film (Indra Sabha) (1932)written by Syed Agha Hassan Amanat, [14 out of 71 songs]




  • Big-budget movie with over 69 songs. 'The Hindi Devmala [Hindi Pantheon] with the Islamic Ravaiyat' are crystallized into a plot structure revolving around a benevolent king whose moral fibre is tested by celestial powers as they cause an apsara (a fairy) to appear before him as a fallen woman begging for mercy.
    - Written by Sujit R. Varma

Director:

Writer:

(play)

Cast

Cast overview:
Nissar ...
(as Master Nissar)
Jehanara Kajjan

Abdul Rehman Kabuli ...
(as A.R. Kabuli)
Mukhtar Begum

 Directed By: V Shantaram

Details

 Music director Nagar Das Naik

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Language:


Company Credits

Production Co:

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Trivia

This film includes 71 songs. See more » 
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1932- Movies & Music

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Some movies like Ayodhya ka Raja and Indra Sabha, ... The following two songs were popular for sometime during 1932 . ... The movie had 18 songs of which Ashraf Indrasabha - songs

Madan Theatres gretest musical release starring Jahan Ara Kajjan and Master Nissar . What once used to be a Nautanki played on stage was brought on to the screen with similar dialogues , a mixture of urdu and hindi and folk lore songs and dances . The story originally was penned by the famous poet of Lucknow Agha Hassab Amanat in the mid nineteenth century .
Both Nissar and Kajjan had a good background of performing on the stage . They had no difficulty in playing the roles for the screen to which they were accustomed to .
This was the only movie till today to have the highest number of songs that is 71 .

 The movie became a huge success in the entire country and also in Hyderabad and Secunderabad .

Some of the most notable songs of the movie

[1]Toone to mora man har leeno morey baanke sawariya 

 Miss Kajjan
 
[2]Challa hamara yaad rakhna Miss Kajjan

 
[3]Kati raat mazey men saari , baith merey pehlu men pyari 

 Vilayat Husain
 
[4]Chaman ko yun mere saaqi ne maikhana bana diya

  Miss Kajjan
 
[5]Kab se khadi hun terey dwar , bula le mohe baalam rey - - do - -


[6]Dil de diya hai unko dekhen wo kya karenge 

- - chorus
 
[7]Shaadiye jalwaye gulfaam Mubarak howey 

- - chorus
Maaduri



This movie was credited with lovely classical songs composed by Pransukh Nayak .

 Four songs in the voice of Prof Vinayak Rao Patwardhan have been recorded .

 He also acted in the movie []. As music from the movies appeared on discs they were available with most collectors . Prof. Patwardhan himself was a notable classicalist .

[8]Kaise jaaun madhuri jiya maanat naahi - -
 
[9]sarita sugandh shobe vasant - -

 
[10]parmukh bani tu kamala mohe kaahe sharmaye -

 
[11]ahankaar karke


The following songs which were very popular with music lovers were not recorded .

[12]Hari bin koyi kaam na aaya - Prof Patwardhan

[13]Aarzoo ye hai ki - - - Chanda Bai

[14]Lagat kalejwa men chot - - - Chanda Bai



Indra Sabha (1932)-Bollywood Movie Reviews, Trailers, Wallpapers ...

  Genre: Mythological

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Indra Sabha (1932) - Latest Information about Indra Sabha (1932) review, Indra ... comedy clips, songs, story, movie synopsis, Indra Sabha (1932) release date, ...

Plot :

The story is based on the famous Phantasy of Indar Sabha It deals with the romance fo Sabzpari, the famous fairy of Indardev and her trials and triulations. . Indar is so much pleased with Sabzparis dancing and singing that he rewards her with Parimahal and a Signe tring. Neelampari, Lalpari and Pukhrajpari are displeased and they play upon the soft feelings of Laldev the right hand of Indar. Laldev is fond of Sabzpari but she always avoids him and he therefore sides with the other fairles and plans against Sabzpari. . Safeddev likes Sabzpari and he helps her during several trials. . One day Sabzpari along with her chief maid Bhairavi fies to the earth in the Urankharola they reach the country of Gulfam Sabzapari is attracted towards Gulfam Inspite of protestations of her maid she takes out her Signet ring and puts on the finger of Gulfam and pledges her troth. . The Darbar of Indardev has assembled but Subzpari is absent Indar frowns, and orders other fairies to Sing and Dance, but their crude technique does not satisfy Indar. He is very angry but at a crncial moment enters Sabzpari. Her classical dnacing and singing wins applause from the Sabha. Indaris pleased with her and rewards her. Somehow or other Laldev comes to khow that Sabzpari has parted with the ring and he reports the matter to Indar. Indardev calls Sabzpari and orders her to adorn herself with all the jewels presented to her by him. Sobzpari is worried and she requests Safeddev to get the ring from Gulfam. . Gulfams condition is very precarious. He has seen Sabzpari in a dream and has fallen in love with her. Forgettin his duties he raves like a madman he refuses to part with the ring and Safeddev enrries him away along with his companion Bhairo to Paristan. . Sabzpari gets the ring and Indar is highly Pleased. One day Sabzpari brings Gulfam to the Sabha disguised as a Musician Laldev unfolds this secret to Indardev, who beomes very angry and orders Sabzpari to be exiled to the Earth and Gulfam is ordered to be imprisoned. . Sabzpari wanders and wanders in search of Gulfam. Laldev again offers his love but she resents the over turns of Laldev. Laldev creates troubles for her. Safeddev helps her and releases Gulfam and the lovers are united Laldev now approaches Zargam the cousin brother of Gulfam who has usurped the throne of Gulfam. Laldev gives magic dice to Zargam and tells him to invite Gulfam to a game of Dice. . Zargam receives Gulfam very cordially and plays with him the game of Dice Gulfam loses everthing in Dice and along with Sabapari goes in Exile Safeddev is also punished by Indar for his help to Sabzpari. 


:

Big-budget adaptation of Sayed Aga Hasan Amanats Indrasabha written in 1853 for the Lucknow court of Nawab Wajid Ali shah. The often staged played had elaborated the Rahas Style, adapted from the Ras-Lila from of Hindi folk theatre and brought specific music and dance conventions into Urdu prose theatre. This new style gradually amalgamated, says Somnath Gupta (1969), The Hindi Devmala [Hindi Pantheon] with Islami Ravaiyat and crystallised into a plot structure revolving around a benevolent king whose moral fibre is tested by celestial powers as they cause an apsara (a fairy) to appear before him as a fallen woman begging for mercy. The language assimilated the Urdu ghazal, Hindustani, Brajbhasa and dialects usually spoken by women (zanani boli). As performed in the Parsee Theatre, this performance style also absorbed aspects of European opera, esp. its neo-classical visuals which already contained a measure of baroque Orientalism. The 70 songs, familiar from the stage productions, suggested an Indian equvalent of the Ziefield Follies. Madan also drew on his Italina connections (Savitri, 1923) and asked his Italian cinematographer to model the complex choral mise en scene on the venerable Italian epics. The film repeated the popular singing duo of Nissar and kajjan from Shririn Farhad (1931). Macroni later shot and probably directed the Tamil feature Vimochanam (1939). [Source: Encyclopeadia of Indian Cinema]

Indra Sabha (1925) - Movie Review, Story, Trailers, Videos, Photos ...

www.gomolo.com/indra-sabha-movie/19676
Check out the latest movie review, trailers, story, plot, music videos, songs, wallpapers, cast and crew details of Indra Sabha silent movie on Gomolo.com.

Indra Sabha (1925 - Silent)

M. Joshi

Main Cast:

Zubeida, Sultana...  more

Genre:

Fantasy

Release:

Color Info: Black and White
Countries: India
Languages: Hindi
Runtimes: 211
Sound Mix: Mono

In movie played:
Abdul Rehman Kabuli (actor)
Jehanara Kajjan (actor)
Nissar (actor)
Mukhtar Begum (actress)
Sayed Aga Hasan Amanat (writer)
T. Marconi (cinematographer)
Nagardas Nayak (composer)
J.J. Madan (director)
Great Grandfather of actor Erick Avari
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Film with Most Number of Songs


Indra Sabha with 71 songs is the film with most number of songs. The film was made in 1932 by Madan Theatres and the director of the film was J.J. Madan. The plot of the film revolves around a benevolent king whose moral character is tested by celestial powers. They cause an apsara (a fairy) to appear before the king as a fallen woman begging for mercy.

Indra Sabha was based on a play written by Sayed Aga Hasan Amanat. The film had two singers Master Nissar and Jehanara Kajjan. The other cast of the film included Abdul Rehman Kabuli and Mukhtar Begum.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JAHAN ARA BEGUM AND MUKHTAR BEGUM

She was one of the  earlier Indian film star, who was famous as Jahan Ara Kajjan, or Miss Kajjan.She was a regular dancer at Calcutta club and rose to fame as an actress/singer in films.
She became famous as the 'Lark of Indian Cinema' because of her sweet voice.She was trained in classical music and rendered songs in many films.
She was well versed in Urdu,Hindi, and English and used to publish her Urdu  poems in magazines.
Her debut film was 'Shirin Farhad' of Madan theatres in 1931.
She earned accolades,wide appreciation, name and fame for her performance and the songs she rendered for the film 'Indra Sabha' in 1932.
Film 'Indra Sabha' still holds the world record as 'Film with Most Number of Songs'.
The movie with a duration of three and a half hours(it was 211 minutes duration) which was made by Madan theatres had 71 songs.
Several of the songs were rendered by Jahan Ara Kajjan.
Jahan Ara Kajjan,Master Nissar,Mukhtar Begum etc rendered songs in it.
The cast included Abdul Rehman Kabuli,Mukhtar Begum,Master Nissar and Jahar Ara Kajjan.
The film was based on a play written by Sayed Aga Hasan Amanat.It is about the moral character of a King being  tested by celestial powers with the aid of a fairy(Apsara).
'Gujru Zarina' was a fantasy film directed by J.J.Madan in 1932.Kajjan,Nissar,A.R.Kabuli,S.Kerawala etc were the cast.
Her films 'Swami Bhakti,Shakuntala,Alibaba aur 40 Chor,Laila Majnu,Jahan Ara' etc were also box office hits before 1940.
During 40-44 her memorable films are 'Ghar Sansar,Abla ki Shakti,Pritvi Vallabh, and Bharthari'.
Bharthari(1944) included her most


 lovely classical songs which received much critical acclamation.The music of that film was handled by Khemchand Prakash.
Ghar Sansar was a hit film which dealt with a social theme and was directed by V.M.Vyas.
She passed away in 1945.
MUKHTAR BEGUM


Mukhtar Begum who was born in Amritsar,Punjab  was one of the earlier stars  in Indian Cinema during 30's and  early 40's who was also an accomplished singer.She sang songs in the films which she acted  and in many more.
She was music composer for two films in which she acted and rendered songs.
They are 'Prem Ki Aag'(1936) and Bhesham(1937)
In the film 'Alibaba aur 40 chor(1932) directed by J.J.Madan, she acted with Jahan Ara Kajjan,Nawab,Patience Cooper etc
In the film 'Chatra Bekawali(1932) she acted with Jahan Ara Kajjan
In the film 'Krishna Kant Ki Wasiyat(32) she acted with Jahan Ara Kajjan,Nissar,Abdul Rehman Kabuli.
Her film 'Indra Sabha' became a super hit and earned her much fame as an actress and singer.
The film 'Nala Damayanti' which was directed by Agha Hashar Kashmiri was also a super hit.
In the film 'Ramayan' (1934) and also in  Seeta(34) she acted with Pritviraj Kapoor.
Some of her other memorable films were 'Shravan Kumar,Ankh ka Nasha,Aurat Ka Pyar,Muflis Ashiq' etc. 
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Indrasabha Lyrics

Hindi Lyrics > Indrasabha Indrasabha is a 1932 film directed by J. J. Madan. It starred Nissar, Abdul Rehman Kabuli, Jehanara Kajja, and Mukhtar Begum in lead roles. It shows a benevolent king with high moral and kind attitude towards his citizens offer him the status of god. This makes the celestial power envy of him, and they hatch a conspiracy of sending down an apsara to disrepute his image.
This is the list of all the songs from movie Indrasabha we have lyrics for. Click on the links to see the lyrics.

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The first ones who made the first movie in the world was Lumiere Brothers that inspired many filmmakers around the world and when their movie screened at that time in Bombay, it planted the seed of filmmaking in India too. There were many who made and contributed in creating the rich history of Indian Cinema and still is but they were some pioneers that really paved the way for it.

Here is the look on the rich history of Indian Cinema:
•    The Wrestlers made by H.S Bhatavdekar in 1899 was the first film and also the first documentary film shot by an Indian.
•    The first Indian film that released in India was ‘Shree Pundalik’. It was a silent film in Marathi shot by Dadasaheb Torne on 18 May 1912 but there was a doubt lingering whether it was first released Indian film or not.
•    ‘Raja Harishchandra’ was the first full length motion picture India that was produced by Dadasaheb Phalke. He is the pioneer of India film industry. The movie was in Marathi. It was a commercial success too that paved the way for Indian Cinema.
•    Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu was known as the pioneer in the production of silent Indian films. He was the first person to build and own cinema halls in India.
•    The first talking Indian film was ‘Alam Ara’ that was released on 14 March 1931 by Ardeshir Irani.
•    Chittor V. Nagaiah was the first multilingual film actor, music composer, singer, director and producer in India.
•    Durga Cinetone was the first film studio in India that was built by Nidamarthi Surayya in Rajahmundry in 1936 in AP.
•    Indra Sabha and Devi Devyani are the first movies that included song and dance.
•    Vishwa Mohini is the first Indian film that depicted the Indian movie world.
•    Varkari Sant, spiritual poet was the first Indian film that was screened at an international film festival in 1937.
The history of Indian Cinema is so rich that cannot be described in a few points. It continues to be rich and great. In above mentioned points you find some incredible benchmarkings of Indian Cinema that made it great in the world.
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The name Bollywood is a combination of Bombay (Mumbai’s old name) and Hollywood and it is often used to summarize all movies produced in India. While Bollywood is the center of the Hindi movie industry, movies are made in other regions and local languages as well.
Bombay became the center of India’s Hindi cinema industry when the Lumiere brothers, who came there for the first time in 1896 to introduce their creation- the cinematograph.
Dadasaheb Phalke is considered the father of Indian cinema since he was the first one to make a full-length movie in 1913. In it, both male and female characters were played by men.
His movie inspired many people who soon started making films or working in movie production. By the 1930’s 200 movies per year were produced in India.
The first Indian film with sound was “Alam Ara”, which was premiered in 1931. Six years later, in 1937, Kisan Kanya became the first Indian color movie.
The first Indian movies were inspired by ancient texts. Many of the movies’ plots were taking stories from ancient Indian poems, the Parsi theatre or the traditional folk theatre of India.
Despite the difficulties that the country was facing in the 1950’s, that was the time when India’s most critically acclaimed movies were made. Also, India’s biggest movie stars were born in this period. The movies of those years represented all the problems and struggles that society was facing.
In the end of the 1950’s a new trend in Indian filmmaking was born. The new movies featured comedy, laughter and rock music, rather than dramatic scenes and sad songs. The movies were presenting new concepts- those of love, laughter and happiness.
By the 1970’s and until the 1990’s Indian cinema went back to its previous role of recreating the sad and difficult everyday life of society.
In the 1990’s the industry went back to the romantic movies and comedies of the late 60’s.

Music in Indian cinema

Music has been a part of Indian cinema since the first audio movie. “Alam Ara” included seven songs. The movie “Indra Sabha” from the 1932 included 69 songs. Today movies from India include between six and ten songs.
Bollywood movies are not just about the story, the directing and the acting. The music in a movie is just as significant. Composers in the Indian movie industry are as important as directors and producers.
The songs from movies have been influencing the music business and pop culture for decades.
An interesting fact about the songs in Indian movies is that they are played as a background sound, rather than part of the dialogue. They are sung by professionals and lip-synced by the actors. But since the lyrics and choreography are carefully synchronized, the viewers are left with the impression that the song is a part of the act, as it would be in a traditional theatre musical.
The style of Bollywood movies has made an impact even on Hollywood productions. Various internationally successful Hollywood movies, like “Moulin Rouge” and “Slumdog Millionaire” have been inspired by the style and structure or the stories in Indian movies.
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July 7 1896 - Indian Cinema Is Born



 On July 7th 1896, the Lumiere Brothers showcased six films at the Watson Hotel in Mumbai (then Bombay) and this marked the birth of Indian cinema as we know it today. 
The Lumiere brothers were French Cinematographers who arrived in India after having proved their cinematic excellence in Paris. The screening of the films took place on July 7th 1896 at the Watson Hotel in Mumbai and the ticket was priced at Re.1. The Times of India referred to this event as the “miracle of the century”. The show received an overwhelming response and motion pictures were soon introduced to India, in Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras).
The six films screened that day were Entry of Cinematographe, The Sea Bath, Arrival of a Train, A Demolition,  Ladies and Soldiers on Wheels and Leaving the Factory. The second film screening by the Lumiere Brothers took place on July 14th at a new venue, the Novelty Theatre, Bombay and twenty four films were screened that day, including A Stormy Sea and The Thames at Waterloo Bridge. Alternating between these two venues, the shows culminated on August 15th 1896.
Much before the introduction of film (silent or talkies) three elements were vital in Indian culture natya (drama) nritya (pantomime) and nrrita (pure dance). These three aspects were eventually passed on to Indian cinema. Bollywood films today epitomize Indian culture by their extravagant song and dance sequences and flamboyant costumes and Bollywood has contributed immensely to Indian music by composing some of the most melodious tunes in Indian music history.
After the film screening in Mumbai by the Lumiere brothers, films became a sensation in India and the following year a Professor Stevenson staged a show at Calcutta’s (now Kolkata) Star Theatre. Using Stevenson’s camera, Hiralal Sen, an Indian photographer, made a motion picture of scenes from that show, namely The Flowers of Persia (1898). The first film ever to be shot by an Indian was called the The Wrestlers made in 1899 by H.S Bhatavdekar depicting a wrestling match in Mumbai’s Hanging Gradens. This was also India’s first documentary film. The first film released in India was Sree Pundalik a silent Marathi film by Dadasaheb Torne on May 18th 1912.
India’s first full length film was made by Dadasahed Phalke (also known as the father of Indian cinema), India’s earliest film maker who blended together elements from Sanskrit epics to make his first film Raja Harishchandra in 1913, which was a silent film in Marathi. The roles of females were played by men and this film remains a landmark moment in the history of Indian cinema. Raja Harishchandra was a great commercial success and was an inspiration for further such films.
India’s very first talkie (that is the first talking film) was Alam Ara made by Ardeshir Irani which was released on March 14th 1931. The first two south Indian films to have a theatrical release were Prahalada (Telegu) and Kalidas (Tamil) and were released on October 31st 1931. The first Bengali talkie to be released was Jumai Shasthi. Talkies soon became very popular in India and actors in these films were much in demand and made a decent amount of money by acting. 
With the development of sound technology, the 1930s saw the use of music in Indian films and Indra Sabha and Devi Deviyani were one of the first song and dance films in India.  Indian commercial cinema (also known as masala films), which were a heady cocktail of dance, music, drama, comedy and romance came up after the Second World War. During the 1940s, south Indian films too had gained immense prominence in Indian cinema.
The Partition of India in 1947 also greatly affected Indian cinema and many films were made on this historic event for many years to come. The Golden Age of Indian cinema came following the independence of India in 1947 which saw the rise of a new genre of Indian cinema called parallel cinema, which was predominantly led by Bengali cinema. A few examples of films from this era were Nagarik by Ritwik Ghatak (1952) and Do Biga Zameen by Bimal Roy (1953). By the mid 1950s, Satyajit Ray had made his entry into Indian Cinema and made Pather Panchali in 1955 which was the first part of his famous Apu trilogy.
Commercial cinema too was mushrooming and some of the most popular commercial film in the 1950s and '60s were Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955) Pyaasa (1957), Mother India (1957) Kaagaz  Ke Phool (1959) and Mughal-e-Azam (1960). Commercial cinema continued to grow in the 1980s and 1990s and is today flourishing as one of the most popular and loved genres in Indian cinema today. Like in the past, Indian films still continue winning prominent awards at home and abroad.
The credit of establishment of cinema in India goes to the Lumiere Brothers, who ignited the spark of making motion pictures in various Indian filmmakers.
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 Image result for FOR THE LOVE OF FILMS: Mohan Raman with the poster of the 1903 play Indra Sabha,the oldest in his collection.The poster toured Colombo,Myanmar and
  FOR THE LOVE OF FILMS: Mohan Raman with the poster of the 1903 play Indra Sabha,the oldest in his collection.The poster toured Colombo,Myanmar and Malaysia and is a fine example of wooden block printing.

click:-Times of India Publications
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2011

Master Nissar

Master Nissar
Master Nissar
Master Nisar in SADHNA



                            Master Nisar in SADHNA 1958



[ Selected Filmography ]
Real Name -  N/A
Profession – Actor (Hero / Supporting)
Most Active/Popular Decades – Early 1930s
Religion – Muslim
Ethnicity – N/A
Date of Birth – N/A
Date of Death – N/A
Debut FilmReclamation (1929)
Last FilmDharamputra (1961)
Significant others in the Film Industry – None
Miscellaneous Info - Master Nissar was the first superstar of the talkie era, as the term is understood today. A product of the Madan Theatres, Calcutta, Nissar took to films when the company built a film studio. Because of his ability to speak fluent Urdu and sing songs, he was an instant success. Nissar made a sought-after team with Jehan Ara Kajjan. Their biggest hits together were Shirin Farhad (1931) and Laila Majnoon (1931). People used to flock in large numbers to studios to catch a glimpse of him.
Nissar ruled the roost until a typewriter mechanic called Kundal Lal Saigal decided to don the greasepaint. After a disastrous start, Saigal hit big time with Chandidas (1934) and Devdas (1935), two of the biggest hits of the time. As an actor Nissar was highly theatrical. His decline was sudden in the wake of the Saigal wave of the mid-thirties. Nissar switched to character roles in  the late 40s.
In later years, Master Nisar fell on hard times and was often seen begging near the Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai. He died in penury in the sixtiesRauf Ahmed
Related Youtube Video – N/A
He worked in almost 50 plus movies. Some of the notable movies are mentioned below: Serial # Movie Year Cast Producer Director Music Director
  1. Reclamation 1929 V. Shantaram, Jadhav, Durgabai, Amboo, MasteR Nissar, Varne Aryan Films Company N. D. Sarpotdar Silent
  2. Laila Majnu 1931 Shahla, Kajjan, Master Nissar Madan Theatres J. J. Madan Vrijlal Varma
  3. Shirin Farhad 1931 Abdul Rehman, Kabuli, Kajjan, Nissar, Mohamed Hussain, Mohan, Sharifa Madan Theatres J. J. Madan Vrijlal Varma
  4. Bilwamangal 1932 Patience Cooper, Nissar, Nawab, Mohamed Ishaq, Sharifa, Kabuli, Kajjan Madan Theatres Fram Madan Vrijlal Varma
  5. Chatra Bakavali 1932 Shahla, Mukhtar Begum, Kabuli, Kajjan, Nissar, Patience Cooper, Valatoo Madan Theatres, Bharat Laxmi J. J. Madan Nagardas Nayak
  6. Gulru Zarina 1932 S. Kerawala, Kajjan, Kabuli, Nissar Madan Theatres J. J. Madan Vrijlal Varma
  7. Indrasabha 1932 Nissar, Mukhtar Begum, A. R. Kabul, Kajjan Madan Theatres J. J. Madan Nagardas Nayak
  8. Afzal 1933 Ameena, Shahani, A. R. Kabul, Nissar, Haseena, F. Shah, Bhudo Advani Ajanta Cinetone M. Bhavnani B. S. Hoogan
  9. Maya Jaal 1933 Nissar, Jairaj, Bhudo Advani, Shahzadi, Nayampally, W. M. Khan, Bibbo, Ameena, A. R. Kabul Ajanta Cinetone Shanti Dave B. S. Hoogan
  10. Rangila Rajput 1933 Bibbo, W. M. Khan, Kabuli, Nissar, Shahzadi, Muriyam, Ameena Ajanta Cinetone M. Bhavnani B. S. Hoogan
  11. Dukhtar-E-Hind 1934 W. M. Khan, Bibbo, Bhudo Advani, Tarabai, Nissar, Navin Ajanta Cinetone A. P. Kapoor Zande Khan
  12. Johar-E-Shamsheer 1934 Nissar, Zebunissa, Sardar Akhtar, Prabha Shankar, Jani Babu, Bibi Saroj M. J. P. Advani
  13. Sair-E-Paristan 1934 W. M. Khan, Nayampally, Bibbo, Nissar, Jairaj, Bhudo Advani, Aftab, Ameena, Parashar Ajanta Cinetone M. Bhavnani B. S. Hoogan
  14. Misar Ka Khazana 1935 Ali Shah, Nissar, Sardar Akhtar, Zebunissa, Ganpat Bakre, Jani Babu, Dulari, Prabha Shankar, Sadiq, Balabhai, Shivrani Saroj Rajhans
  15. Modern Girl 1935 Nissar, Zebunissa, Prabha Shankar, Bibi, Swaruprani, Balabhai Saroj Rajhans Master Sunderdas
  16. Shah Behram 1935 Master Nissar, Sardar Akhtar, Zebunissa, Bibi, Dulari, Jani Babu, Balabhai Saroj J. P. Advani
  17. Kimiagar 1936 Sayed Jaan, Nissar, Shakir, Jani Babu, Khurshid, Kitty William Saroj M. Nagendra Majumdar Mir Sahib
  18. Mastana Mashook 1936 Yashwant Dave, Ansuya, Samson, Bulbule, Kantilal, Himmatlal, Fazlu, Master Nissar, Ata Mohamed Vishnu Cine A. M. Khan D. Pandit
  19. Banke Sipahi 1937 M. Shahjahan, Bulbule, Manchi Thuthi, Baburao, Samson, Master Nissar Vaidya Productions R. N. Vaidya
  20. Kisan Kanya 1937 Jilloo Maa, Nissar, Padma Devi, Gulam Mohamed, Gani, Sayed Ahmed Imperial Film Company Moti Gidwani Ram Gopal Pandey
  21. Punjab Lancers 1937 Fatma, Laxmi, Urmila, Kanta, Master Nissar, Kapi, Ibrahim, Sayed Ahmed, Chemist, Asooji, Gulam Rasool Imperial Film Company N. G. Deware, Homi Master Madhavlal Master
  22. Veer Kesari 1938 M. Shahjahan, Baburao Pahelwan, Shamshad, Dhirajlal, Nazir Ahmed, Nissar, Sunder, Pushpa Rani Indira M. Dawood Chand
  23. Desh Bhakta 1940 Ashalata Kashmiri, Gope, Agha, Nissar, Shah Nawaz, Pir Mohamed, W. M. Khan, Harishchandra Rex Pictures A. H. Essa V. K. Naidu
  24. Matwali Meera 1940 Nissar, Fakir Mohammed, Ranjit Kumari, R. P. Kumari, R. P. Kapoor, Kamla, Fida Hussain, Kaul, Mukhtar Begum, Kabuli, Sultana Banu, Husn Banu Bharat Laxmi Pictures Prafulla Roy Brijlal Varma
  25. Kaushish 1943 Yakub, Trilok Kapoor, Sunetra, Mirza Musharaf, Kalyani, Husn Banu, Maste Nissar Din Pictures Rafiq Rizvi Bashir Dehlvi
  26. Jungli Ki Pukar 1946 Ameena, Shankar Vajre, Khatoon, Master Nissar, Mukhtar, Amit Roy, Ravikant, Usha, M. Hussain Allied Films Ramji Arya S. Banerji
  27. Romeo & Juliet 1947 Nazir Kashmiri, Sapru, Nargis, Anwar, Nissar, John Cawas, Sunalini Devi, Violet Cooper Nargis Art Concern Akhtar Hussein Husnlal Bhagatram
  28. Darogaji 1949 Misra, Jairaj, Nargis, Neelam Kothari, Nissar, Rajrani Nargis Art Akhtar Hussein Bhola Shreshtha
  29. Pyar Ki Baaten 1951 Nazir, Rashid, Trilok Kapoor, Nargis, Neelam Kothari, Maruti, Nissar, Khurshid, H. Prakash, Cuckoo Nargis Art Akhtar Hussein Bhola Shreshtha
  30. Ghar Sansar 1958 Krishnakant, Nargis, Balraj Sahni, Rajendra Kumar, Kumkum, Shammi, Devika, Naaz, Master Nissar, Ansari, Johnny Walker Pushpa Pictures V. M. Vyas Ravi Shanker
  31. Sadhna 1958 Sunil Dutt, Vaijayantimala, Leela Chitnis, Master Nissar, Ravikant, Kathana, Manmohan Krishna, Nandini, Radha Krishnan B. R. Chopra B. R. Chopra N. Dutta
  32. Kohinoor 1960 Azim, Leela Chitnis, Wasi Khan, Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari, Jeevan, Kumkum, Mukri, Kumar, S. Nazir, Master Nissar, Tuntun, Rajen Kapoor Republic Film Corporation S. U. Sunny Naushad
  33. Masoom 1960 Sarosh Irani, Aziz, Honey Irani, Anuva Gupta, Manmohan Krishna, Mohan Choti, Chaman Puri, Bhagwan Sinha, Keshto Mukherjee, Master Nissar, Jeevankala, Gautam, Bir Sakuja, Ashok Kumar Bani Rupa Chitra Satyen Bose Robin Banerji
  34. Dharamputra 1961 Shashi Kapoor, Mala Sinha, Nirupa Roy, Manmohan Krishna, Indrani Mukherjee, Tabassum, Rohit, Jagdish Raaj, Balam, Narbada Shanker, Nazir Kashmiri, Master Nissar, Rehman, Devan, Babloo B. R. Films Yash Chopra N. Dutta

Nissar (I) More at IMDbPro »

  1. Patli Kamar Lambe Baal (2004) [production manager] (as Nishar)

  2. Bahu Begum (1967) [audiographer] (as Nisar)
  3. Char Dervesh (1964) [Actor]
  4. Leader (1964) [Actor] (as Master Nisar)
  5. Dharmputra (1961) [Actor] (as Master Nissar)
  6. Bahaana (1960) [Actor]
  7. Kohinoor (1960) [Actor] (as Master Nisar)

  8. Dhool Ka Phool (1959) [Actor] (as Master Nissar)
  9. Sadhna (1958) [Actor] (as Mast. Nissar)
  10. Boot Polish (1954) [Actor] (as Master Nisar)
  11. Pyar Ki Baaten (1951) [Actor]

  12. Darogaji (1949) [Actor]
  13. Koshish (1943) [Actor]

  14. Kisan Kanya (1937) [Actor .... Ram]
  15. Bahare Sulemani (1935) [Actor]
  16. Shah Behram (1935) [Actor]
  17. Johar-E-Shamsheer (1934) [Actor]
  18. Afzal (1933) [Actor]
  19. Maya Jaal (1933) [Actor]
  20. Rangila Rajput (1933) [Actor]
  21. Bilwamangal (1932) [Actor]
  22. Chatra Bakavali (1932) [Actor]
  23. Gulru Zarina (1932) [Actor]
  24. Indrasabha (1932) [Actor] (as Master Nissar)
  25. Laila Majnu (1931/I) [Actor]
  26. Shakuntala (1931/I) [Actor]
  27. Shirin Farhad (1931) [Actor] (as Master Nissar)



Jehanara Kajjan

 

Bonus Miss Kajjan. This time with elegant shoes. And as helpfully indicated, on a chair.
 Miss Kajjan.  with elegant shoes. And as helpfully indicated, on a chair.

Jahanara Kajjan aka Miss Kajjan was a singing star of the 30s. And per this photograph “The Beautiful Nightingale of Bengal Screen”.  
I like that the bio claims she had “roaring” love affairs. From what little information there is, Miss Kajjan does seem to have been rather feisty. 
Back to the point, Miss Kajjan is a lovely looking woman and that blouse - embroidered or cutwork? - gets bonus points  from me.  And the pin, the earrings and what to my untrained eye looks like 1930s finger waved hair all add up to make Miss Kajjan pretty much perfect.
Jahanara Kajjan aka Miss Kajjan was a singing star of the 30s. And per this photograph “The Beautiful Nightingale of Bengal Screen”.  
I like that the bio claims she had “roaring” love affairs. From what little information there is, Miss Kajjan does seem to have been rather feisty.

Jahan Ara Kajjan


  'A Pictorial History of Indian Cinema'  by Firoze Rangoonwalla (1979).

Jehanara Kajjan is an actor, known for Shirin Farhad (1931), Indrasabha (1932) and Zehari Saap (1933). See full bio »
Bollywood’s silent era was dominated by Anglo-Indian and Parsi stars. After the arrival of sound in 1931, the careers of majority of these stars got eclipsed because of the language barrier. At this time, Jahanara Kajjan who started her career on Urdu stage became an instantaneous success because of her ability to speak Urdu and sing songs. A product of the Madan Theatres, Calcutta, she made a popular team with Master Nissar and acted in some of the biggest hits of early talkie era – Shirin Farhad (1931) and Laila Majnoon (1931).
Kajjan’s acting style was highly theatrical and her decline was sudden in the mid-thirties when Saigal wave swept her and Master Nissar Away.  After the closure of Madan Theatres in the late 30s, Kajjan resumed her career in the 40s working mainly for  Sunrise Pictures and Minerva Movietone.
On personal font she had roaring love affairs with many of her co-stars including Najam-ul-Hasan, major star of the 30s.
Related Youtube Video – Jahanara Kajjan singing for herself in Prarthana (1943), music by Saraswati Devi.

Filmography

Hide Hide Actor (21 credits)
 1944 Bhartruhari (as Kajjan)
 1942 Ghar Sansar (as Kajjan)
 1940 Abla Ki Shakti (as Kajjan)
 1936 Nariraj (as Kajjan)
 1936 Shaitan Ka Pash (as Kajjan)
 1936 Struggle (as Kajjan)
 1933 Dhruva (as Kajjan)
 1933 Prem Ka Nasha (as Kajjan)
 1933 Zehari Saap (as Kajjan)
 1932 Ankh Ka Tara
 1932 Bilwamangal
 1932 Gulru Zarina
 1932 Indrasabha
 1932 Pati Bhakti (as Kajjan)
 1932/II Shakuntala
 1931/II Laila Majnu (as Kajan)
 1931 Shirin Farhad
Edit

Alternate Names:

Kajan | Kajjan

  • A R Kabuli Movies List - Funvills

    www.funvills.com/…s/hindi/celebrity/a-r-kabuli.html
    Songs; Videos. Hindi Videos; Hollywood ... Indra Sabha: 1932: Nissar, Sajjan, ... a r kabuli movies, a r kabuli movie, movies of a r kabuli, movie of a r kabuli, a r ...

Abdul Rehman Kabuli

Abdul Rehman Kabuli
Abdul Rehman Kabuli (Actor of 30s) in Lalaji-1942 | Rashid Ashraf | Flickr
Lalaji-1942[ABDUL .R.K.] | Rashid Ashraf | Flickr
flickr.com

Actor
Actor | Director. Abdul Rehman Kabuli is an actor and director, known for Ajamil (1934), Amirzadi (1934) and Bahadur ...

Abdul Rehman Kabuli - IMDb

Filmography

Jump to: Actor | Director
Hide Hide Actor (18 credits)
 1941 Lalaji
Lalaji
 1938 Veer Bala
 1936 Khooni Kaun
 1936 Maa Ki Mamta
 1934 Sakhi Lutera
 1933 Afzal
 1933 Maya Jaal
 1933 Prem Ka Nasha
 1933 Zehari Saap (as A.R. Kabuli)
 1932 Bilwamangal
 1932 Gulru Zarina
 1932 Indrasabha (as A.R. Kabuli)
 1932 Shravan Kumar
 1931 Shirin Farhad
Show Show Director (3 credits)
Edit

Personal Details

Alternate Names:

A.R. Kabuli


singing actress Mukhtar Begum,


A beautiful singing actress of yore

Articles Mukhtar BegumThe first quarter of the 20th century and the period ending with the decade of 1930s witnessed the emergence of a number of luminaries on the melodic firmament of the Sub-continent. The tawaifs (cultured singing girls as distinct from prostitutes) of that period contributed much to the melodic culture of South Asia. They enriched and refined different gayakis (style) of thumri, dadra and thumri-accented ghazals.

Included among popular singers of that period was singing actress Mukhtar Begum, who was born in Amritsar in the year 1923 and groomed for a career in films and music in an environment that was traditionally congenial for the flowering of the arts of acting and vocalising. She received initial training in music from Mian Mehrban Khan; later, spent a long period of apprenticeship with Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan of Patiala gharana. Her grooming under the supervision of these mentors equipped her well to practise several genres of classical music, including thumri, dadra and ghazal. Soon, her name reached every nook and cranny of the Punjab, from where affluent members of society invited her for mujras (demonstrations of her melodic prowess) at their havelis and mansions. She also demonstrated her melodic skill in the darbars (courts) of Nawabs and Maharajas in different regions of undivided India. 



  (Fareeda Khanum's sister[Farida Khanum Wikipedia]
Her sister Mukhtar Begum would take her, a seven-year-old Farida, to Khan's place for riyaaz. Her family migrated to Pakistan after partition of India in 1947.
[ sister/Guardian of Rani)
Mukhtar Baigum wife of Agha Hashar Kashmiri, was a big name of 30's and 40's films as actress and singer. She acted in a lot of films Chitra bakaoli, Hateeli dulhan, Indar sabha, Hindustan, Krishna kant kee wassiayat, Muflis Ashiq, Sharoon kumar, Ankh ka nasha, Aourat ka piar, Ramain, Dil kee pias and Matwalee meera.

After migration to Paksitan she did not perform in any film but her sister Fareeda Khanum (Sailab-53) is a great Ghazal singer. Mukhtar begum was also guardian of Rani who at the beginning of her career, used name Mukhtar a part of her name like Rani Mukhtar.

Related links: » Rani

RANI KIRAN (Sister of Asha Posley)
She was not a big actress worked in Kamlee (India - 1946) and Mundri (Pakistan - 1949). But her sister Asha Posley heroine of first Pakistan film Tairi Yad but a famous vamp of Pakistan silver screen in 50's and 60's.

 


  1. Mukhtar begum Sings Agha Hashar Kashmiri-Yaad Main Teri Jahan Ko

    MUKHTAR BAIGUM (Fareeda Khanum's sister/Guardian of Rani) Mukhtar Baigum wife of Agha Hashar Kashmiri, was a big name ...
  2. Mukhtar Begum sings a ghazal of Agha Hashar "bey meher iltamas-e tamana pey hans paraDa"

    Elder sister of the great Farida Khanum Mukhtar Begum was also trained by the great Ashiq Ali Khan of Patiala School. She was a ...
  3. Mukhtar Begum sings Dadra ~Ab lagi nahi chotey

    Mukhtar Begum sings Pahari Dadra Lyrics ~Ab Lagi nahi chotey (Raga Pahari) marvelously sung by Mukhtar Begum A Syed ...

    An Hour with Legendary Mukhtar Begum - Rare Gems - YouTube



    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The bioscope was brought to Calcutta by one Dr. Stevenson
The bioscope was brought to Calcutta by one Dr. Stevenson, where he screened his film Flower of Persia

Director:

 1921-1930 :
Liberal Period

The First Movie Moghul
THE Madan Theatres Ltd., a joint stock venture, was launched in 1919, by India's first movie moghul, Jamshetji Framji Madan.

  Image result for jamshedji Framji Madan Offices

Jamshedji Framji Madan - Wikipedia

Jamshedji Framjee MadanOffices of J F Madan & Co (Lenin Street)Lenin Street, (formerly Dharamtala Street), Head Office of Madan Theatre…

 photo



the above film hacked and removedsThe Warwick Trading Company's Joseph Rosenthal, with his Bioscope camera,

this photo of J.F. MADAN.hacked and removed by unknown
________________________________________
1902 J.F. Madan (1856-1926) launches his bioscope show in a tent at Calcutta Maidan.
 
below-  the first ever Cinema Hall in India. Better known as Elphinstone Picture Palace, and later called Chaplin Cinema, this is the first ever Cinema Hall in India. Founded by Jamshedji Framji Madan


The Bioscope


The Warwick Trading Company’s Joseph Rosenthal, with his Bioscope camera,

Movie Projector - Bioscope, Model E, Warwick Trading Co, London, England, circa 1900 Object Reg. No: ST 016549

Bioscope, Projecting Model E with lantern lens, four-arm revolving shutter and two spools. Made by Warwick Trading Co., London,
Description:
Movie projector with a wooden base, metal frame and copper alloy fittings.
Acquisition Information:
Donation from Mr James Searle, 1927

 


The Parsis of Madras – 2
(By Zarin Mistry)

Significant contributors to the City

Before I set to talk of the individual contributions the Parsis had made to Madras, a brief note on the Irani Zoroastrians whom I should have referred to in the first part of this series.
The Iranis, who are different from the Parsis, migrated to India about 200 years ago, mainly due to economic deprivation and political harassment. The first Irani families came to Madras around 1900. They started the famous ‘Irani’ cafes. Many of readers will, no doubt, recall National Café on Mount Road and Café Zum Zum on Second Line Beach. These restaurants served wholesome food at reasonable rates. One of the most respected Iranis was Rustom F. Mazda, who set up what was probably the city’s first ice factory and cold storage, at the end of Pantheon Road where Albert Theatre now stands. The first Star Talkies at Round Tana was started by an Irani family and, later, it built Casino Theatre.
Talking of theatres, the old Elphinstone was built by the well-known ‘Theatre’ Madan family of Calcutta. The New Elphinstone was started by the famous Sohrab Modi and was managed by Parsis till it closed down in 1968. Wellington Talkies was an enterprise of the Dorabji family and all S.S. Vasan’s films were screened there.
And so to the Parsis’ contri­bution to the economic, social and cultural fabric of the city...
Hormusji Nowroji, President of the Parsi Anjuman for almost 45 years, designed the Fire Temple in Royapuram. He must have been a well-known personality in the city. Sadly, no records of his achievements exist and anyone who can fill in the gaps may please write in to Madras Musings.
The philanthropist-trader Phiroj M. Clubwala helped strengthen the foundation of the community in Madras. When his 14-year-old son Jal passed away, he donated the Fire Temple to the Anjuman, the first after a hundred years of residence by the community. He also built a block in the Anjuman Bagh and donated a large tract of land near his house to St. Kevin’s Presentation Convent and School – the best school for girls in North Madras, even today.
The Parsis’ Ecclesiastical Head in Madras, Ervad Peshotan Daji, “Pesi” as he was affectionately called, was associated with the Fire Temple for over 60 years. He started as an assistant priest mobed in 1924 when he was just 12. His grandfather (1913-38) and father (1938-68) managed the Fire Temple. Peshotan then took on the mantle and continued to serve the community till 1983. His devotion to the holy fire was put to test when, during World War II, Royapuram was evacuated. Peshotan, as a young priest, refused to close down the Fire Temple and stayed on alone to keep the fire burning
Dhun Building on Mount Road is a familiar landmark. One of the first high-rise constructions in Madras, it was built by Jehanbux H. Tarapore in memory of his wife, Dhun. A Civil Engineer from Guindy Engineering College, his career, spanning over 60 years, began in 1926. He set up the firm Tarapore & Co. in partnership with Loganatha Mudaliar. The Company constructed mega structures vastly diverse in type, form and utility. It was involved in the construction of dams such as the Tungabhadra, Sharavati, Hirakud dam and Farakka. Numerous factory complexes for steel, cement, copper, aluminium and textile industries were also built by the firm throughout India. Jehan­bux faced a major tragedy when, in a car accident, five of his family members died. That did not deter him from his commitment to build better. A charitable Trust the “J.H. Tarapore Foundation”, set up in 1979, annually supports various educational and health care institutions. Many physically and economically challenged persons have also benefited from the Trust. Another famous landmark, Abbotsbury owned by him, was donated to the Sathya Sri Sai Baba Trust. Jehanbux was appointed Sheriff of Madras in 1963.

Dorab B. Madan
Dorab “Dolly” Burjor Madan was from the Calcutta Madan family mentioned earlier. Leaving Calcutta for personal reasons, he started from scratch in Madras, riding a lady’s bicycle to work. He began in 1945 as Tata’s agent for distribution of mild steels and, years later, ended up as a Director in one of the Tata companies. Within 20 years of beginning life in Madras, he developed D.B. Madan & Co. into one of the leading shipping agencies in Madras and amassed a fortune for DSR Lines of East Germany and for his Russian principals, the Black Sea and Fesco companies. For his services, the Government of the USSR awarded him its highest civilian maritime honour for his 40-year association with its shipping business.
Minoo K. Belgamwala was a well-known figure in the world of motor sports and horse racing. He came to Madras in 1939 as the Regional Manager of the Asbestos Cement Limited and was later instrumental in starting their factory in Coimbatore in 1951. Basically an audio and radio electronics engineer, he was one of the founders of the Madras Motor Sports Club and served as its President for 18 years (which, incidentally, is a record). Minoo put the village of Sholavaram on the map of motor sports racing in India.
A keen rider, he was a race day official at the Madras Race Club for nearly 50 years. He served as Chief Judge for the last 25 years of his tenure. As Chairman of the Automobile Association of Southern India for 20 years, he represented India at various international conferences. He was President of the Parsi Anjuman for 25 years.
Aspy Litho Works was a familiar sight on General Patter’s Road. The founder, Arjasp Taraporwala, was a graduate in Philosophy from Madras Christian College. During the pre-Independence period, his father’s firm was well-known as a dealer in luxury motor cars. However, when the firm’s fortunes took a reversal during World War II, Arjasp took up military contracts, then in 1948 founded the litho press (later progressing to offset) to print cinema posters. Arjasp was a founder-member of the Madras Printers’ and Lithographers’ Association and was its President for some years. He was also Vice-Chairman and Patron of the Guild of Service.
Cinema in Tamil Nadu has always had a huge fan following and two Iranis contributed their skills to the flourishing industry. The first was the legendary Adi Merwan Irani who started his career with the Imperial Film Company of Bombay and by 1929 he had many firsts to his credit – first newsreel, aerial and underwater shots, trick photography and the favourite “double role” technique. Adi was always fine-tuning his art and filmed India’s first talkieAlam Ara. Adi moved to Madras in 1939 and worked on S.S. Vasan’s movies such asKama­dhenu and Bala Nagamma. He then moved to Coimbatore to capture the mythological classic Haridas – which ran for a record three years!
From 1949 he worked for Vauhini Studios and Nagi Reddy Studios. He shot the famousMalleswari (which had the first crane shot in South India) and Prince & Pauper. Many directors were made because of his instinct as a cinematographer and he was held in great respect by stars like Gemini Ganesan, M.R. Radha and N.T. Rama Rao. He passed on his art to his son Mehli Irani who went on to become an award-winning cinematographer in the Malayalam film industry. The early development of Indian cinema was embellished by Adi’s sense of visual wonder and artistry.
A rags to riches story of true grit and determination is that of Dinshaw Tehrani, an unhappy young Zoroastrian in Iran who boarded a ship as a stowaway and landed in Madras empty-handed. He was working as a porter in Central Station when some Parsis working with the Connemara Hotel spotted him and, deciding to help, got him work in a film studio for doing odd jobs. It is a wonder how, speaking only his native Dari language, Dinshaw managed to pick up the basics of sound engineering. He became so proficient in his job that he was soon working for big studios. He eventually started Newtone Studios in Kilpauk as a partnership firm. Dinshaw produced Paal Kudam under his ‘Manijeh Cine Arts’ banner and recorded S.P. Balasubramaniam’s famous song Malligai Poo Vaanghi Van­dhen. He also recorded Bhanu­mathi’s famous song O! Paavuramma in the film Swarga Seema with a huge metallic bell hung over the mike, to give the song its dreamy, silken tone!
Newtone Studios was famous for producing many Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. The interior shots of Meera, the well-known M.S. Subbulakshmi film, were taken here. Dinshaw worked on the audiography of this movie as well. It was directed by the famous Ellis R. Dungan. At one time, Dinshaw was the top sound engineer of the South. The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School on Kilpauk Garden Road is on the site of this once-famous studio.

Dr. Meherji Maneckshaw Cooper
In Madras Medical College campus is a heritage building the “Red Fort”. It housed the Anatomy Department and one of its best-known professors was Dr. Meherji M Cooper. He started his teaching career in 1946. Simplifying this difficult subject for the thousands of students who passed out during his tenure was his passion. With his ever-ready wit and explicit diagrams, he made lecture sessions unforgettable. Meherji taught not just second but even third generation students. When he retired in 1979, he was Director, Institute of Anatomy, and Vice-Principal of the College. Cooper was elected a Fellow of the Madras Medical College. He was one of the founding members of the Anatomical Association of Tamil Nadu. He was also appointed Professor Emeritus of Stanley Medical College.
There is one luminary of yesteryears who was outstanding in the field of Social Service. More on her in the last part of this ­series.

                     Madan theatres at madras(now chennai)

photo
photo removed by hackers                                               
                   
Map of Madan St, Kolkata, West Bengal 700013

Madan St, Kolkata, West Bengal 700013

    Madan Street CALCUTTA

 Essentially a showman, Madan thought in terms of spectacle and melodrama.

The company had under contract a number of European technicians and directors. For their 1920 grand production, Nala and Damayanti, Framji chose an Italian director, Eugenio De Liguoro.

When Nala and Damayanti opened in 1921 in Bombay, the Times Of India said, "Nala and Damayanti...has all the finishes of a film produced in Europe and America..."

Being the largest importer of American films in the country, producing at least 8-10 films of their own each year, and maintaining a well-equipped studio and a premium staff,  Madan Theatres created an unrivalled monopoly in the film industry.

After J.F. Madan's death in 1923, his son J.J. Madan[
Jeejeebhoy Jamshedji (J.J.) Madan] began a trend with his 'social' films which introduced such stereotypes as the wayward husband, the virtuous wife and the exotic vamp. He produced hits like Pati Bhakti (1922) and Patni Pratap (1923) on the same theme.

In 1924, Madan produced, with UG Italania, a mythological, Savitri, in Rome. Italians played the two lead roles of Savitri and her husband, Satyavan.

Trends
The Twenties were a rather liberal period by traditional moral standards. Kissing was common on the Indian screen, especially appreciated when the stars were Sulochana and Dinshaw Billimoria, the most popular lead pair of the time. The male heart-throb brigade was led by Billimoria, Raja Sandow and Master Vitthal. Most of the heroines were Anglo-Indian girls.

Diary
1921 — Dhiren Ganguly's Bilet Ferat or 'England Returned' was the first love story of modern times on the Indian screen, starting the long trail of 'social' films depicting love and romance.

1921 — Kohinoor's Bhakta Vidur (with proprietor D. Sampat playing the lead role) created India's first censorship controversy. The film had heavy political overtones, with references to Gandhiji and his ideals.

1922-'23 — Entertainment Tax was introduced in the Bombay and Bengal Presidencies.

1923 — Noor Jehan or Light of the World, a Madan film starring Patience Cooper, became the first historical film on the Moghul dynasty to catch the interest of the audience.

1924 — Kohinoor's Kala Naag / Triumph of Justice / Kalyug Ki Sati, created quite a stir. It was based on the life of a rapist-murderer, Haridas Chapsi, who was undergoing trial during the release of the film!

1925 — Baburao Painter's groundbreaking Savkari Pash or Indian Shylock focussed on the lives of countless, illiterate, impoverished farmers cheated by moneylenders. This artistically acclaimed film flopped badly at the box office.

1927 — Chandulal Shah's Bhaneli Bhamini or Educated Wife, with Goharbai, in the lead, started a new genre of movies depicting the Indian woman fighting for her rights.

 (Content provided by Amrita Bharati)

1931-1940 : Movies to Talkies
The Sound of Movies
IN the 1920's, Madan Theatres was already investigating the possibilities of synchronized sound and pictures. Having visited Hollywood at the time, J. J. Madan had started the construction of a sound proof studio in Tollygunge (Calcutta). By the end of the 30's, out of a total of 370 theatres in India, more than 30 had been wired for sound.

However, the thunder was stolen from under Madan's nose, by Ardeshir Irani.

On March 14, 1931, Irani's Imperial Film Company released India's first full-length talkie, Alam Ara (Light of the World).

The Indian audiences were thrilled by the song-and-dance routines in Alam Ara. Consequently filmmakers started using them indiscriminately, regardless of their relevance to the story or plot. Shirin Farhad had 42 songs and Madan's Indrasabha had as many as 59! Artistes like Mukhtar Begum, Gohar, Jaddanbai, Master Nissar and K.L Saigal, who had impressive voices, were much in demand.

Trends
Most of the early talkies were made in Hindustani (Hindi and Urdu). Eventually, film makers branched out into their vernaculars, making films in Hindi, Urdu, Gujrati, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi and Assamese.
Subjects and treatment were as diverse as their makers. For example, while  P.C Barua's films were dripping with romance, self-pity and morbidity, V. Shantaram's films (Kunku, Aadmi, etc.) were provocative comments on the  social millieu of the time, especially the subservient position of 'outclassed' women. In total contrast, Hunterwali was a landmark in itself, considering its phenomenal success in a patriarchal society.

Diary
1932 — New Theatres released its Bengali film, Chandidas, which shot its maker B. N Sircar and its talented director Debaki Bose into the limelight.

Prabhat's V. Shantaram made his first sound film Ayodhyecha Raja, in Hindi and Marathi. The aristocratic lead actress, Durga Khote, paved the way for women from respectable families to star in films.

Himanshu Rai released Karma, in Hindi and English. He and his wife-to-be, Devika Rani, played the main roles. The film was premiered in London and made its heroine the darling of the international press!

1935 — Prathamesh Chandra (P.C.) Barua released his Bengali film Devdas, based on the popular novel by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, starring Barua himself in the lead role of the drunkard,  Devdas. The film became one of the biggest commercial and critical successes of Indian cinema, forcing Barua to make a Hindi version in the same year starring Kundanlal Saigal (who became India's first major singer-star).

Hunterwali, starring 'Fearless Nadia' made its director Homi Wadia a household name, and popularized the stunt film genre.

1936 — Prabhat's Sant Tukaram became the first Indian film to win an international award. It was adjudged the third best film at the Venice Film Festival in 1937!

1937 — Ardeshir Irani released India's first colour film, Kisan Kanya.

1939 — Rai's Achhut Kannya was one of the first films to portray the plight of lower-caste women. It made Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar the most popular pair of the decade.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Directed by V. Shantaram
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All INDIAN movies from the year 1932







Movie : Awara Shahzada (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: Master Vithal
Stars: Shahu Modak , Vasant






Movie : Bharati Mata (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: Pesi Karani
Stars: Hadi , Jamshedji , Jillo , Khalil , Mushtari , Zohra




Movie : Bhasmasur Mohini (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: Kanjibhai Rathod
Stars: Laxmi














Movie : Do Badmash (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: Jayant Desai
Stars: Dixit , Ghori , Shanta Kumari


Movie : Educated Wife (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Patience Cooper










Movie : Hindustan (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Mukhtar Begum , Rose , Narmada Shankar


Movie : Hoor E Misar (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: Homi Master





Movie : Indrasabha (1932) (Release: 1932 )
Big-budget movie with over 69 songs. 'The Hindi Devmala [Hindi Pantheon] with the Islamic Ravaiyat'...

Director: J.J. Madan
Stars: Nissar , Jehanara Kajjan , Abdul Rehman Kabuli , Mukhtar Begum


Movie : Jalti Nishani (1932) (Release: 1932 )
An adventure movie about a king (Bhosle) who is overthrown by the perfidy of his villainous Commander (Pendharkar)...

Director: Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram
Stars: Shankarrao Bhosle , Kamaladevi , Master Vinayak , Budasaheb , Nimbalkar , Leela , Baburao Pendharkar


Movie : Kala Pahad (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Bhim , Gohar , Navinchandra


Movie : Khuda Dost (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Bibijan , Master Mohammed


Movie : Krishnavtar (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Shanta Kumari , Haider Shah


Movie : Madhuri (1932) (Release: 1932 )
Adventure spectacular set in the 4th-C. Gupta period during the battles between the kingdoms of Ujjain and Kanauj...

Director: R.S. Choudhury
Stars: Ruby Mayer , Ghulam Mohammed , Vinayakrao Patwardhan , Jamshedji , Hadi , Chanda


Movie : Maya Bazaar (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Khatun , Baburao Pendharkar


Movie : Maya Machhindra (1932) (Release: 1932 )
This film based on the Tantric legend about the guru Machhindranath (Tembe) and his disciple Gorakh...

Director: Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram
Stars: Govindrao Tembe , Durga Khote , Master Vinayak , Leela , Rajarambapu Purohit , Bazarbattoo , Nimbalkar , Baburao Pendharkar , Tanibai , Hirabai , Mohini


Movie : Muflis Ashaq (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: J.J. Madan
Stars: Mukhtar Begum , Khurshid


Movie : Nek Alba (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Hadi , Jamshedji , Ghulam Mohammed , Mushtari


Movie : Niti Vijay (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Hadi , Jillo , Kamala , Khalil , Ghulam Mohammed , Mushtari , Zohra


Movie : Nurani Moti (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: Moti B. Gidwani





Movie : Pavitra Ganga (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: J.K. Nanda



Movie : Radha Rani (1932) (Release: 1932 )
This film tells of Radha (Gohar), a carefree rural belle who is supposed to marry childhood friend Gopal...

Director: Chandulal Shah
Stars: Gohar , M. Bhagwandas , Keki Adajania , Baburao Sansare , E. Bilimoria




Movie : Ras Vilas (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Movie : Roshan Ara (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: G.R. Sethi
Stars: Ghaznavi , Haider Shah , Tara


Movie : Sassi Punnu (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: S.R. Apte



Movie : Sati Madalsa (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: Bhagwati Prasad Mishra
Stars: Hadi


Movie : Sati Savitri (1932) (Release: 1932 )
This mythological film is based on the Mahabharata. It depicts the tale of how Savitri (Gohar) saves her husband Satyavan (Bhagwandas) from the cl..

Director: Chandulal Shah
Stars: M. Bhagwandas , Ghori , Keki Adajania , Alladdin , Baburao Sansare , Gohar , Shanta , Kamal , Tara


Movie : Sati Sone (1932) (Release: 1932 )
Champraj, king of Bundi (Jamshedji), boasts in the court of the maharaja Karansingh of his wife Sone's (Jilloo) purity and fidelity...

Director: Madanrai Vakil
Stars: Jamshedji , Boman Shah , Hadi , Jillo , Mushtari


Movie : Shakuntala (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Movie : Shanta (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Shanta Kumari


Movie : Shashi Punhu (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Noor Jehan , J. Sushila


Movie : Sheil Bala (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Keki Adajania , M. Bhagwandas , Gohar , Kamala






Movie : Shyam Sundar (1932) (Release: 1932 )
Children's mythological drawn from the Vishnu Purana telling of the child Krishna (Modak). The film...

Director: Bhalji Pendharkar
Stars: Shahu Modak , Shanta Apte , Bandopant Sohoni , Baburao Ketkar , Raja Sandow P.K. , Bapurao Apte


Movie : Subhadra Haran (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director:
Stars: Jal , Khatun , Sankatha , Yakub , Zubeida








Movie : Zalim Jawani (1932) (Release: 1932 )
This historical fantasy's story is drawn from the Rajput war sagas and features the despotic Jaisingh (Poonawala) who usurps the throne of Achalga..

Director: Bhagwati Prasad Mishra
Stars: Master Vithal , Ermeline , Jamshedji , Rustom Poonawala , Hadi , Saku


Movie : Zarina (1932) (Release: 1932 )


Director: Ezra Mir
Stars: Charlie , Jal ,
S.B. Nayampalli , Nazir , Yakub , Zubeida

  =========================

Madan Theaters Laila Majnu - 1931;acting Master Nissar Miss Kajjan & Miss Shehla
=========================



Court of Indra (Indar Sabha)
CENTURY OLD URDU OPERA WRITTEN UNDER EUROPEAN CULTURAL INFLUENCE
Author: Late Ahmed Ghulamali Chagla (circa 1938) ©
Cover Page of the 1887 Edition of the Indar Sabha Book
Court of Indra or, to give the opera its popular Hindustani title, Indar Sabha, was the first Indian opera to be arranged and performed on Western models.  The story and the libretto were written by Syed Agha Hassan Amanat, a poet of Lucknow, about the middle of the nineteenth century, a decade before the Mutiny.
Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Oudh, was an accomplished musician.  It is said that a French musician - probably a former military bandsman or bandmaster - took service under him.  The Nawab was told about the glories of the European opera: its ballet, its orchestra, its fantastic settings, its grotesque plots.  Wajid Ali Shah became so much interested that he commissioned Syed Agha Hassan Amanat to write out a suitable story in Urdu verse, interspersed with Hindi songs.
    The poet took a year and a half to complete the work, together with complete stage directions which appeared in the first edition of the book.  The Nawab supervised the production and probably composed part of the music.  There is also evidence to show that he took the chief part in the opera whenever it was performed before the courtiers on the huge stage built in Kaisar Bagh at Lucknow!
    Thus for the first time an Indian opera on Western models and a large orchestra of Indian musical instruments - Sarangis, Chikaras, Sitars, Woodwind, and Percussion - came into being, forestalling the modern Indian radio and cinema-studio orchestras by over a century.  It was the precursor to modern developments in the Indian theatre.
    The great Parsi actor-manager of the 1890s, Khursedji Baliwala, who did so much to introduce Western technique on the Indian stage, had Indar Sabha regularly in his repertoire.  Before the days of "talkies" well-known singers with histrionic talent used to specialise in the various parts of the opera and made small fortunes for the producing companies that engaged them.  Even when the "talkies" came, Indar Sabha was one of the first sound films to be made in India.  It was produced under the personal supervision of another great actor-manager, the late J. F. Madan.  To this day the opera is put on boards and also broadcast by several radio stations in Northern India.  It is remarkable that this century-old opera continues to retain its popularity.
    Some portions of the music of Indar Sabha show an incipient influence of European melodies and "march time", though no melodies have been harmonised.  Mostly the music is on the classical Indian model.  Some basic concepts of Indian musical theory have been utilised to advantage.  The opera begins with melodies prescribed, according to Hindu theory, for the early part of the night.  It ends with melodies in the type Bhairavi, the classical melody for dawn.  The music therefore synchronises in theory with the time of the actual performance, which takes over seven hours.  The opera usually begins after 10 p.m. and ends just before dawn.
    Properly speaking, Indar Sabha is an operatic fantasy.  It contains quintessence of "stuff that dreams are made of".  Nevertheless it has a strong human interest.  Its plot is an absorbing love story in a setting of a fantastic intermixture of Iranian legend and Hindu mythology.  It has just the right elements for a successful operatic fantasy.
The Background:
    Raja Indra, the superhuman king, is the ruler of Parastan (Fairyland) said to be situated in Koh Qaf, the Caucasus Mountains, beyond Iran.  His subjects, the denizens of Parastan, are divided into two classes of beings.  There are superhuman Peris (Fairies) who can fly about in the air at will.  The fairies are beautiful damsels in human form, but each has a pair of wings like those of an angel in classical Italian paintings.  The fairies, though superhuman, are endowed with all the passions of human beings.  Then there are the demons (dev), who can smell out things like animals and also transport themselves from place to place in the twinkling of an eye. They have horns and tails.
    Amanat explains in his stage directions and notes that he conceived the fairies to be of four kinds, each being the denizens of one of the four quarters: North, South, East, and West.  The four orders are distinguished by four colours and named after four kinds of coloured semi-precious stones.
    The opera mainly deals with the doings of the Green (emerald) Fairy, who is the chief dancer at the Court of Indra and the head of all fairies.
    All the demons are under two chiefs - the Red Demon and the Black Demon.  The Red Demon (Lāl Dev) appears in the opera in the traditional make-up of Mephistopheles with an added tail, as long as a bullock's.  The Black Demon (Kālā Dev) is similiarly attired, but in black.  Both these demons are very fat.  They are the Masters of Ceremony at the court of Indra, his court jesters, and also the personal servants of the fairies, and are responsible for law and order in Parastan.
    The story of the opera deals with the interaction between these denizens of a super-human kingdom and a mortal man, a Prince of Akhtarnagar, said to be in Hindustan.  What a conception for and operatic fantasy!
Now for the Story .....
"COURT OF INDRA"
Prince Gulfam (the "Flower Prince"), the son of Gulzar Shah (the "Flower-Garden King"), once got tired of the pomp and pageantry at the court of his father.  He decided to go out to the royal garden on the outskirts of the city and pass a peaceful night among flowers.
It was the night of the full moon.  The māli arranged for him a bed bedecked with flowers and, after a short prayer of thanksgiving, the Prince lay down on the flower-covered couch and fell asleep.
On this very night the Green Fairy (Sabz Pari), on her way down from Parastan to the Court of Raja Indra, was out for an airing.  She was flying over Hindusthan when, attracted by the beauty of the moonlit garden beneath her, she was tempted to descend down to earth.  This was against the laws of Parastan, but who would see, she argued, who would know if she broke the law for just once, to satisfy her curiosity?  She would just have a peep around and then fly on to the Court in time for her part in the nightly ritual of song and dance over there.  Womanlike, she was tempted to break the law; she disobeyed and paid the price of disobedience.
Moving about in the beautiful garden, she espied someone sleeping on a bed bedecked with flowers.  She had never seen a human being before.  At the same time, though a celestial fairy, she had all the passions commonly ascribed to denizens of the mortal earth.  Curiosity brought her near the bed of the sleeping Prince - his entrancing beauty did the rest.  For the first time in her fairy existence she experienced the pangs of love!
Love for a human being!  How would it end?  Anyway, there was no time to think now; the moment of her appearance at the celestial court was drawing near.  Hurriedly she slipped a ring with a green stone from off her finger put it on the finger of the sleeping Prince.  Kissing him softly, she flew back to Parastan.
***   ***   ***   ***   ***
The song and dance at the Court of Indra had almost come to an end.  The Raja ordered the Black Demon (Kālā Dev) to produce the Chief Dancer.  The Green Fairy was just in time for her part.  The Raja was already tired out and soon fell asleep.  The Court ended.
The Black Demon
The Green Fairy went back to her own palace but she could not keep her mind off the "Flower Prince".  She called her slave, the good natured Black Demon, and confided her secret.  Telling him exactly what had happened and where she had seen the sleeping Prince, the Fairy coaxed and cajoled the Black Demon to bring the Prince to Parastan.  She would keep him hidden in her own private palace and none need suspect the presence of a human being in Parastan. Her entreaties had effect and, after extracting a solemn promise of secrecy, the Black Demon - with his magical powers - transported the sleeping Prince, complete with his flower bedecked bed, to the palace of the Green Fairy in Parastan.
Now that the sleeping Prince was actually before her, the Green Fairy, woman-like, became shy and coquettish.  How could she wake up this stranger she did not know?  So the Black Demon, with further entreaties, was cajoled into waking up the Prince.  But the Prince was sound asleep and all the soft words of the Black Demon had no effect.  Ultimately the demon gave him a blow and the Prince woke up with a start.
Prince in Wonderland
Demons and Fairyland are out of the normal experience of even princes ruling patches of mortal earth.  First the Prince thought he was dreaming.  The scene around him was constantly changing as if by magic.  When he saw the Black Demon he was nearly out of his wits.  He rushed about like a madman, trying to find a way of escape from his fantastic surroundings.  Where was he?  Would that uncouth black creature with horns and a tail eat him up?  Where were his servants?  Where were his father and mother?  Would he ever get back home?  He was on the verge of losing his reason.
Quickly grasping the situation the Fairy, who stood hiding in a corner, sent the Black Demon away.  Approaching the Prince from behind she placed a soft hand on his shoulder.  The touch reassured him.  Turning around he saw a beautiful damsel, completely in green, smiling at him reassuringly.  But how could a human being have a couple of wings attached to the shoulders?  He recoiled from her touch in horror.  She tried her best to reassure him, but he would not approach her.  He angrily demanded to know why he was in those fantastic surroundings, who was she, and what were the two wing-like things jutting from her shoulders?
His surprise and fear were only intensified when she told him that she was a real fairy and that the two feathery things were real wings with which she could fly about.  She also told him how she had fallen in love with him and how the Black Demon had been prevailed upon to bring the Prince to Fairyland.
The Prince's Predicament
The Prince was lost in wonder.  He did not know what to make of this strange situation.
"You now know who I am" said the Fairy, "but tell me who are you?"
"I?" replied the bewildered Prince, "Why I am the Prince Gulfam, the son of Gulzar Shah.  And I command that I should immediately be sent back to the kingdom of my father."
"What a man!  Why should you wish to go back to mortal earth, having set foot in Fairyland?  Why not spend the rest of your life in the pleasures of love?"
The Prince thought this over.  Apparently there was no way to get out of the clutches of this cruel fairy but he would make her pay dearly for her whims!
"How can I trust one who has had me abducted?  Anyway, what do you do here for a living?", he asked.
"I am the chief dancer at the Court of the great Raja Indra.  Isn't that enough work for a living?" 
The Prince was lost in thought.  "I see.  I have heard story-tellers relate about the wonderful festivals of song and dance at the Court of Indra."
"They speak the truth; the festivals  are really wonderful", was the eager reply.
"Then, while I am here, I might as well see what the festivals are like", said the crafty Prince.  The Fairy was horrified.
The Green Fairy's Fright
How could a mere human being even dare to make such a suggestion?  Was it not enough that, against all the laws of Fairyland, he had been brought here?  Did he know what the angry Raja would do if he found a human being in Parastan?   And she detailed to him all the terrible forms of punishment meted out to wrong-doers in Fairyland.  But the Prince was adamant.
"If you really love me, you must show me the Court of Indra.  That is the only condition on which I shall consent to live with you in Fairyland."
"But you cannot fly. How can I take you with me, even if I dare to do so?  The Court of Indra is very far away.  Long distances have to be traversed through the sky before one can reach there." 
The Prince smiled.  "It is quite easy", he said, "either you get me a pair of wings or, if that is not possible, there is another way."
"And what is that?"
"When sitting on your throne you rise into the air, I shall take hold of one of the feet of the throne, and will thus fly with you."
"And what if you are discovered?"
"Why should I be?  Ask the Black Demon who has dared against all laws to bring me here, to hide me somewhere at the Court. Anywhere.  In the branches of a tree, if no other place can be found.  All I want is to witness the festival.  Then we can fly back here and I shall be your for life."
Forced Promise
As luck would have it, at this very moment the Red Demon came in, unperceived, to deliver a message fro the Red Fairy.  He overheard the conversation.  He was the enemy of the Black Demon and his protégé, the Green Fairy.  Bearing the information in mind, he went out as silently as he had come in.  Meanwhile, the quarrel between the Green Fairy and the Prince continued.
"No, I cannot take you under any circumstances", was the final and firm reply of the Fairy.
"Very well", replied the Prince calmly.  "Since I can neither go back to my father's domain nor can I even see the festival at the Court of Indra, I may as well put an end to my wretched existence."  Quickly drawing his dagger he tried to stab himself, but the Fairy was quicker.  She snatched the dagger from him; he grabbed it back.  She had to use all her strength to prevent him from cutting his own throat!
"Will you take me?" he shouted while she struggled with him.  "Yes -yes - I will", she faltered.  "PROMISE!" he shouted louder still.
Only when she had gone through the ritual of solemn promise, he let go of the dagger and smiled sweetly at her.
But the Fairy was sad; inexpressibly sad.  How would it all end?  Anyway, come what may, a Fairy's promise must be kept.  So, calling the Black Demon, the Green Fairy explained the arrangement to him and for the first time a mortal human being managed to witness the ritual of song and dance at the celestial Court of India.

 

 

 



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Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003

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Cinema at Round Tana
S. MUTHIAH
Madras's third oldest cinema theatre - and the oldest still in business - is to the rear of the Electric, located kitty-corner to it on Blacker's Road. The first Madrasi-owned theatre, the Gaiety was opened by the film pioneer Raghupathy Venkaiah in 1914.

I'LL GET to Round Tana, a near forgotten name, next week - and would welcome any recollections of that landmark site before then - but this week, though I'm a little ahead of my route, historically speaking, I take a look at Cinema which, starting from just a couple of buildings south of P.Orr's, kept Round Tana abuzz all afternoon and evening till the early 1960s. That cinema house which has started me on this journey was my - and many others' - favourite, the New Elphinstone theatre, now a shopping mall of tiny shops and services.
Sohrab Modi, the famed Bombay film-maker known as the `Cecil B. de Mille of Hindi Cinema' began his career in cinema by founding with his brothers `Western India Theatres', owners of a number of `tent' cinemas and permanent theatres. When he opened the New Elphinstone in 1932 as Madras's poshest cinema theatre to screen the best of Hollywood films, the habit of film-going as an outing became firmly established in the city. Apart from the plushness of its surroundings and the vaudeville offered during the intervals, the New Elphinstone had one other unforgettable attraction, for many of my age, which made it an outing to look forward to. And that had its roots in the site where the New Elphinstone came up.
Preceding the New Elphinstone on this site was the Lycaeum, vaudeville theatre, dance hall and `indoor stadium' for prize-fighting. A part of the Lycaeum's attractions was `Barney Dorai's' soda fountain, dating to around 1910. When the New Elphinstone came up, this became the Elphinstone Soda Foundation - a `must' for every film-goer here. When `Barney Dorai' left for England after Independence, Jafar, who had worked with him, took it over and made what he renamed Jafar's Icecream Parlour, a Round Tana landmark. Jafar's painstakingly made icecream confections, its huge icecream and jelly menu, the large jars of colourful sweets and marshmallows that lit up the place, and the gleaming soda fountain with its tall bar-style stools made it a social legend in mid-20th Century Madras. For old-timers, there's never been anything since, not like Jafar's 23 icecreams and even more numerous sundaes, despite the city now being an icecream parlour-coffee pub haven.
When the New Elphinstone gradually slipped into Malayalam sleaze in the late 1970s, the days of the Jafar legend were numbered. Soon, Jafar's moved to another location, The New Elphinstone was pulled down in 1979 and the Raheja Complex opened on the site in 1981... .but that's another story.
A New Elphinstone meant there had to be an old Elphinstone - and there was one, rooted in almost the beginnings of cinema-screening in Madras. The Elphinstone was located across Round Tana from the New Elphinstone on the site of Misquith Building, just west of the old Hindu building at the junction of Ellis Road and Wallajah Road. (Wallace) Misquith & Co., established in 1842 built itself a magnificent brick-exposed Indo-Saracenic building to house on the ground floor its showroom for musical instruments and, on the first floor, music salons which could be rented by the hour for anyone wanting to play any instrument. In time, Misquith's' became Musee Musicals and moved further down Mount Road, but in its heyday it housed the Lyric, a hall of entertainment that a man named Cohen established on the first floor when he took over Misquith's in 1907. In 1913, the Lyric began screening films, calling itself the Empire Cinema, but a fire in March 1914 closed it down. Later that year, J.F. Madan of Calcutta, owner of India's biggest cinema chain at the time, took over the Empire and renamed it with that of his flagship, the Elphinstone. In 1915, Madan bought the Misquith Building and made the Elphinstone a permanent cinema theatre, the biggest and the first with a balcony in Madras.
The Empire-Elphinstone, however, had been preceded by two other cinema theatres in Madras. The first was the Bioscope, opened on Popham's Broadway by a Mrs. Klug in 1911. It closed in a few months - and, as the second which opened survived for a few years, it's the latter, the Electric, that is described as Madras's first cinema theatre. The Electric, owned by Warwick Major and Reginald Eyre, built "a large corrugated iron shell with a brick fa�ade" for itself and began screening silent films in it in 1913. The shed gradually developed into a more ornate building that still survives near Round Tana, adaptively re-used and brought into my narration today earlier that its location warrants because it really begins the story the New Elphinstone has got me started on. The Electric, bought by the Postal Department in 1915 for the Mount Road Main Post Office to be raised in its grounds, is still to be seen in that campus, but no longer reflecting its theatrical origins.
In the 1990s, a Postmaster General more concerned with heritage than most, restored a part of the building and, since 1998, the Electric functions as the Philatelic Bureau and the Philatelic Exhibition Hall, quite an active place, particularly when not infrequent stamp exhibitions are held in it. But while the front of the building has been restored - and catches the eye on Mount Road - its rear deserves better than being treated as storage space. In the Electric's heyday, the well-known hotelier of the time, d'Angeli, ran an open-air bar and caf� in its garden which adjoined his property.
Madras's third oldest cinema theatre - and the oldest still in business - is to the rear of the Electric, located kitty-corner to it on Blacker's Road. The first Madrasi-owned theatre, the Gaiety was opened by that film pioneer Raghupathy Venkaiah in 1914. He followed it up in 1916 with the Crown in Mint Street that's now the Crown Talkies and with the Globe in Purasawalkam the next year. Perhaps the most architecturally striking cinema in Madras, the Globe, under new ownership, became the Roxy - but today survives precariously as a hall for garment sales. The next cinema to open was back again not far from Round Tana; the Wellington, which opened in 1918. It is now a shopping plaza and office complex at the junction of Mount Road and General Patter's Road. The Wellington, built by R. Dorabjee, became the theatre most associated with S.S. Vasan's films. Then came the Paragon on Wallajah Road, the Casino on Blacker's Road and the newer Shanthi and Devi complex. Once, when they all ran to full-houses, Round Tana buzzed with life generated by the Cinema late into the night.

The Film Industry (1921)

 studios in the late 1950s1939 FILM PRODUCTION

Silents to TALKIE;Studio' Golden Years-1920-1930

The Movie Cameramen's Derby, released 7 September 1922, which shows a race between British newsreel cameramen


The interior of Vitaphone Studios, circa the late 1920s, on Avenue M in Brooklyn, where early sound movies were shot

NestorStudios-Hollywood-1913-Silent movies era

Filming at Essanay Studios, 1908, Chicago. Notice that all sets were built outdoors to take advantage of natural light. This is one of the main reasons that the Essanay and Selig film companies eventually moved to California,

Cinematograph show under the new L.C.C. rules
Cartoon parodying the alarm over the L.C.C.’s first regulations for film exhibition, from The Showman, 8 March 1901 (signed as being originally from The Photographic Dealer, 1898)

Sedgewicks' Bioscope Show Front (1901)

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This film is part of the Mitchell and Kenyon collection - an amazing visual record of everyday life in Britain at the beginning of the ...



  1. Film in Leeuwarden 1898 - 1910

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    De opkomst van de film in Leeuwarden. De vroege jaren. The American Bioscope op de Leeuwarder kermis.