Playart Phototone

Last updated
Playart Phototone
Industry Film distribution, production
Headquarters,
Products Films
Owner Abdur Rashid Kardar

Playart Phototone (formally known as United Players Association) was a film studio established in 1929 by Abdur Rashid Kardar. [1]

Contents

History

In 1928, with no work left after their maiden venture, Kardar and Ismail sold their belongings to set up a studio and production company under the name of United Players Corporation, the foundation stone for the film industry in Lahore. After scouting for locations, they settled for their offices to be established at Ravi Road. Although, the dim-lit area presented with much difficulties after the studios were established. Shootings were only possible in the day-light but nevertheless the area had some very important landmarks like the Ravi Forest and the tombs of Mughal emperor Jahangir and his wife Nur Jahan. [1] It is reported that the team working at the studios would commute on tangas and even lost equipment once while travelling on the bumpy roads on the horse-drawn carriage. [1] However basic and crude their working conditions, Kardar believed in his work and in 1930 he produced the first film under the studio's banner. [2] With this film, Husn Ka Daku a.k.a. Mysterious Eagle, [3] Kardar made his first directorial début. He also cast himself as an actor in the male lead opposite Gulzar Begum with Ismail in a supporting role. The film featured an American actor, Iris Crawford, as well. The film had mild success at theatres but prominently established Lahore as a functioning film industry. Kardar vowed on not acting in any other film and instead focusing on direction. [1] Immediately afterwards the studio released the film Sarfarosh aka Brave Heart, with Gul Hamid playing the lead rold with more or less the same cast as in the previous film. This production proved equally appealing but was able to stir noise about this industry in film production circles throughout India. Roop Lal Shori, a resident of Brandreth Road in Lahore, upon hearing of a new film industry in the city, returned to his hometown. He later produced Kismet Ki Hera Pheri (Life After Death) which would firmly ground the new industry's reputation as being in line with other film industries of the time. [1]

Filmography

See also

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Husn Ka Daku is a 1929 action adventure silent film directed by A. R. Kardar. The film, also called Mysterious Eagle was made by Kardar's Playart Phototone. Kardar acted in this, his first production from Playart Phototone. Playart Phototone was a progression from United Player's Corporation, which he had set up in 1928. Husn Ka Daku was Kardar's debut directorial venture. It set the foundations for the Lahore film industry in the Bhati Gate area of Lahore. The director of photography was D. D. Dabke.

Sarfarosh also called Brave Hearts was a 1930 Indian silent film directed by A. R. Kardar. Made as action adventure film based on the RKO dramas, it was produced by Kardar's production company, "Playart Phototone". According to Hameeduddin Mahmood, the films had double titles up until the mid-1930s; the Hindi/Urdu name for the home market (India), and the English name for the overseas market. Kardar gave up acting after having starred in Husn Ka Daku (1929) and cast Gul Hamid in the main role. He also gave Rafiqe Ghaznavi a break as an actor in the film. Ghaznavi went on to become a famous music director.

Safdar Jung is a 1930 action costume silent film directed by A. R. Kardar. The film was the third to be produced by Kardar's United Players Pictures, following Husn Ka Daku (1929) and Sarfarosh (1930).

Farebi Shahzada also called The Shepherd, is a 1931 Indian cinema's action silent film directed by A. R. Kardar. The film was also known as Gudaria Sultan or The Shepherd King and was the fourth of seven films Kardar produced under Kardar's United Players Corporation, Lahore.

Khooni Katar also called Golden Dagger is a 1931 Indian cinema's action adventure silent film directed by A. R. Kardar. The film was also called Sunheri Khanjar and the fifth film to be produced by Kardar for his United Pictures Corporation. The film is famous for the debut of the actor-producer-director Nazir.

Farebi Daku also called Mysterious Bandit is a 1931 action silent film produced and directed by A. R. Kardar. Kardar set up his own production company "United Players Corporation" in 1928 and in quick succession produced and directed seven pictures, Husn Ka Daku (1929), Safdar Jung (1930), Sarfarosh (1930), Farebi Shahzada (1931), Khooni Katar (1931), Farebi Daku and The Wandering Dancer or Awara Raqasa. Awara Raqasa was the only film out of the seven produced by Kardar, which was directed by J. K. Nanda, who had received his direction and cinematography training in Germany.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Silent Era (1896–1931)". Cinema of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
  2. "Our Founders". Film and TV Guide India. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
  3. "Husn Ka Daku". Internet Movie Database . Retrieved 6 July 2008.