Visionary - V. Shantaram Options

[swarapriya]

Jalti Nishani (1932 - Hindi) & Agnikankan (1932 - Marathi)

This film was directed by Shantaram. It was simultaneously made in Hindi as “Jalti Nishan” and in Marathi as “Agnikankan”. It also had an English title, “Branded Oath”.

The Marathi version of this film in video format is available. But the Hindi version is not.

The movie was a costume drama with action, adventure and sword play. It told the story of a king who was killed by his own commander through treachery. His wife escapes with her son and brings him up in secret. The film chronicles the young prince’s escapades by disposing off the evil commander and reclaiming the throne.

Gajanan Jagirdar started his acting career with the Hindi version of the film. He was only 25 years but played the role of a 75-year old in the film. It was originally was to be played by D.D. Mane. But Mane’s Hindi diction was iffy, so Jagirdar stepped in.

By now Shantaram established himself as a director whose movies contain large sets and classical décor. This film was no exception. The film also had more sophisticated lighting compared to his previous efforts.

The movie was released to fabulous reviews and went onto become a huge success. A Bengali magazine wrote that this film is a work that is meant to be studied by those who want to enter into the film industry.

Debaki Bose, a renowned Bengali director, told Shantaram that he has seen the movie about a dozen times to study every shot closely. He was so inspired by some of the techniques Shantaram employed that he was to use a fair share of them in his upcoming movie. Bose and Shantaram became very close friends and remained so for many years.

See in the attached picture below Shantaram engrossed reading a book during shooting break.

Details of songs from both versions follow starting in the next post…

[swarapriya]

Jalti Nishani (1932 - Hindi)

Neither the movie version nor the songs from this film were available for me to share. There are 15 songs in the film. They are listed in the table below. I am requesting fellow Forum members to share them with rest of us if they have any. Thank you.

[swarapriya]

Agnikankan (1932 - Marathi)

I am uploading all songs here at a lower bit rate because of the poor quality of the audio. Here are songs in the first post…

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Agnikankan (1932 - Marathi)"...

Here are the rest of the songs from this film...

[Nandu]

I had seen a few films on Door Darshan earlier. Great Director.

[swarapriya]

I had seen a few films on Door Darshan earlier. Great Director.

Great indeed! Cheers.

[swarapriya]

Maya Machhindra (1932 - Hindi & Marathi)

This movie was directed by Shantaram. It was made simultaneously in Hindi and Marathi with the same name. Its English name was “Illusion”.

The Marathi version of this film in video format is available. But the Hindi version is not.

This movie dealt with the story of a man-hating women kingdom and the illusions of life as told through a relationship between a guru and his disciple. To disciple, it appears as if his guru married the queen of the kingdom and abandoned his commitment to celibacy. When the disciple investigated this it slowly dawned upon him that the entire experience was simply an illusion.

The subject material of the story called for special effects. Indeed, these were the highlights of this fantasy film. This in part contributed to the success of both versions of the film. To match special effects, the movie also boasted spectacular sets. That proved to be an additional attraction to the cine-goers.

Shantaram successfully experimented optical superimposition in this film where in one instance out of the sword animated sparks came out. In another scene the head of a beheaded person returns to the body and is attached again. Dance sequences were also staged in a grand scale; especially “Vasantotsav”. There was also an elaborate fireworks display picturized that exemplified the cheerful mood of the festivities.

The movie was the first one to release its songs on records, a new technology introduced a couple of years ago but filmmakers shied away until this film. Prabhat Films Company was able to make additional money off these records also as the songs of the film became very popular.

A note about the music director of this film, Govindrao Tembe. As a young man he was fond of harmonium music. He self-taught how to play that instrument. This led him to learn to sing and move in the circles who were familiar with singing and playing instruments. He composed music for Hindi and Marathi films. He wrote lyrics. He also sang them. He was the first one to give music to the first Marathi talkie, “Ayodhyecha Raja” released in this very same year, 1932. In the movie world he worked as an actor, director, editor, producer, singer, and writer. He is now considered to be one of the greatest harmonium players and talented persons.

The songs start in the next post…

[swarapriya]

Maya Machhindra (1932 - Hindi)

The Hindi version of this film in video format is not available. Except for one song I do not have any further information about the rest of the songs. I am requesting fellow Forum members to share any songs they may have. Thank you.

Here is the only song and a couple of instrumentals I have…

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Mar 17 2019, 06:38 PM

[swarapriya]

Maya Machhindra (1932 - Marathi)

I am uploading all songs from this Marathi film in three back-to-back posts. Here are the songs starting in this post…

[swarapriya]

Continuing Songs from "Maya Machhindra (1932 - Marathi)"...

Here are more songs from this film...

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Maya Machhindra (1932 - Marathi)"...

Here are the rest of the songs from this film...

[swarapriya]

Kavyasrushti (1933) - Marathi

This was a short Marathi film directed by Shantaram. I do not have any details of the film that I can share with you. No copies of this film in video format are available. I am not even sure whether there were any songs in the film. If so, if anyone of the members have the information about them, I am requesting them to share with rest of us. Thank you.

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Mar 24 2019, 07:38 PM

[swarapriya]

Sairandhri (1933 - Hindi & Marathi)

This film was directed by Shantaram. It was a bilingual made in Hindi as well as Marathi. The prints of this film, both in Hindi as well as Marathi, were apparently destroyed in a fire. None of the songs are available in either language.

The story of this film was taken from the Indian epic Mahabharat. Pandavas are to undergo 13 years in exile and out of it, the last year in incognito. After completing the first 12 years, they spend in disguises the last year in the service of King Virat. Keechak, brother-in-law of King Virat, who was a great warrior, protects Virat’s kingdom from enemies. Draupadi under the name of Sairandhri works as a maid to the queen, Sudeshna. One day Keechak comes to visit his sister and immediately attracted to the beauty of Sairandhri. He persuades his sister Sudeshna to send the maid to his palace. He threatens her that there will be dire consequences if she does not oblige his demand. Sairandhri is forced to go to Keechak, but her husband Bheema disguised as Sairandhri enters the scene and kills Keechak.

This was the first color film made in India. It was shot at the Prabhat Studios. It was then sent for processing to the UFA Studio in Germany. Later Shantaram traveled there to talk to them (look at the attached picture). When the prints arrived the final result was less than satisfactory. The partners of Prabhat felt bad about how the color processing turned out. They felt that in color people in the film appeared badly. Also, ornaments they were wearing came out as tasteless. Greatly disappointed, instead of releasing the film for exhibition, the partners decided to take a huge loss and “can” the color film. Later a black and white version was released.

The songs from the film were also pressed in Germany on gramophone records from the original soundtrack. This was another first for Prabhat Films.

When the movie was released it proved to be a flop.

A description of the songs start in the next post…

[swarapriya]

Sairandhri (1933 - Hindi)

Neither video nor songs of this film are available. A partial list of the songs is given in the table below. I am requesting members to share if they have any of these or other songs from this film. Thank you.

[swarapriya]

Sairandhri (1933 - Marathi)

I have no information about the songs that I can share with you from this movie. Requesting members to share any songs they may have. Thanks.