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Cineastes are
in for a treat! Beginning till November 18, avid viewers of ETV
Marathi will be served with an amazing fare of V Shantaram’s
most memorable Marathi films. These films will be telecast every
Saturday and Sunday at 7.30 pm. A feast of his best Marathi films
has been chosen for this film-fete. Of the 14 films to be aired
Manus (October6) and Chani (October 7) have alreday been telecast.
While the ones still to be screened are: Maya Machindra (October
13), Amar Bhoopali (October14), Chandrasena (October 20), Sant Tukaram
(October 21), Dharmatma (October 27), Kunku (October 28), Gopi Krishna
(November 3), Shejari (November 4), Jhunj (November 10), Lok Shahir
Ram Joshi (November 11), Sinhagad (November 17) and Pinzra (November
18). As part of the programme to commemorate V Shantaram’s
birth centenary, the film festival will acquaint the viewers with
"the Shantaram touch" -- that special feel which stamped
the film with his identity. Right from the film’s title till
the end there was something special about the man. Audiences and
film critics thrilled to his unique film titles, which set the mood
for the film to follow. Though he made films for the masses within
the mainstream cinema, his films were experimental and bold. Every
film of V Shantaram dealt with the social, economic and political
problems of a society struggling under colonial rule and then a
fledgling country trying to establish its place in the comity of
nations. During his time, V. Shantaram was at the forefront of technical
innovation. He was the first filmmaker to can a trolley shot for
Chandrasena (1929). He made the first Marathi talkie Ayodhyecha
Raja which was also the first bilingual film to be made in India
(Hindi and Marathi). He was the first Indian filmmaker to use a
telephoto lens to shoot the first close-up for Amrit Manthan (1934).
He took the bold step of making the first colour film Sairandhri
in 1935 which was printed in Germany. His technical innovations
did not stop after he left Prabhat. He was the first to use the
Technicolor process in India for Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje.
A blown up version
of the film in 70 mm and Technicolor with stereophonic sound was
made and released in 1986. The legacy and vision of V Shantaram
continues….
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