Shri. V. Shantaram
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Outstanding Personality Of Indian Film Industry
He was renowned Film Producer and was honoured with Jain Samaj Ratna award.
He was born on 18th November 1901 in a reputed Jain family at Kolhapur, and entered the world of drama at the tender age of 12. Shantaram has many firsts to his credits, during his Prabhat days. These include the first children's film, Ranisaheba, in 1930, first use of a camera trolly in 1931, for the silent film Chandrasena, first Marathi talkie Ayodhyecha Raja in 1933, the first colour film Sairendhri in 1933, production of gramophone records from the original sound track in 1934, use of telephoto lens for Amrit Manthan in 1935, first animation film Jambukaka in 1936, and the first utilisation of back-projection for Amar Jyoti in 1937.
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Shantaram has made many outstanding contribution to the development and enrichment of Indian Cinema. A pioneer to the core, crusader and master craftsman, he has invested his films, not only with directorial excellence but also technical advancement, artistic and cultural values. Known for bold experimenting with technique and themes, he has given Indian Cinema many socially purposeful films. His films have gathered many National and International awards. Shantaram made his mark on the International film scene when Amar Jyoti received a Certificate of Merit at the venice Film Festival in 1936. Amar Bhoopali was named for Best Sound Recording from the Centre National de La Cinematographic, at the Cannes Film Festival in 1952. The film which was Shantaram's crowning glory was Do Aankhen Bara Haath, winning awards from the Hollywood Press Association, the Berlin Film Festival, and His Holiness the Pope's Catholic Award. It was named Best film of 1957 at the National Film Awards. Shantaram's other films to get awards were Sehra and Geet Gaya Patharone, both for colour photography.
Shantaram was named Best Director for the Filmfare Award in 1956 for his film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje, and the BFJA award as Best Director for the film Parbat Pe Apna Dera in 1945. Jhunj won the Maharashtra State Award for Best Editing in 1975. Awards in memory have been instituted by Central Government and Maharashtra State Government, and the V. Shantaram Motion Picture Scientific Research and Cultural Foundation, established in 1993, shortly after the maestro's death, offers various awards to film makers, presented on 18th November each year being Shantaram's birth anniversary.
Shantaram was honoured with Padmabhushan in 1992. He has been connected with various film institutions, being a member of the Film Advisory Board and Central Board of Film Censors. He was the founder President of the Film Producers Guild of India, member of the S. K. Patil Film Inquiry Committee, and founder member of the Children's Film Society.
On 18th Nov. 2001 Indian Postal department issued a stamp on Shri V. Shantaram.
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Courtesy : Shri Sudhir Jain, www.geocities.com/mrsudhirjain
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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
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