FilmIndia (Jan-Jul 1943)

June 1943 FILMINDIA kar and Lila Desai has been completed in two versions by Director Vishram Bedekar. Great things are expected from this picture and we are sure that it is going to prove a feast for intellectuals in the country. NAVYUG CHITRAPAT LTD. (Poona) 'Pahili Manglagaur,' a social comedy, proved a tremendous success at the Central Talkies in Bombay. At the studios they have completed "Ladaike-Bad" featuring Snehaprabha Pradhan and Shahu Modak. This picture is expected to come on the screen very shortly. RAJA MOVIETONE (Bombay) Mazaq", a social story, is ready for release. 'Panchhi', another picture which Zahur Raja is directing himself, is well on way towards completion. The story has been written by Abid Gulrays and features Zahur Raja, Radha Rani and others. PURNIMA PRODUCTIONS (Bombay) Director Kishore Sahu's social story 'Raja' which is incidentally the maiden production of this company has been completed and censored. It is likely to be released at the Novelty Talkies very shortly. ROYAL FILM CIRCUIT (Bombay) Distributor V. R. Mehta is nowadays a very impatient person and very often he goes to the Majestic Talkies and wonders when 'Basant' will leave the screen. All this anxiety is because Distributor Mehta has got a marvellously spectacular mythological picture in 'Bhakta Vidur' which he wants to release and show to the people how beautifully Durga Khote has acted and Vishnupant Pagnis has sung. PRADEEP PICTURES (Bombay) Their maiden production 'Vakil Saheb' is being taken up by different distributors in the country. It is reported that the comedy element in the picture has appealed consi derably to the different distributors who are competing amongst themselves to secure the rights of the picture. Mrs. Kamalabai Manglorekar, the lady who is at the helm of the affairs is now busy perusing the script of 'Panna Dai' for her next production . DIN PICTURES (Bombay) Producer Fateh Din is now having a considerably less anxious time seeing that his picture 'Koshish' is fast nearing completion. It is being directed by Rafiq Rizvi and the theme is centred on the problem of Hindu-Muslim Unity in the country . In the cast we find Yakub, Trilok Kapoor and others and the picture is expected to go a long way towards meeting the demands of the theme. The next picture which Producer Fateh Din expects to produce is called 'Jhalak'. BARUA PRODUCTIONS (Calcutta) In India people are always interested more in other people's business than in their own. In keeping with this tradition rumours were spread that Producer-director Barua had retired from the motion picture industry. We are assured that this is not true. On the other hand he has started a new company called Barua Productions and his picture just announced is called 'Subeh-Shyam'. Four consecutive pictures of Barua Productions have been secured by Mr. Lahoriram Parasher of Swastik Film Distributors of Calcutta . MAHESHWARY PICTURES (Lahore) Reports come to us that 'Pagli'. their maiden production, has been completed and even Miss Aruna Devi who had come with a music party has left for Calcutta. It is reported that Aruna has not only given plenty of dances in the picture, but she has put in a lot of kick by supplying sophisication and dignity not divorced from sex and glamour. 'Pagli' is directed by Shankar Mehta and the producers expect it to be an outstanding success coming from the North . PRAJA PICTURES LTD. (Bombay) Director K. M. Multani, an old favourite with Indian audiences, has floated this company and has succeeded in selling a number of shares in Hyderabad and Gujarat. The other day we had the good fortune of meeting Mr. Multani and discussing with him his future programme and, as he went on divulging the same, we were surprised at the extent and imagination in which things are planned for the future. Sometime in the month of July, Producer-director Multani will start the actual shooting of his maiden production and he tells us that his first story is remarkable for its realism and romance. BATRA PRODUCTIONS (Lahore) Their maiden production 'Papi' is fast nearing completion under the direction of Majnu. It is a story built round the life of a sinner who is reported to have gone about the world spreading his vicious designs and poisoning society. in the cast we find Majnu himself and Madhuri from Bombay. The music of the picture has been done by Pandit Amarnath . PRAGATI PICTURES (Bangalore) One of the latest pictures coming out of this studio is 'Harishchandra' produced in Kanarese. We are told that it has become a remarkable motion picture document bringing to the screen the glory of the ancient times in all its realism and splendour, in the cast we find Subbiah Naidu. Nagendra Rao, Lakshmibai and B. S. Raja Iyengar. Evidently these are names that count in the Kanarese world because we are told that the picture has been drawing well at all centres wherever it was released. We expect to review this picture next month as a special trial is being arranged for us in Bombay. 83