V. Shantaram - Awards, Best Movies, Biography, Birthday, Career, Age

Profile Summary

Table Of Content

• Biography
• Age
• Childhood
• Education
• Family
• Career
• Career Timeline 
• Awards
• Achievements
• 6 Interesting Facts About V. Shantaram

Biography

Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre, better known as V. Shantaram, was a prominent figure in Indian cinema as a director, actor, and producer. He is recognized as one of the film industry's forefathers and is credited with making significant contributions to both the Marathi film industry and the Hindi film industry. V. Shantaram was born on November 18, 1901, in the city of Kolhapur, which is located in the state of Maharashtra in modern-day India.

In the 1920s, he entered the film industry with the intention of pursuing a career as an actor, initially working in silent films. It was his performance in the film Surekha Haran (1921), which was one of the earliest Marathi films, that brought him widespread recognition. Along with a few other individuals who shared his vision, V. Shantaram established the Prabhat Film Company in Kolhapur in the year 1929.

After some time, the company relocated its headquarters to Pune. His direction helped Prabhat Film Company become one of the most successful film studios in India, and the company's output included a number of films that were both well-received by critics and profitable at the box office. Films such as Kunku (1937), Duniya Na Mane (1937), and Amar Jyoti (1936) are some of the most notable directorial efforts that V. Shantaram undertook during the Prabhat era. These films displayed his artistic vision while also addressing social issues; as a result, he received a lot of praise and recognition for his work.

Age

V. Shantaram was born on November 18, 1901. He dies on October 30, 1990. He was 88 years old as of 1990. His Zodiac sign is Scorpio.

Childhood

V. Shantaram, whose birth name was Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre, had a humble V. Shantaram, whose birth name was Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre, had a humble childhood. On November 18, 1901, he came into the world in the city of Kolhapur, which is located in the state of Maharashtra in modern-day India. Shantaram spent his childhood in a humble setting due to the fact that Kolhapur was a relatively unimportant town during his formative years.

Shantaram's family was one of the few that could speak Marathi. His father, Rajaram Vankudre, was self-employed and ran a few businesses on the side. Shantaram's upbringing was shaped by the difficulties that his family faced due to their economic circumstances, which were a constant source of stress for the family. Shantaram's family, despite the challenges they faced, supported his artistic inclinations and encouraged him to pursue his passion for acting and filmmaking.

Shantaram's early years were marked by the development of a lifelong passion for the stage and the performing arts. He was a young child when he began actively participating in stage productions on the local level and demonstrating his talent. Because he was exposed to the world of performing arts at such a young age, he was able to build a solid foundation for his future career in the film industry.

Shantaram's artistic sensibilities were significantly influenced by both the circumstances of his childhood in Kolhapur as well as the socioeconomic climate of the city. These experiences were eventually incorporated into his films, in which he frequently explored social issues and endeavored to bring about positive change through the medium of his work.

Education

V. Shantaram attended The Private High School and Junior College located in Kolhapur, India.

Family

Shantaram was born in the year 1901 in the city of Kolhapur to a family of Marathi lingayats. Rajaram Vankurde was V. Shantaram's father, and Kamalabai was his mother. V. Shantaram was named after him. In 1921, at the age of 20, he got married to Vimalabai, who was only 12 years old, in a marriage that had been arranged by both of their families. Together with his wife, Vimalabai, he had four children: the son Prabhat Kumar, after whom Shantaram named his movie company, as well as the daughters Saroj, Madhura, and Charusheela. 

The eldest daughter, Saroj, is married to a Parsi gentleman named Soli Engineer, and together they manage the Valley View Grand Resort in Panhala, which is located close to Kolhapur. The resort was built on Shantaram's farmhouse, which Saroj was able to inherit. Madhura, the second daughter of Shantaram, is married to Pandit Jasraj and is the mother of music director Shaarang Dev Pandit and TV personality Durga Jasraj. Madhura is also the wife of Pandit Jasraj. Charusheela, the third daughter of Shantaram, is the mother of Sushant Ray, also known as Siddharth Ray, an actor who works in Hindi and Marathi.

Shantaram got married to the actress Jayashree, whose maiden name was Kamulkar, in 1941. They had previously collaborated on a number of films, including Shakuntala (1942), before their marriage. With Jayashree, he had three children: a son, Kiran Shantaram, who is known for directing and producing Marathi films, as well as two daughters, Rajshree and Tejashree, who are both known for acting.

Shantaram got married to another of his leading ladies, the actress Sandhya who was already starred in his films Amar Bhoopali and Parchaiyan and was about to be featured in many of his future films like Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje, Navrang, Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli, and Sehra. Sandhya developed a strong bond with Vimalabai and her children, and she now lived with them as a respected mother even though they did not have any children of their own. This is despite the fact that she and her partner did not have any children of their own during their time together.

Career

Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre was a well-known Indian actor, director, and film producer who worked primarily in the Marathi and Hindi film industries. He passed away in 2005. The 18th of November 1901 marked his birth, and the 30th of October 1990 marked his passing away. In addition, people referred to him as V. Shantaram or Shantaram Bapu. In 1917, when the family was going through a difficult financial time, they moved from Kholapur to Hubbbali, also known as Hubli in the state of Karnataka. Shantaram, who was only a teenager at the time, took a job as a fitter in the railway workshop in Hubballi. His starting salary was 8 annas (or 50 paise), but after he proved himself to be a hard worker, his pay was increased to 12 annas per day. Evenings found him at the NEW Deccan Cinema Theatre in Hubballi, where he held the position of doorkeeper. Despite the fact that he was not compensated for his work, he was given free access to all of the films. It was there that he developed a passion for movies by watching Dadasaheb Phalke's films, who is considered the father of Indian Cinema. 

In Hubballi, he received training in photography as well as painting on sign boards. After some time had passed, he remarked that the very first time he touched the camera, he felt an instant connection to it. He is best recognized for his films Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946), Amar Bhoopali (1951), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957), Navrang (1959), Duniya Na Mane (1937), Pinjara (1972), Chani, Iye Marathiche Nagari, and Zunj. In the film industry, Shantaram, who was fondly known as Annasaheb, had a distinguished career that spanned almost seven decades and earned him the name Annasaheb. 

On the one hand, he used it to advocate humanism and expose bigotry and injustice on the other, and he was one of the first filmmakers to realize the potential of the film medium as an instrument of social change. He was also one of the first filmmakers to realize the potential of the film medium as an instrument of social change. He was a pioneer in the film industry and one of the first filmmakers to recognize the potential of the film medium as a vehicle for effecting positive social change. Along with a number of other individuals who shared his vision, V. Shantaram established the Prabhat Film Company in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, in the year 1929. After some time, the company relocated its headquarters to Pune. As a result of his direction, Prabhat Film Company rose to become one of the most successful film studios in India. The company is well-known for the innovative filmmaking techniques and high-quality films it produces.

PlayV. Shantaram made his debut as a director with the Marathi film Netaji Palkar (1927). However, it was while he was working for Prabhat Film Company that he established a reputation for himself as a director of films that were both artistically acclaimed and socially relevant. The films Kunku (1937), Duniya Na Mane (1937), and Amar Jyoti (1936) are three examples of his directing work that are particularly noteworthy from the Prabhat period. Acclaimed for addressing social issues and showcasing his artistic vision, these films have garnered praise from reviewers. In the 1940s, V. Shantaram moved his studio, Rajkamal Kalamandir, to the city that was then known as Bombay but is now known as Mumbai. He kept directing and producing films, exploring a wide range of topics and categories throughout his career. 

One of his most important works during this time period was the film Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957), which was a film with a focus on social issues and received a great deal of critical acclaim both nationally and internationally. The films of V. Shantaram were renowned for their compelling narratives, cutting-edge technical approaches, and beautiful cinematic aesthetics. He directed everything from social issues and historical dramas to musicals and patriotic films, demonstrating his versatility as a director. The films Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Navrang (1959), and Pinjra (1972) are just a few of his other well-known works. In addition to his work in the film industry, V. Shantaram was a member of the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house of the Indian Parliament, from the years 1960 until 1966. Through the use of his position, he advocated for the betterment of the film industry and brought attention to issues that were relevant to filmmakers.

Career Timeline

As an Actor

As a Director and Producer

Awards

• 1955 – All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film for the film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje

• 1955 – President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi for the film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje

• 1957 – President's Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film for the film Do Aankhen Barah Haath

• 1957 – President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi for the film Do Aankhen Barah Haath

• 1957 – Filmfare Award for Best Director for the film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje

• 1958 – Berlin International Film Festival, OCIC Award for the film Do Aankhen Barah Haath

• 1958 – Berlin International Film Festival, Silver Bear for the film Do Aankhen Barah Haath

• 1959 - 16th Golden Globe Awards, Samuel Goldwyn International Film Award for the film Do Aankhen Barah Haath (won)

• 1985 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award

• 1992 – Padma Vibhushan 

Achievements 

• 2017 – On November 18, 2017, Google recognized Shantaram on the occasion of his 116th birthday by displaying a Google Doodle on the front page of their Indian website.

• Amar Bhoopali, also known as The Immortal Song, was entered into competition at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival.

6 Interesting Facts About V. Shantaram

• As a teenager, he was employed by the railways, and later, he served as an apprentice in Bal Gandharva's Gandharva Natak Mandali. 

• Surekha Haran was the first movie that V. Shantaram appeared in as an actor. The movie was silent. And that same year, 1927, he directed his first film, which was titled Netaji Palkar.

• In the long history of Indian cinema, Ayodhyecha Raja, directed by V. Shantaram, holds the distinction of being the first feature film to be shot in both Hindi and English simultaneously. The film, which was released in 1932, was the first Marathi talkie. The screenwriter Munshi Ismail Farooque was responsible for the Hindi dialogue, while the Marathi dialogue was written by N.V. Kulkarni.

• Music was something that V. Shantaram cared about very deeply. Reports claim that he ghostwrote music for many of his music directors and that he also played a very significant role in the process of creating music. In addition, it is said that he took part in the process himself.

• V Shantaram is considered to be one of the pioneering filmmakers of Indian cinema. He is primarily recognized for his significant contribution to the Marathi film industry. Charlie Chaplin was another person who lauded him for his work on the Marathi film Manoos.

• His final significant film in Hindi was released in 1964 and was titled Geet Gaya Patharon Ne. In this film, he debuted his daughter Rajshree opposite the newcomer actor Jeetendra.