Google pays tribute to veteran Indian filmmaker V. Shantaram by Doodle
V.Shantaram, known as one of the pioneers of Indian cinema, was born on this day in 1901
Google on Saturday paid tribute to veteran Indian filmmaker V. Shantaram with a doodle on his 116th birthday.
Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre or शांताराम राजाराम वणकुद्रे (18 November 1901 – 30 October 1990), referred to as V. Shantaram or Shantaram Bapu, was a Marathi Indian filmmaker, film producer and actor. He is most known for films such as Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946), Amar Bhoopali (1951), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957), Navrang (1959), Duniya Na Mane (1937), Pinjra (1972), Chani, Iye Marathiche Nagari and Zunj.
He directed his first film Netaji Palkar, in 1927. In 1929, he founded the Prabhat Film Company along with Vishnupant Damle, K.R. Dhaiber, S. Fatelal and S.B. Kulkarni, which made Ayodhyecha Raja, the first Marathi language film in 1932 under his direction.[4] He left Prabhat co. in 1942 to form “Rajkamal Kalamandir” in Mumbai. In time, “Rajkamal” became one of the most sophisticated studios of the country.
He was praised by Charlie Chaplin for his Marathi film Manoos. Chaplin reportedly liked the film to a great extent.
Career
V. Shantaram started his film career doing odd jobs in Maharashtra Film Co. owned by Baburao Painter at Kolhapur. He went on to debut as an actor in the silent film Surekha Haran in 1921.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was conferred on him in 1985. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1992.
His autobiography Shantarama was published in Hindi and Marathi.
Personal life
Shantaram was born in Kolhapur to a Marathi Jain family and he married thrice. His first marriage was to Vimla, with whom he has three children, son Prabhat Kumar, daughters Saroj and Charusheela, mother of actor Sushant Ray a.k.a. Siddharth Ray.
Shantaram then married actress Jayashree (née Kamulkar), with whom he had three children – Marathi film director and producer Kiran,[15][16] actress Rajshree and Tejashree.
His third wife, actress Sandhya (née Vijaya Deshmukh), was his co-star in Do Aankhen Barah Haath as well as the heroine of his films such as Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje, Navrang, Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli and Sehra. Daughter Madhura (from his first marriage with Vimla) is married to Pandit Jasraj and is the mother of music director Shaarang Dev Pandit and TV presenter Durga Jasraj.[17]
He introduced Rajshree and Jeetendra in the 1964 film Geet Gaya Patharon Ne. He also introduced his second wife Sandhya’s niece Ranjana Deshmukh into the Marathi film industry through Chandanachi Choli Ang Ang Jaali, directed by Kiran Shantaram in 1975. Ranjana dominated the Marathi silver screen in the 70s and 80s.
Shantaram used to live at Panhala. His daughter Saroj has maintained his house and has converted it into a hotel named Valley View.
Awards & Recognition
Won
- 1955 – All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film – Jhanak Jhanak Payal Ba! Weaje
- 1955 – President’s Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi – Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje
- 1957 – President’s Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film – Do Aankhen Barah Haath
- 1957 – President’s Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi – Do Aankhen Barah Haath
- 1957: Filmfare Award for Best Director: Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje
- 1958: Berlin International Film Festival, OCIC Award: Do Aankhen Barah Haath
- 1958: Berlin International Film Festival, Silver Bear (Special Prize): Do Aankhen Barah Haath
- 1985: Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- 1992: Padma Vibhushan (Posthumous)
source (wikipedia)
