more of the same

Here are some of the great Indian Cinema Directors.Phalke was the father of Indian cinema, he made the first full length feature film called "Raja Harischandra" in 1915.The greatest film award,for lifetime achievement in Cinema given by the Government of India is called the Phalke award. Phalke , it seems was offered some seed capital by Bal Gangadhar thilak to establish the "Indian " Film Industry, he refused the offer but went on to establish the Hindustan Film company.It was his desire to make the mythological stories of India in films.He was inspired by a film made on the life of Christ.
Guru Dutt, the master of the black and white...has his stamp aptly in Black and white.His classics like the autobiographical "kagaz ke phool",Pyaasa,Sahib bibi aur Ghulam will live forever.With his cameraman V.K.Murthy he set visual standards that still remain.As an actor he chose the soft,romantic roles....tragedy too was welcome.
Director V.Shantharam can verily be called one of the Doyens of Hindi Cinema. His works including the life of Dr.Kotnis , Do aankhen barah haath will remain classics.
The stamp designer has chosen to put in some handprints (haath)in the stamp if you notice carefully. They appear as smudges below 4 oo and all around the standing image of Shantharam.He was one of the few who started with the silent era and made movies well into the talkie era as well.
All great Directors who made great movies.

Indian Stamps on Cinema

I have been remiss in blogging and a big sorry to those who have been kind enough to see my blog and comment.I promise that there will be a weekly edition on this topic STAMPS ON CINEMA.Just a few days ago a stamp for the famous actor Gemini Ganesh was released but let me talk of those that came a bit earlier.
Many may not know that the famous Magasaysay award winning singer M.S. acted in movies in the 1930s and her all India fame came because of her role as the singing saint 'Meera'.
A.V.Meiyappan started the famous AVM Studios,probably the oldest movie making studio in Asia, by this I mean the Studio continues to make movies , in this its 60th year.He has directed a few films too.
Charlie Chaplin needs no introduction, the Indian Government issued this stamp in 1978 to mark his birth centenary....the only film person of non Indian origin to be so honoured, we have had stamps for Beethoven,Michelangelo(actually his paintings on the sistine chapel) etc.
more to follow....something interesting about M.S. and postage stamps.
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