Editor.) "My dear Baburao, I appreciate your courageous stand against the producers and the distributors in your latest editorial "The Snake And The Snake Charmers". But one thing I would like to suggest is that a bad review usually does more harm to the director of a picture than to the producer. When a picture fails the producer abuses the director even if the picture is a good one, but if it clicks at the box offices and even if it the reviews are bad, the producer would not give any credit to the director but would pat his own back. I consider you as the best critic and so I feel that you should treat the directors very sympathetically. After all directors are more in your line than the producers and the distributors who are getting rich on the talents of others. Your editorial is really a fine stand against the capitalists of our industry. If you can keep up the same spirit you will do a lot of good to everybody. Don't be afraid. I'll be the first person to buy your magazine at Rs . 5 per copy just as, at present, I am paying a rupee for it at the stalls. I don't want that you should be put to any financial loss and I don't think the producers and the distributors would stoop so low as to cause you a loss by stopping their advertisements. But my instinct tells me that you will be a superb critic — with dynamic language and constructive suggestions — when all the advertisements are stopped . "Well, I wish you even greater success in your career because we Director Jayant Desai, Ranjit's money-maker, who has given great hits like "Shadi", "Tulsidas" etc. want people who can stand and fight in this weak and capitalistic industry. Yours sincerely, JAYANT DESAI. 5