SOCIAL-ART FILMMAKER..'CHITRAPATI' V. SHANTARAM!

Today is 28th Death Anniversary of Actor, Director & Producer.. Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre..known as V. Shantaram! He contributed a lot in Cinema...with his meaningful, artistic & social films with message.!

Rare photo of  'Savakari Pash' (1925)..(from left)  

Gulababai, Zunjararao Pawar and V.Shantaram!

Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre started his career in 1920s with the help of great filmmaker Baburao Painter and worked in his 'Maharashtra Film Co.' at Kolhapur! There he also acted in few silent films directed by Paintersaheb! Pioneering Social genre 'Savakari Pash' (1925) was among those films!

Important scene of first Marathi talkie 'Ayodhyecha Raja' (1932)

In 1927 he became director V.Shantaram with historical film 'Netaji Palkar'. Then he with V.Damale, K. Dhaibar, S. Fattelal 
& S.B.Kulkarni founded 'Prabhat Film Company' in Kolhapur! And in 1932 they made first Marathi talkie 'Ayodhyecha Raja'!

Keshavrao Date & Gajanan Jahagirdar in 'Shejari' (1941).

Like subject..technically also filmmaker V. Shantaram's cinematic excellence highly admired! Extreme close up of eye in 'Amrit Manthan' (1934) was one of the important example of it! He used Film Medium as instrument for social reform..'Prabhat's great trilogy 'Kunkoo' (1937), 'Manoos' (1939) & 'Shejari' (1941)..proved it!

In 1942 V. Shantaram left 'Prabhat Film Co.'..and he formed his 'Rajkamal Kala Mandir' in Mumbai! There 
he started making films independently with classic 'Shakuntala' (1943).

After that great 'Dr. Kotnis ki Amar Kahani' (1946) and 'Do Aankhe Barah Hath' (1957) gave him big admiration!..And films like 'Amar Bhoopali (1951) and 'Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje' (1955) showed his artistic command!

Photo on right: 

Gopi Krishna and Sandhya in film 'Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje's (1955) song.. 

"Nain ko nain nahi milao.."

Homage to him.!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
 ['Chitrasrushti']