Changes between Initial Version and Version 1 of Baburao Painter

Timestamp:

Jun 28, 2012, 4:13:21 PM (12 years ago)

Author:

Trupti

Comment:

--

Baburao Painter

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+'''Baburao Painter (1890-1954)'''
+
+
+Marathi-Hindi director born Baburao
+Krishnarao Mestri in Kolhapur, into family of
+traditional craftsmen. Taught himself to paint
+(hence his name) and sculpt in academic artschool
+style. He and his artist cousin
+Anandrao Painter were, between 1910 and
+1916, the leading painters of stage
+backdrops in Western India, doing several
+famous curtains for Sangeet Natak troupes
+(esp. Bal Gandharva and Tembe’s
+companies) but also for Gujarati Parsee
+theatre. Became avid filmgoers after seeing
+Raja Harishchandra (1913). Perceiving its
+theatrical limitations, they turned to cinema,
+first as exhibitors (Shivaji theatre, Kolhapur)
+while trying to assemble their own camera.
+Anandrao died in 1916. Baburao and his main
+disciple, Damle, eventually put together a
+working camera in 1918. With financial
+support from local nobility, started
+Maharashtra Film with Seeta Swayamvar,
+although that film was later abandoned.
+Remained head of studio until 1932,
+launching many talented cineastes, including
+the group that later left to set up Prabhat:
+Damle, Fattelal and Shantaram. Resigned
+following Lanka, producing Prem Sangam
+for Anand Pics. Later ran Shalini Cinetone
+(1932-8). Then occasional freelance director
+(e.g. Lokshahir Ramjoshi on Shantaram’s
+invitation, although Shantaram finished the
+film himself). Added a Marathi soundtrack to
+his Prem Sangam and re-released it in 1934 as
+his first sound film. Practised cinema as a
+continuation of earlier craft traditions, seen as a
+contribution to Swadeshi, legitimated by
+nationalist leader B.G. Tilak’s public
+commendation of his achievements (1918).
+Developed sophisticated art direction and
+shooting techniques, e.g. the use of backdrops
+in red and yellow to register the right shades of
+grey on film, the manufacture of primitive
+filters with tinted glass, the first use of indoor
+electric lighting with generators, use of fades,
+etc. Also used costume design and art direction
+to relate to characters’ spaces, reserving
+elaborate sets and design for fantasy films.
+Helped codify the mythological and founded
+the social (Savkari Pash) and the historical
+(Sinhagad, Baji Prabhu Deshpande) as film
+genres.
+
+
+'''FILMOGRAPHY:''' 1919: Congress Session in
+Bombay (Doc); 1920: Sairandhri; 1921:
+Surekha Haran; 1922: Bhagwata Bhakta
+Damaji; 1923: Sinhagad; Shri Krishna
+Aavtar; 1924: Sati Padmini; Kalyan
+Khajina; 1925: Shahala Shah; Rana Hamir;
+Maya Bazaar; Savkari Pash; 1926: Gaja
+Gauri; Bhakta Prahlad; 1927: Muraliwala;
+Sati Savitri; 1929: Baji Prabhu Deshpande;
+1930: Lanka; 1932: Prem Sangam (all St);
+1935: Usha; 1936: Savkari Pash; 1937:
+Pratibha; Sadhvi Meerabai; 1946: Rukmini
+Swayamvar; 1947: Lokshahir Ramjoshi/
+Matwala Shayar Ramjoshi; 1952:
+Vishwamitra; 1953: Mahajan.
+
+[[Director]]