LOVE FOR HARMLESS ANIMALS ONLY!

Superstar Rajesh Khanna with elephants in hit film 'Hathi Mere Sathi' (1971).

Recent incidence of killing tigress by hunter..recollected few notable films related to such acts and wildlife from the history of cinema!..
From Hollywood classic 'Hatari' to Shashi Kapoor, Dharmendra starrer Bollywood movies!

Hollywood actor John Wayne & others in poster of classic film 'Hatari' (1962).

John Wayne, Michele Girardon & Howard Hawks in shooting of 'Hatari' (1962)

In 1955 James Algar made a documentary.. 
'The African Lion' which won award in '6th Berlin International Film Festival'. After that in 1962 'Westerns' famous American filmmaker Howard Hawks made an excellent feature film 'Hatari' to show adventure of catchers of animals (for Zoo) in Africa on the backdrop of wildlife there! 

Famous actor in this genre..John Wayne was in the lead of 'Hatari's (1962) catchers group which includes actors..safari veteran Bruce Cabot, Red Buttons, Hurdy Kruger, Mexican fighter Valentin de Vargas & French actress Michele Girardon! Their methods (with different actions) to chase the wild animals were acted and cinematographed (by Russell Harlan) superbly! This film became the landmark in such genre and for observing the living of wild animals! 

Rajesh Khanna & 'Hathi Mere Sathi's

film producer Chinnappa Thevar!

Different from above film..Hungarian-American filmmaker Andrew Marton made film 'Clarence, 
the Cross-Eyed Lion' (1965) in which struggle of Animal doctors to protect the wildlife of Africa showed!

Our Indian cinema used this subject with popular genre! Eminent South Indian Film Producer who was famous for making films with animals..Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar's three movies (on his own stories) are notable in this! First was 'Hathi Mere Sathi' (1971) directed by his brother M. A. Thirumugam! Screenplay of this wrote by Salim-Javed..And that time superstar Rajesh Khanna acted in it with lot of animals, but mainly his emotional bond with (trained) elephants like Ramu Hathi..touched the hearts! This film was remade in Tamil as 'Nalla Neram' in which M. G. Ramchandran was in the lead role! 

Rakhi, Shashi Kapoor & Tiger/Lion in film 'Jaanwar aur Insaan' (1972)

After that Chinnappa Thevar produced second Hindi film (with wildlife) 'Jaanwar aur Insaan' (1972) which was directed by Tapi Chanakya! In this protagonist's attempts 
to entrap and kill the man-eater tiger showed. Shashi Kapoor played this role dynamically! 
In this Master Alankar also acted nicely with wild animals! This film also remade in Tamil as 'Thaai Sollai Thattadhe' with MGR only! 

Dharmendra fighting with Lion in film 'Maa' (1976).

Then Chinnappa Thevar's third Hindi film was 'Maa' (1976) which was directed by M.A.Thirumugam. Hero of this film (like 'Hatari') showed trapping animals for Zoos & Circuses..And his mother cautions him against separating new-born animals from their mothers! 
But he trap baby elephant and then mother elephant follows him to rescue her baby! Dharmendra played main role dashingly in it! This film also remade in Tamil as 'Annai Or Aalayam' with Rajinikanth!

Last two films can be relate to current incidence! Such films created awareness about wildlife and animals living in forests! Emotions of wild animals can be consider; but when they become violent and attack on the human life..then some strict action also need to be taken! And human life should be protect from such animals like..recently happened about man-eater tiger! And why "animal lovers" only think about such animals (who harm) and not showing sympathy towards poor animals (who not harm) use for non-veg!..Think about this!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
  ['Chitrasrusht']