Details

Published: 23 September 2017

Last Updated: 23 September 2017

We all talk about the influence of Parsi-Gujarati-Marathi theater on cinema. We have about a dozen books on theater listing the plays, year, writer, company, actors, some cases MDs. Of course, we have at least two silent filmography books and the HFGK for talkies. Why cannot somebody just compare the two and say more?

Well, Dr Narendra Shrimali 'Kamal'. Associate Professor, Faculty of Performing Arts, M S Univ of Baroda has done that and much more in his path-breaking doctoral thesis published as a book, Music of Theatre and Hindi Cinema (1900-1950) [A discographical study with particular reference to the theatre of western India]

He lists about 55 dramas used as a basis for the silents and 59 for the takies mostly in the first 5 years.

Now you know!

 Listen to Mujrim Kaun Khooni Kaun (1965)

Details

Published: 04 November 2017

Last Updated: 04 November 2017

Listen to this duet. The later one seems to be based on it.

Listen to 1937_Challenge_06_x_wo-hamse-chup-hain.mp3

Now you know!

Listen to Narsingh 683 Tunes

Details

Published: 29 August 2017

Last Updated: 04 September 2017

Special Effects

Trick photography was invented soon after photography itself was invented. Phalke was a known trickster. In his Lanka Dahan (1917) Anna Salunke played both Rama and Sita. They did not forget these things when talkies came. In Awara Shahzada (1932) Sahu Modak played a double role. Don't let anyone tell you that special effects were invented much later.

Now you know!

 Narsingh Collection 679