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SV Kulkani. They made socially relevant contribution to cinema has been neglected—
films in Hindi and Marathi. Shantaram Saraswati Devi was the first female music
broke away to set up his Rajkamal composer; Very little is known about Fatma
Kalamandir in Mumbai, a part of which still Begum, the first female film director, who
stands. was also writer, actress and producer.
In Madras (now Chennai), MN Swamy and She launched her own production house,
BN Reddy’s Vauhini Studios. SS Vasan’s Fatma Films, which later became Victoria-
Gemini Studios and AV Meiyappan’s AVM Fatma Films, and directed her first film,
Studios had captured the Southern market Bulbul-e-Paristan, in 1926. Then there was
and later moved to Hindi cinema too. the formidable Jaddanbai, who started as a
JBH Wadia and his brother Homi under singer, and went on to compose music, set
their banner Wadia Movietone, made a up her own production company, Sangeet
whole lot of mythological and stunt films, Films and launched the career of her
many of them starring ‘Fearless’ Nadia. daughter, Nargis.
Working with them in some of their hits To Sohrab Modi goes the credit for making
was Babubhai Mistry, who could be called some of the finest and most extravagant
India’s first special effects wizard. historical and costume dramas. He made
India’s first Technicolour film, Jhansi Ki
Rani (1953), though the first colour film
was Mehboob Khan’s Aan (1952), which
was shot in Gevacolour and blown up to
Technicolour. The first indigenously made
colour film, however, was, directed by Moti
B. Gidwani and produced by Ardeshir
Irani, based on a novel by Saadat Hasan
Manto (whose experiences in the world
of films have been documented in many
Chandulal Shah founded Ranjit Studios essays and stories).
(it remains in dilapidated state, housing There are of course, many more names,
a rabbit warren of offices) and Ranjit all having contributed to the huge movie
Movietone, partnering with Gohar industry in India. What Jubilee got right
Mamajiwala, to make several successful was the passion of these pioneers—they
films in the silent as well as talkie eras. were dreamers, creators, nurturers of talent
Shah—the original Man In White Suits-- first, businessmen later. They envisaged
was also a charismatic industry leader—the movies as entertainment, but also a means
silver jubilee (1939) and golden jubilee of social progress. Except for a few, whose
of the Indian film Industry (1963) were work has been documented in books and
celebrated under his guidance. He was the research papers, they have been lost to time,
first president of the Film Federation of but without these magnificent men with
India. After a string of flops and gambling their drive and ambition laying down the
losses, Shah also died forgotten and in foundation of cinema, India would not have
impoverished condition. been the great centre of movie-making that
There were a few women too, whose it is today.
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