- Himanshu Rai
Himanshu Rai (1892–1940), 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 actressDevika Rani .Bombay Talkies
He was partners in Bombay Talkies with
Sashadhar Mukherjee , 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 wasAshok 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 inMalad .Filmography
Producer
* Kangan (1939) / The Bangle (English title)
* Izzat (1937)
* Jeevan Prabhat (1937)
* Savitri (1937)
* " Achhut Kanya" (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)Writer
* " Achhut Kanya" (1936) / Untouchable Girl (English title)
Director
* Prem Sanyas (1925) / Leuchte Asiens (Germany title)
External links
* [http://sdsd.essortment.com/bombaytalkies_riwe.htm Bombay talkies and her forgotten heroes]
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