GOLDEN JUBILEE OF 'SHAKESPEARE WALLAH'!

Poster of film 'Shakespearewallah'.

Again saw 'Merchant Ivory Production's classic film 'Shakespeare Wallah' (1965) which completed fifty years!
 
It's about a travelling of Shakespearean theatre family with English actors to perform in our India! Inspired from the life of Kendal family & their 'Shakespeareana Company'..the story & screenplay of this film wrote by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala! Geoffrey Kendal himself acted with family members Laura Liddell, Jennifer Kendal & Felicity Kendal in it..with Madhur Jaffrey, Utpal Dutt & Shashi Kapoor!

Ismail Merchant, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala & James Ivory!

 Produced by Ismail Merchant and directed by James Ivory..this film cinematographed by Subrata Mitra & edited by Amit Bose!..And renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray composed the music of it!

Meaningful scene from film 'Shakespearewallah' (1965).

The focus of this film is on the struggle of theatre & it's devoted artists for survival in rising of cinema! On that backdrop I noticed it's important scene..in which arrival of film star in theatre catched the attraction of audience..which disturbed the artist on stage..and after the play he expressed the feeling in makeup room.."That's the victory of motion picture over theatre!" But in one scene theatre director said "Indian audience..are the most wonderful audience in the world!"..after the reactions on 'Romeo & Juliet' play! 

Close-ups of Shashi Kapoor & Felicity Kendal in 'Shakespearewallah'!

 Ray's genius cinematographer Subratada took the outdoor long shots & indoor artists close-ups in it very superbly...Especially beautiful Felicity Kendal & Shashi Kapoor's close-ups he took in the mirror!

Madhur Jaffrey in 'Shakespearewallah'!

Overall the combination of theatre & film culture in it is effective! Critically acclaimed this film's actress Madhur Jaffrey won award in '15th Berlin International Film Festival'!. This picture is still contemporary to think about the future of theatre!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]