CLASSIC FILM ON DANCE..'KALPANA'..70!

Poster of classic Indian film 'Kalpana' (1948) made by Uday Shankar!

Just came to know that restored classic Indian film 'Kalpana' screened at '24th Kolkata International Film Festival'! Decade back it was screened in 'IFFI'! This was the first film which entirely shot as a dance ballet by Uday Shankar. 1948 made this movie now completed 70 years! I saw it during my 'Film Appreciation Course' in 1989 at 'FTII'!

Uday Shankar & wife Amla Shankar in 'Kalpana' (1948).

Indian classical dancer Uday Shankar was best known for creating a fusion through adapting European theatrical techniques to Indian classical dance! 'Kalpana' was the only film he made! As title suggest this was a fantasy of performing artist. It's about a young dancer's dream of setting up a dance academy..reflection of his desire! 
He wrote, produced & directed this film. For this K. Ramnoth did cinematography and N. K. Gopal did editing. Apart from this Vishnudas Shirali composed the music!

Padmini & other artists in fantasy scene of film 'Kalpana' (1948).

Uday Shankar himself played lead role with wife Amla Shankar in this film 'Kalpana' (1948).. 
on his unique choreography! With them that time teenager South Indian dancer Padmini first time appeared on screen..And Marathi actress Usha Kiran made her film debut with this! Zohra Sehgal was a part of it's dancing troupe. And most notable thing was (big name of Indian cinema) Guru Dutt assisted with the sets and direction in it!

Usha Kiran in film 'Kalpana' (1948).

This film shot at famous 'Gemini Studios' over five years and inspired it's legendary South Indian filmmaker S. S. Vasan to make Tamil movie 'Chandralekha' (1948) which became landmark with it's large drum dance sequences!

Digital restoration of this classic 'Kalpana' was taken place in 2009 at National Film Archive of India' in collaboration with France base 'Thomson Foundation'! 
After that in 2010 this film restored by the 'World Cinema Foundation'. And Mumbai base 'Film Heritage Foundation' curated this movie in celluloid format and screened in 'KIFF'!

Tribute to this landmark film & it's creator!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
 ['Chitrasrushti']