FilmIndia (1948)

M & T FILMS LTD. (Bombay) Backed by well-known financiers and industrial magnates Messrs. M & T Films Ltd-, arc making sound progress in all the three branches of the industry, namely, production, distribution and exhibition. They have already acquired the Hind Studios at Andheri and thoroughly renovated it. In the middle of April the company launched two productions simultaneously, the muhurt ceremony having been performed before a large gathering of tradesmen, stars, artistes and technicians. They have engaged Aspi Irani and Manibhai Vyas for directing the two pictures, one of which to be directed by Aspi is named "Delhi Durwaza", a historical written by R. S. Choudhari, and the other is named "Ghunghroo" which will be directed by Manibhai Vyas. It is a comedy written by Mulkraj Bakhri. A fine cast of artistes including Snehaprabha Pradhan, W&sti and Agha Jan is being selected for the pictures. The C. R. Productions also performed the muhurt of their maiden production "Phoolzadi" to be directed by Hari Singh at the M & T •Films' studio. FAMOUS PICTURES LTD. (Bombay) Their sixth production in the Cadell Road studios is taking quick shape under the leadership of producer D. D. Kashyap. Suraiya, Manorama, Yashodhara Katju, Gope, Gyani and Rehman make up the list of its stars and the picture is being directed by .0. P. Dutt as his first independent assignment Nargis Art Concern's "Romeo and Juliet" a Famous release, starring Nargis and Sapru and directed by Akhtar Hussain is now on the screen General Mohan Singh and Col. Dhillon of the I-N.A. paid a sur prise visit lately to the studios and watched the shooting of AllIndia Productions' "Pugree" produced by Arora. and starring Kamini Kaushal, Shashi Kala, Gope, Dixit and Wasti which is being directed by Anant Thakur. "Bapu ki Amar Kahani", a novel biographical short of the life of Mahatma Gandhi is now under production at the Famous Studios. Very shortly, Kalpana Pictures' maiden social, "Dhanyawad" will be released by the Famous Pictures. It is the story of a patriotic youth written by Rai Kinikar, for which dialogue and songs have been written by Ramakant Chowdhary. Its cast is lead by Hans? and consists of well-known artiste* like Jagirdar, Sajjan, Agha and I.alita Paw'ais It is directed by Jagirdar and photographed by Hardeep. THE SCREENS (Bombay) "Viehwedeep Bapu" is the title of the film dealing with the life of Mahatma Gandhi, which is being produced by The Screens, an enterprising firm of film distributors. It is a three-reel short in Hindi and covers almost all the important events of Gandhiji's life. Some of the scenes for the short were shot at Porbandar, Gandhiji's birth place in Kathiawar. It has been produced by Sri Tarachand Barjatya. proprietor of the Screens and directed by Dwarka Khosla. The songs arc composed by Nilkanth Tiwari and Bharat Vyas and sung by Mukesh, while the commentary, written by Nilkanth Tiwari is delivered by Raj Mehta. The film will shortly be released all over India. SHANTI PICTURES (Bombay) Director Ninu Mazumdar, who has also written the story for "Kuchh Xaya", Shanti Pictures' ambitious maiden social, and is in addition to directing the picture, also responsible for its musical "Stop! That does not behove you" says Nargis in a dignified tone to Raj Kapoor in "Aag", R. K. Films' maiden social produced and directed by Raj Kapoor. 69