Life seems colourless without entertainment. Everyone needs something or other to entertain themselves. Talking about Indians, movies are a great source of entertainment. So, the man who had given them this unconventional mode of entertainment is equally important. Today Google Doodle pays tribute to the pioneer of Indian Cinema V. Shantaram on his 116th birth anniversary. He was the man who contributed in growth of Indian cinema.
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Life and Career
Born on 8 November 1901, V. Shantaram was not only successful director but also an actor and a producer. His full name was Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre but popularly known as V Shantaram. He was the one who had introduced sound and colour to Indian cinema. He began his career as a theatre artist. At the age of 18, he joined the Maharashtra Film Company and directed a couple of films. The veteran Indian filmmaker V. Shantaram made the first bilingual film in the history of Indian cinema. He directed Ayodhyecha Raja in Marathi and Ayodhya Ka Raja in Hindi.
Also known as Annasaheb, V. Shantaram is known for cinematic classics such as ‘Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani’ and ‘Do Aankhen Barah Haath.’ He had also directed movies like Amar Bhoopali (1951), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955) and Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957).
In 1929, he founded the Prabhat Film Company. As a tribute to his parents Rajaram and Kamalabhai, he also set up the Rajkamal Kalamandir Studio in Bombay. He died on 30 October 1990 in Mumbai.
Awards
The veteran filmmaker had been honoured with several awards and recognitions. In 1958, at the Berlin Film Festival, he was given Silver Bear for Extraordinary Prize of the Jury for Do Aankhen Barah Haath and Pais at the Cannes Film Festival in 1952 for Amar Bhoopali. Mr. Shantaram was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1986.
