Preface
Cinema is the mon powertol and effective medium in the world today, a carrier of religious social, cultural, racial and political background. Besides, it has emerged as the most vibeant advocate of peace, endurance and international fraternity, especially against the fear of nou lear catastrophe and international terrorion as it has tremendous mesmerizing visual power to create mutual trust. Indeed the need of the hour is to establish peace and international brotherhood This writer was fortunate to get an offer in the year 2002 from ats English Weekly abroad to write 104 years history of Indian cinema-two pages per decade from 1895 to 1999 the last year of the 20th century. Quite challenging joh, isn't it! After completion of the work it suddenly dawned apon why not to elaborate it. But what to write and how' was the question. li was to pick up hidden valuables from profound ocean. Besides, there were several books on the subject already available in the market. Finally an idea struck to mind to include, history apart, the contents not available in any book published so far. In doing search and research it took complete ten years. The historical journey starts from 1880 and ends with 2007 adding eight years more covering total 128 years. Obviously the book of this big size is the result of Herculean effort. Several newspapers, periodicals and books referred to gather the facts made the job easy. The writer is highly indebted to all those who through their books, articles, news reports and information made this tough work posible and pays his deep gratitude to them for extending valuable cooperation especially to Mr Suresh Chandavankar of Society of Indian Record.collectors, Mr Jayant M. Chauhan (Ahmedabad), Indian Postal Deptt. GPO, M'bai for providing postal stamped poster of Indian film personalities used on the cover page, Films Division, M'bai for providing photographs of Indian Documentary filmmakers. Komal Nahta for providing the editorial matter of the 1st issue of the Film Information The book has mentioned the early days position of cinema in America, Britain, Sweden, Germany, China, Japan and Soviet Russia le Armenia, Azerbaijan. Byelorussia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Moldavia, Turkmenistan, Ukrain and Uzbekistan.to show that India stood in quantity, quality, creativity and technicality second to none rather it has carved its own path rapidly to dazzle the global stage. In the last chapter 'Hitherto Untouched Topics' certain topics have been included that could not be discussed while describing the history like Showmanship, Fashion, He-man, Child Artistes, Darling Screen Sisters, Anti-Hero, Villains and so on. Finally, this preface will remain incomplete unless I pay my deep sense of gratitude to my wife Bharati Vyas that's what she is popularly known as in the field of radio broadcasting and singing, who stood by my side like supporting rock never allowing me to ever feel disheartened or defeated in the difficult situations all the time during the research work of the long ten years.
About The Book
For over a century, Indian cinema has emerged as a powerful medium, shaping na-tional culture, society and identity. From the earliest silent films to the grand spectacles of the 21st century, this book, while tracing the history of Indian cinema, provides an overview of hidden gems, forgotten pioneers, the rise of showmanship, the evolution of character actors, and child artists. It also places Indian cinema globally, showing how it has sustained its uniqueness while adapting to the changing techniques and technology of filmmaking. The book is profusely illustrated with over a hundred vibrant images, in both monochrome and vivid colour, and serves as a captivating time capsule of cinema's glorious history. Written with passion and deep respect for the art form, this is more than just a history. It is a celebration of the people, the moments, and the magic that have made Indian cinema what it is today. The present monumental project, which was taken up by the author on the occasion of the centenary year celebrations of Indian Cinema (1913-2013), presents a rare document that is likely to appeal to academics, film critics, gen-eral readers, and students of Cinema alike.
India is one of the largest film producers globally, beating even Japan and the United States. This Western art form, 'cinema,' was picked up by India quickly and with excellence. The cinema art, being called the 'Art of all Arts,' combines various forms of art, ranging from dance and drama to literature and architecture. Considering India's rich and illustrious history in many different art forms, it is no wonder that the country has taken a leading role in the world of cinema.
About The Author
Dr. Rajendra Sanjay (b. 1943) is a writer, playwright, journalist, and radio broadcaster with a career spanning over four decades. A former Programme Executive at All India Radio's Vividh Bharati Service, he has written and directed numerous radio dramas, scripted programmes, and contributed extensively to Indian broadcasting. Fluent in multiple languages, he has been actively engaged in literature, journalism, and theatre. His writings, which include poetry, stories, film reviews, and cultural commentaries, have been published in prominent Hindi magazines as well as in English film journals. His deep research on Indian cinema led to this extensive historical work, tracing more than 125 years of its evolution. He has also contributed to film writing and production, including the award-winning feature film Woh Jo Tha Ek Messiah: Maulana Azad. Furthermore, he has authored a comprehensive book on Bhojpuri Cinema's filmography and film index titled Bhojpuri Filmography aur Film Index, apart from Bhojpuri Filmon ka Itihas. He is deeply connected with Radio and Films as an actor, writer, director, and lyricist. A significant playwright, his works include Rangmanch Natya Shilp and Ruaab, for which he received Sahitya Kala Parishad's Best Play Award (1985-86). With his vast experience in literature, radio, journalism, and cinema, Dr Sanjay continues to be a prominent voice in the artistic space, preserving and documenting its rich legacy. He has also founded Kala Bharati Natya Sangh to promote Hindi theatre.
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