Ayodhyecha Raja
Encyclopedia
Ayodhyecha Raja was the first Marathi
talkie released in 1932, directed by Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre (V. Shantaram
) . It is based on the mythological story of Raja Harishchandra
of Ayodhya and his test by sage Vishwamitra, as recounted in Valmiki
s epic, Ramayana
.
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 Farooque wrote the Hindi dialogue, while screenwriter, N.V. Kulkarni also did Marathi dialogue . India's first full length feature film, Raja Harishchandra
(1913) was also made on the same storyline.
's first talkie film , but also for its director, V. Shantaram
. In its time, it was a leap not just 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 . 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 .
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
talkie released in 1932, directed by Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre (V. Shantaram
V. Shantaram
V. Shantaram is a renowned Indian filmmaker, film producer and actor. He is most known for his films like Dr...
) . It is based on the mythological story of Raja Harishchandra
Harishchandra
Harishchandra, in Hindu religious texts is the 36th king of the Solar Dynasty, Surya Maharishi Gothram . His legend is very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life. He was renowned for his piety and justice. His name is Sanskrit for "having golden splendour".Harishchandra had two...
of Ayodhya and his test by sage Vishwamitra, as recounted in Valmiki
Valmiki
Valmiki is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayana, based on the attribution in the text of the epic itself. He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka i.e...
s epic, Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
.
The film was also made as a double-version, Ayodhya Ka Raja (1932) in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, making it the first double version talkie of Indian cinema, wherein Munshi Ismail Farooque wrote the Hindi dialogue, while screenwriter, N.V. Kulkarni also did Marathi dialogue . India's first full length feature film, Raja Harishchandra
Raja Harishchandra
Raja Harishchandra , is a 1913 silent Indian film directed and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke, and is the first full-length Indian feature film...
(1913) was also made on the same storyline.
Significance
The film was not just Prabhat Film CompanyPrabhat Film Company
Prabhat Film Company popularly known as Prabhat Films was an Indian film production company and film studios, formed in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India in 1929, towards the end of silent films' era, by the noted film director V. Shantaram, along with V.G. Damle, K.R. Dhaiber, S. Fatelal and S.B...
's first talkie film , but also for its director, V. Shantaram
V. Shantaram
V. Shantaram is a renowned Indian filmmaker, film producer and actor. He is most known for his films like Dr...
. In its time, it was a leap not just 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
Durga Khote
Durga Khote was an Indian actress, starting as one of the foremost leading ladies of her times, she remained active in Hindi and Marathi cinema, as well as theatre, for over 50 years, starring in around 200 films and numerous theatre productions....
, who belonged to an upper class and elite Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
family into Marathi cinema, paved way for other women from upper classes to enter cinema . V. Shantaram made another version film, Duniya Na Mane
Duniya Na Mane
Duniya Na Mane is a 1937 Hindi social classic directed by V. Shantaram, and based on the Marathi novel, "Na Patnari Goshta” by Narayan Hari Apte, who also wrote film’s screenplay...
(Kunku in Marathi) in 1937.
After the 2003 fire at the National Archives of India
National Archives of India
The National Archives of India is a repository of the non-current records of the Government of India and is holding them in trust for the use of administrators and scholars. Originally established as the 'Imperial Record Department' in 1891, in Calcutta, the then capital of British India...
, Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
in which prints of first Indian talkie Alam Ara
Alam Ara
Alam Ara is a 1931 film directed by Ardeshir Irani. It was the first Indian sound film.Irani recognized the importance that sound would have on the cinema, and raced to complete Alam Ara before several contemporary sound films. Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai on March 14, 1931...
(1931) were lost, it is also the earliest surviving talkie of Indian cinema .
Cast
- Govindrao TembeGovindrao TembeGovind Sadashiv Tembe, popularly known as Govindrao Tembe was a harmonium player, stage actor, and music composer....
- HarishchandraHarishchandraHarishchandra, in Hindu religious texts is the 36th king of the Solar Dynasty, Surya Maharishi Gothram . His legend is very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life. He was renowned for his piety and justice. His name is Sanskrit for "having golden splendour".Harishchandra had two... - Durga KhoteDurga KhoteDurga Khote was an Indian actress, starting as one of the foremost leading ladies of her times, she remained active in Hindi and Marathi cinema, as well as theatre, for over 50 years, starring in around 200 films and numerous theatre productions....
- TaramatiTaramatiTaramati is one of two peaks on Harishchandragad, a fort dating back to the Yadav kingdom. This is the Second Highest Peak in Maharashtra State and is ranked just after Kalsubai. Located atop the Harishchandragad Plateau, this place offers a great trekking experience for both amateurs and experts... - Baburao Pendharkar - Mahajan Ganganath
- Master Vinayak - Rohidas
- Nimbalkar
- Shankarrao Bhosle
Soundtrack
Film has music by Govindrao TembeGovindrao Tembe
Govind Sadashiv Tembe, popularly known as Govindrao Tembe was a harmonium player, stage actor, and music composer....
- Shiv Shankara, Girjavaran
- Jai Jai Rajadiraj; singer: Vasant DesaiVasant DesaiVasant Desai was a Indian film music composer, most remembered for his score in V. Shantaram film, like Do Aankhen Barah Haath , Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje , Vijay Bhatt's Goonj Uthi Shehnai and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Guddi .-Early life:He born in 1912 into a wealthy family in Sonwad village,...
External links
- Ayodhyecha Raja at Prabhat Film CompanyPrabhat Film CompanyPrabhat Film Company popularly known as Prabhat Films was an Indian film production company and film studios, formed in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India in 1929, towards the end of silent films' era, by the noted film director V. Shantaram, along with V.G. Damle, K.R. Dhaiber, S. Fatelal and S.B...