Dharmatma (1935 film)

Last updated

Dharmatma
Dharmatma 1935.jpg
Screen shot
Directed by V. Shantaram
Written byK. Narayan Kale
Produced by Prabhat Film Company
Starring Bal Gandharva
Chandra Mohan
Ratnaprabha
Vasanti
CinematographyKeshavrao Dhaiber
Music by Master Krishnarao
Production
company
Prabhat Film Company
Release date
1935
Running time
130 minutes
CountryIndia
Languages Marathi
Hindi
Dharmatma

Dharmatma (The Holy Soul) is a 1935 Indian social devotional biopic directed by V. Shantaram. The film was a bilingual made in Marathi and Hindi. This was the only devotional film directed by Shantaram, though he had made several mythological films. [1] The story and screenplay were by K. Narayan Kale and the music was composed by Master Krishnarao. [2] The cast included Bal Gandharva in his debut role and Chandra Mohan as the villain, [3] with Master Chhotu, K. Narayan Kale, Ratnaprabha, Vasanti and Hari Pandit. [4]

Contents

The film is about the "legendary" Marathi religious poet and scholar Sant Eknath (1533–99), [5] author of a variation of the Bhagavata Purana called Eknathi Bhagvata, numerous abhangs and the bharuda form of solo performances. [6] The story revolves around his teachings regarding social injustices concerning untouchability, equality and humanity. [7]

Plot

Eknath (Bal Gandharva) concentrates on giving charitable and caring help to people especially those of the untouchable caste. This goes in variance against the vindictive Mahant (Chandra Mohan) who opposes such practices. Things come to a head when at a prayer meeting, Eknath feeds the untouchables first, before the Brahmins, as would be the normal custom. Eknath does not differentiate between castes and eats at their house too. This enrages the Mahant and he has Eknath ex-communicated. Eknath's son Hari Pandit (Kale) has joined the people and the Mahant who oppose his father's practices. Eknath finally arrives at Kashi and defends his behaviour by reciting verses of his poems to Pradayananda Shastri.

Cast

Production

Sant Eknath was the "only male role" enacted by Bal Ghandharva, who was a Marathi stage "legend". [3] The film had a bigger budget allocated to it than Prabhat's Sant Tukaram (1936) made the following year. The original title Mahatma had to be changed due to the censors objection. Chandra Mohan's character was given a "nervous tic in one eye" to make him appear as an ordinary villain, and for expressionistic purposes Shantaram made use of "high-angle close-ups". [6] Dharmatma was one of the only four films made on caste system around that period. The others were Chandidas (1932), Chandidas (1934), and to a lesser extent Achhut Kanya (1936) which had a "contemporary setting".

Soundtrack

The music direction was by Master Krishnarao Phulambrikar, a classical musician who combined with another classicist Bal Gandharva in the film to create "a milestone in Indian cinema". [5] The lyrics were by Narottam Vyas. There were sixteen songs in the film and the singers were Bal Gandharva, Vasant Desai, Ratnaprabha, Vasanti and Master Chhotu. [8]

Songs

#TitleSinger
1"Aaj Bhaag Jaag Gaye Logo Hamare"Vasant Desai
2"Vharan Kamal Mein Prabhu Ke Maath Namaun Aaj"Bal Gandharva
3"Hai Boli Amrut Si Ma Ke Naam Ke Jaadu Se Sab"Ratnaprabha
4"Dhanya Dhanya Naaro Jaati"Bal Gandharva
5"Kaana Re Aa Zara Misri Maakhan Khaaye"Vasanti
6"Jan Pyare Sab Tumhe Ek Si Nazar Hai Din Nath Ki"Ratnaprabha
7"Kaise Bayan Karun Prabho Kya Kya Badhai Aapki"Ratnaprabha
8"Prabhu Sahare Ek Tumhi Ho Laaj Tumhare Haath Hai"Bal Gandharva
9"Prem Brij Bihari Prem Hai Pujari"Bal Gandharva
10"Rote Bure Na Hote"Master Chhotu
11"Narayan Nar Ke Rakhwar Kaun Bigaad Karega Tera"Vasanti
12"Sab Kehte Jisko Neecha"Bal Gandharva
13"Tan Ko Saaf Man Ko Saaf Kar Ke Hari Pyare"Bal Gandharva
14"Yadi Chaahi Bharat Ban Jaave Swarg Sukhon Ka"Bal Gandharva
15"Yeh Jag Ki Phulwari Prabhuji Nath"Bal Gandharva
16"Yeh Samta Barat Hamara Hai"Ratnaprabha

Related Research Articles

Marathi literature is the body of literature of Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the Indian state of Maharashtra and written in the Devanagari and Modi script.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bal Gandharva</span> Indian Marathi singer and stage actor

Narayan Shripad Rajhans, popularly known as Bal Gandharva, was a famous Marathi singer and stage actor. He was known for his roles as female characters in Marathi plays, since women were not allowed to act on stage during his time.

The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khyal Gharana in Indian classical music. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542–1605).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vitthal Ramji Shinde</span> Indian liberal reformer

Vitthal Ramji Shinde was a social and religious reformer in Maharashtra, India. He was prominent among the liberal thinkers and reformists in India, prior to its independence. He has been recognised as a social reformer and an activist fighting for greater equality in Indian society. He is particularly noted for opposing the practice of 'untouchability', and for championing support and education for 'untouchables', such as Dalits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prabhat Film Company</span> Indian film production company based in Kolhapur

Prabhat Film Company was an Indian film production company and film studios founded in 1929 by the noted film director V.Shantaram and his friends.

Bhaskar Raghunath Bakhale was a Hindustani classical vocalist, a composer, and a teacher.

<i>Kunku</i> 1937 film

Kunku is a 1937 Marathi classic social drama film directed by V. Shantaram, and based on the novel, Na Patnari Goshta by Narayan Hari Apte, who also wrote film's screenplay. The film was simultaneously shot and released in Hindi as Duniya Na Maane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandra Mohan (Hindi actor)</span> Indian Film Actor (1906 - 1949)

Chandra Mohan was an Indian actor, known for his work in Hindi cinema in the 1930s and 1940s. He became known for his villainous roles in a number of critical and commercial successes.

<i>Balgandharva</i> (film) 2011 Indian film

Balgandharva is a 2011 Indian Marathi-language biographical film on one of the Marathi singers and stage actors Narayan Shripad Rajhans, famously known as Bal Gandharva. The name was bestowed to Narayan by Lokmanya Tilak after listening to his public performance in Pune while he was very young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shantaram Athavale</span> Indian film director and author

Shantaram Govind Athavale was an Indian director of Marathi, Hindi and English language films, a lyricist, poet, and author. Part of the generation that emerged from the Prabhat Film Company in Pune in the 1930s, he made pioneering contributions to Marathi film.

<i>Amrit Manthan</i> (film) 1934 Indian film

Amrit Manthan is a 1934 Indian costume-drama film directed by V. Shantaram for his Prabhat Film Company. The film was produced simultaneously in Hindi and Marathi. The film starred Chandra Mohan, Nalini Tarkhad, Shanta Apte, G. R. Mane, Varde and Kelkar. The film was based on Narayan Hari Apte's novel Bhagyashree. The Hindi translation was done by Veer Mohammed Puri, who also wrote the lyrics for the film.

<i>Chandrasena</i> (1935 film) 1935 Indian film

Chandrasena is a 1935 Hindi/Marathi mythology drama film directed by V. Shantaram for his Prabhat Film Company. The film was the first Indian trilingual film to be made simultaneously in Hindi, Marathi. The cinematographer was K. Dhiaber and the story and dialogue were by Shivram Vashikar. The music direction was by Keshavrao Bhole, with lyrics written by K. Narayan Kale. The cast included Nalini Tarkhud, Sureshbabu Mane, Kelkar, Rajani, Shantabai and Azurie.

<i>Amar Jyoti</i> 1936 film

Amar Jyoti is a 1936 Hindi social, action adventure, drama film directed by V. Shantaram. Produced by Prabhat Film Company and cited as a "noteworthy" film along with Shantaram's earlier Amrit Manthan (1934), the film had actress Durga Khote performing one of her most "memorable" roles. K. Narayan Kale wrote the story with dialogues by Narottam Vyas. The music was composed by Master Krishnarao. The director of photography was V. Avadhoot, and the cast included Durga Khote, Chandra Mohan, Shanta Apte, Nandrekar, Vasanti and Narayan Kale.

<i>Padosi</i> 1941 Indian film

Shejari is also known as Padosi in Hindi version as. Padosi is a 1941 Indian social drama film directed by V. Shantaram. It was produced by Prabhat Film Company and the bilingual film in Marathi and Hindi was the last film Shantaram made for Prabhat before venturing to form his Rajkamal Kalamandir. The film is cited as one of the three social classics Shantaram made at Prabhat. The other two were Duniya Na Mane (1937) and Aadmi (1939). The story and dialogue were by Vishram Bedekar in the Marathi version, while the dialogues in the Hindi version were by Pandit Sudarshan, who also wrote the lyrics. The music director was Master Krishnarao. The famous character artist Radhakrishan made his acting debut in the film as a villain. The film starred Mazhar Khan, Gajanan Jagirdar, Anees Khatoon, Radha Kishan, Lajwanti, Sumitra, Gopal and Balak Ram.

Gaan Maharishi Pt. Krishnarao Shankar Pandit (1893–1989) was an Indian musician, considered by many as one of the leading vocalists of the Gwalior gharana. He authored several articles and 8 books on music and was the founder of Shankar Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, a music college based in Gwalior. The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan, in 1973, for his contributions to music. He was also a recipient of several other honors, including the 1959 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the 1980 Tansen Award of the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Ramdas Shantaram Kamat was an Indian musician. He worked in Sangeet Natak, Marathi theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krishnarao Phulambrikar</span> Indian musician (1898–1974)

Krishnaji Ganesh Phulambrikar (1898–1974), popularly known as Master Krishnarao, was a musical genius - an Indian vocalist, classical musician and composer of Hindustani music. He was credited with the creation of three Hindustani ragas and several bandishes. Phulambrikar, a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, was also the music composer of several movies, including Dharmatma, a 1935 Hindi film starring Bal Gandharva, a renowned Marathi singer and Padosi, a 1941 directorial venture of V. Shantaram. The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan, in 1971, for his contributions to music.

References

  1. Rachel Dwyer; Senior Lecturer in Indian Studies Rachel Dwyer (27 September 2006). Filming the Gods: Religion and Indian Cinema. Routledge. pp. 74–. ISBN   978-1-134-38070-1 . Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  2. "Dharmatma (1935)". gomolo.com. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 Ashok Raj (1 November 2009). Hero Vol.1. Hay House, Inc. pp. 45–. ISBN   978-93-81398-02-9 . Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  4. "Dharmatma (1935)". citwf.com. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 K. Moti Gokulsing; Wimal Dissanayake (17 April 2013). Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas. Routledge. pp. 126–. ISBN   978-1-136-77291-7 . Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  6. 1 2 Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen; Professor of Critical Studies Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. pp. 262–. ISBN   978-1-135-94318-9 . Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  7. "V/Cat- Dharmatma (1935)". dla.library.upenn.edu. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  8. "Dharmatma (1935)". Muvyz, Inc. Retrieved 12 February 2015.