Himanshu Rai
Encyclopedia
Himanshu Roy one of the pioneers of Indian cinema, is best known as the founder of the Bombay Talkies
in 1934. He was associated with a number of movies, including Goddess (1922), The Light of Asia
(1925), Siraj (1926), A Throw of Dice
(1928), and Karma (1933).
He was married to actress Devika Rani
.
, and Mukherjee's brother in law worked as a technician in the studio. When due to suspected romantic liaisons of his wife and the leading man in one film, Himanshu had to sack the leading man and look for a replacement, he cast the gawky, awkward looking and relcutant brother-in-law as the leading man. The brother-in-law was Ashok Kumar
and he went on to have a very successful career in films.
After his death, there was a tussle for studio control, His widow Devika Rani
was in conflict with Sashadhar Mukherjee. Eventually there was dual control and alternate production of films by the two camps, during this era Sashadhar produced the studio's biggest hit to date Kismet
in 1943. Then Sashadhar broke away to form Filmistan in partnership, and Devika Rani did not have as much success with the studio while being fully in charge.
In 1945 Devika Rani married Svetoslav Roerich
and moved away from Bombay and films, Ashok Kumar and Sashadhar made a bid to revive Bombay talkies and produced one big hit in Mahal
. But eventually the studio shut down and is now just a decrepit property in Malad.
Bombay Talkies
The Bombay Talkies Limited was a movie studio produced 102 movies, founded in 1934 in Malad, Bombay , India, by Himanshu Rai, Rajnarayan Dube and Devika Rani along with businessmen like F. E...
in 1934. He was associated with a number of movies, including Goddess (1922), The Light of Asia
Prem Sanyas
Prem Sanyas was 1925 silent film, directed by Franz Osten and Himansu Rai. It was film adapted from the book, The Light of Asia in verse, by Edwin Arnold, based on the life of Prince Gautama Buddha, who after enlightenment became the Buddha, the learned one.-Production:The film was an...
(1925), Siraj (1926), A Throw of Dice
A Throw of Dice
A Throw of Dice is a 1929 silent film by German-born director, Franz Osten, based on an episode from the Indian epic The Mahabharata....
(1928), and Karma (1933).
He was married to actress Devika Rani
Devika Rani
Devika Rani Chaudhuri Roerich was an early Indian movie star.- Career :Born in Waltair , Devika Rani came from a distinguished background: she was the great-grandniece of the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and her father, Col. M. N. Chaudhuri, was the first Indian Surgeon-General of Madras...
.
Bombay Talkies
He was partners in Bombay Talkies with Sashadhar MukherjeeSashadhar Mukherjee
Sashadhar Mukherjee was a producer in Hindi films. He is part of the distinguished Mukherjee clan of Bollywood.Main article: Mukherjee-Samarth family...
, and Mukherjee's brother in law worked as a technician in the studio. When due to suspected romantic liaisons of his wife and the leading man in one film, Himanshu had to sack the leading man and look for a replacement, he cast the gawky, awkward looking and relcutant brother-in-law as the leading man. The brother-in-law was Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar also fondly called Dadamoni was an Indian film actor. Born Kumudlal Ganguly in Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency he attained iconic status in Indian cinema...
and he went on to have a very successful career in films.
After his death, there was a tussle for studio control, His widow Devika Rani
Devika Rani
Devika Rani Chaudhuri Roerich was an early Indian movie star.- Career :Born in Waltair , Devika Rani came from a distinguished background: she was the great-grandniece of the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and her father, Col. M. N. Chaudhuri, was the first Indian Surgeon-General of Madras...
was in conflict with Sashadhar Mukherjee. Eventually there was dual control and alternate production of films by the two camps, during this era Sashadhar produced the studio's biggest hit to date Kismet
Kismet (1943 film)
Kismet is a 1943 Indian Hindi film, written and directed by Gyan Mukherjee and produced by Bombay Talkies during the second world war period, while it was in a succession battle between Devika Rani and Sashadhar Mukherjee after owner Himanshu Rai's death...
in 1943. Then Sashadhar broke away to form Filmistan in partnership, and Devika Rani did not have as much success with the studio while being fully in charge.
In 1945 Devika Rani married Svetoslav Roerich
Svetoslav Roerich
Svetoslav Nikolaevich Roerich Russian painter, son of Nicholas Roerich, studied from a young age under his father's tutelage. He studied architecture in England in 1919 and entered Columbia University's school of architecture in 1920...
and moved away from Bombay and films, Ashok Kumar and Sashadhar made a bid to revive Bombay talkies and produced one big hit in Mahal
Mahal (1949 film)
Mahal is a 1949 Indian Hindi film directed by Kamal Amrohi and starring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala....
. But eventually the studio shut down and is now just a decrepit property in Malad.
Producer
- Kangan (1939) / The Bangle (English title)
- Izzat (1937)
- Jeevan Prabhat (1937)
- Savitri (1937)
- Achhut KanyaAchhut KanyaAchhoot Kanya is a 1936 Hindi film. Among the early super-hits in the Bombay film industry, the film deals with the social position of Dalit girls and is considered a reformist period-piece.The film was one of several successful Bombay Talkies collaborations between Franz Osten, Niranjan Pal,...
(1936) / Untouchable Girl (English title) - Janmabhoomi (1936)
- Jeevan Naya (1936)
- Jawani Ki Hawa (1935) / Leichtsinn der Jugend (Germany title)
- Karma (1933)
- Prapancha Pash (1929) / A Throw of Dice (English title) / Schicksalswürfel (Germany title)
- Shiraz (1928) / Grabmal einer großen Liebe (Germany title)
Actor
- Karma (1933)
- Prapancha Pash (1929) / A Throw of Dice (English title) / Schicksalswürfel (Germany title)
- Shiraz (1928) / Grabmal einer großen Liebe (Germany title)
- Prem Sanyas (1925) / Leuchte Asiens (Germany title)