The Bombay Talkies Studio was the first Movie Production House of India. Fondly it was known as ‘Bombay Talkies’ which was a public limited company and was recorded as a company under the Indian Companies Act. It played a leading role in establishing Bollywood as an industry. The Bombay Talkies Studio was the stepping stones to the success of superstars such as Devika Rani, Ashok Kumar, Madhubala, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Mehmood, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and many others. The Bombay Talkies Studio gradually surfaced as a well ordered, self-sufficient and gainful company. It made public issues, affirmed dividends and bonus, and commanded a good reputation on the Bombay Stock Exchange.Foundation of The Bombay Talkies Studio
The Bombay Talkies Studio was established in 1934 in Malad, Mumbai in India by Himansu Rai and Devika Rani. Franz Osten and Niranjan Pal were the first full-time filmmakers related to this company. The Bombay Talkies Studio set a towering technological standard for filmmaking in India. It was a highly specialised movie studio (compared to its time), with sound and echo-proof stages, laboratories and editing rooms as well as a preview theatre.
Productions at The Bombay Talkies StudioThe Bombay Talkies Studio imparted a new facet to themes of films, and produced films on contentious topics such as the story of love ‘Achhut Kanya’ (1936) between an Untouchable girl and a high class Hindu Brahmin boy. Other distinguished movies produced by the Bombay Talkies Studio incorporated famed movies of the time like ‘Jawani ki Hawa’ (1935), starring Devika Rani, and ‘Jeevan Naiya’ (1936), a romantic film starring Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar. The 1942 movie ‘Basant’ saw Madhubala for the first time as a child artist.
Decline of The Bombay Talkies Studio
With the subsequent demise of Himansu Rai, the founder and stalwart of the studio, the Bombay Talkies Studio had an abrupt breakdown. His wife Devika Rani, took charge of the company, and was also made the controller of production of the Bombay Talkies Studio. Devika Rani sustained the high tradition of the Bombay Talkies Studio.
After Devika Rani left the company, Ashok Kumar with his brother-in- law Sashadhar purchased and tried to restore it, making the hit film ‘Mahal’ in 1949, but ultimately the company closed down. Presently, the Bombay Talkies Studio is in a decrepit state, and has lost the unspoiled glory, which it once commanded.For more, visit the link below:
