Ayodhyecha Raja, literally "The King of Ayodhya", was the first Marathi talkie, released in 1932,[1][2] directed by Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre.[3] It is based on the puranic story of Raja Harishchandra of Ayodhya and his test by sage Vishwamitra, as recounted in Valmiki's epic, Ramayana.[4]
| Ayodhyecha Raja | |
|---|---|
 | |
| अयोध्येचा राजा | |
| Directed by | Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre (V. Shantaram) |
| Written by | N.V. Kulkarni (story and screenplay) |
| Produced by | Prabhat Film Company |
| Starring | Govindrao Tembe Durga Khote Baburao Pendharkar Master Vinayak |
| Cinematography | Keshavrao Dhaiber |
| Edited by | Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram |
| Music by | Govindrao Tembe |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 146 min |
| Country | India |
| Languages | Marathi Hindi |
The film was also made as a double-version, Ayodhya Ka Raja (1932) in Hindi, making it the first double version talkie of Indian cinema, wherein Munshi Ismail Farogh wrote the Hindi dialogue, while screenwriter N.V. Kulkarni also did Marathi dialogue.[5] India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913), was also made on the same storyline.
Significance
editThe film was not just Prabhat Film Company's first talkie film,[6] but also for its director, V. Shantaram.[7] In its time, it was a leap in sound, song and dialogue quality and became a hit. Eventually, it turned out to be a social leap as well for the film industry, as the entry of Durga Khote, who belonged to an upper class and elite Brahmin family into Marathi cinema, paved way for other women from upper classes to enter cinema.[8] V. Shantaram made another version film, Duniya Na Mane (Kunku in Marathi) in 1937.
After the 2003 fire at the National Archives of India, Pune in which prints of first Indian talkie Alam Ara (1931) were lost, it is also the earliest surviving talkie of Indian cinema.[9][10]
Cast
edit- Govindrao Tembe as Harishchandra
- Mrs Durga Khote as Taramati
- Digambar as Rohitashwa
- Nimbalkar as Vishwamitra
- B.Desai as Jatadhar
- Sushila as Maid Queen
- B.Pendharkar as Ganganath
- Vinayak as Narad
- G.R. Mane as Domb
Soundtrack
editAyodhyecha Raja has music by Govindrao Tembe:
- "Shiv Shankara, Girjavaran"
- "Jai Jai Rajadiraj"; singer: Vasant Desai[8]
References
edit- ^ Ayodhyecha Raja 1932 Marathi movie on YouTube
- ^ Meera Kosambi (5 July 2017). Gender, Culture, and Performance: Marathi Theatre and Cinema before Independence. Taylor & Francis. pp. 54–. ISBN 978-1-351-56589-9.
- ^ Gokulsing, K.; Wimal Dissanayake (2004). Indian popular cinema: a narrative of cultural change. Trentham Books. p. 24. ISBN 1-85856-329-1.
- ^ Jonathan Crow (2012). "Ayodhyecha Raja (1932)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012.
- ^ The Firsts of Indian Cinema: Milestones from 1896-2000 Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Film and Television Producers Guild of India
- ^ "Tribute: Remembering the pioneer". Screen. 8 December 2000. Archived from the original on 14 July 2008.
- ^ Lloyd, Ann; David Robinson (1987). The Illustrated history of the cinema. Macmillan. pp. 384. ISBN 0-02-919241-2.
- ^ a b Ranade, Ashok Da. (2006). Hindi Film Song: Music Beyond Boundaries. Bibliophile South Asia. pp. 110, 229. ISBN 81-85002-64-9.
- ^ Looking back, 1896-1960, by Rani Burra. Pub. Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 1981. p. 42.
- ^ Swamy, Rohan (15 May 2013). "We were lucky that we could save Ayodhyecha Raja: Anil Damle". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
External links
edit- Ayodhyecha Raja at IMDb
- Ayodhyecha Raja Archived 22 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine at Prabhat Film Company