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Published: 27 May 2021

Last Updated: 27 May 2021

New and improved, now with hyphen! Filmfare issue thanks to Dr Chandrashekhar Rao.

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Published: 26 May 2021

Last Updated: 26 May 2021

I had never seen anything like this in my whole life. This and hundreds of other documents were preserved by the family of Master Ebrahim. I have selected a few for my book.

This is a letter of recommendation for Master Ebrahim from Chandulal Shah after his contract with them ran out. Within months, he was working for the newly opened All India Radio station in Bombay.

It is a historical marvel

Let us take it from the top. You see the note that Maharaja Jamsaheb of Nawanagar is a patron. You may have read about it, here is the proof! Next we have their famous logo, the telegraph phrase “Boxfilm” and the telephone number 60327. They announce (merely five years after the first talkie) that they are high-class sound picture producers. The address is merely Dadar, Bombay, no street name or building name. The letter is neatly typed with the date and document numbered, it begins formally.

Again, in a formal dry prose they tell us that he worked with them for about three years (typical contract length), knew how to play many instruments and worked diligently. After wising him success, Chandulal Shah signs it.

I had been dyeing to see at least one film contract from the 30s, thank you Iqbal Ajmeri for fulfilling my wish.

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Published: 25 May 2021

Last Updated: 25 May 2021

original name Vijay Patil passed away yesterday. He is the Laxman, Ram was Surendre Hendre, who unfortunately passed away soon after joining the joDee (in 1975). The information and the picture is from the Facebook page of MD Soni and a comment by Pavan Jha. Thanks both.

Around mid-70s I started ignoring new films and went from cinema to cinema in Bombay to see as many old movies I could find and took notes. My wife turned out to have similar tastes. So, in Shillong, we saw mostly old movies. We did see a few new ones from recommendation from our cousins in Gauhati. One such was Tarana! Film seemed to be a remake of Dulari (1949) and we liked all the songs mainly by Shailendra and Usha! Never heard her like this. We saw the film three times mainly for the songs. When a pirated tape of Tarana came, we bought it and wore it out. Even (Professor) Jaideep (Singh, Experimental Physics, MSU) liked it and kept singing Sultana, Sultana, Sultana, all day! We may have him on tape, I will try to locate.

Believe it not, this was the first ever Silver Jubilee film in Shillong. So, we had a quiz competition in Shillong to asses who knew more about Shillong than anybody else. There were questions about History, Geography, Politics, Economy  etc. of Shillong, but there was one, Which film is the first ever to have a Silver Jubilee in Shillong? Of course, I stood up, raised my hand and shouted the answer. I am not sure, but I think I won the contest.

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