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Harishchandrachi Factory

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Harishchandrachi Factory
Theatrical release poster
Directed byParesh Mokashi
Written byParesh Mokashi
Produced byRonnie Screwvala
Smiti Kanodia
Paresh Mokashi
Starring
CinematographyAmalendu Chaudhary
Edited byAmit Pawar
Music byAnand Modak
Production
companies
Paprika Media
Mayasabha
Distributed byUTV Motion Pictures
Release dates
  • July 2009 (2009-07) (Osian's Cinefan)
  • 29 January 2010 (2010-01-29) (India)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMarathi

Harishchandrachi Factory (pronunciationⓘ; transl. Harishchandra's Factory) is a 2009 Indian Marathi-language biographical film written and directed by Paresh Mokashi. It is about Dadasaheb Phalke, who made the first Indian feature film Raja Harishchandra (1913), and starring Nandu Madhav as him and Vibhavari Deshpande as his wife Saraswati. Harishchandrachi Factory focuses on the struggle Phalke faced during its production.[1]

The film is the directorial debut of Paresh Mokashi who won the Best Director award at Pune International Film Festival, where the film was shown. In September 2009, it was selected as India's official entry to Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film Category, making it the second film, after Shwaas (2004), in Marathi cinema to receive this honour.[2]

Plot

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The film opens in 1911, with Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, known as Dadasaheb Phalke (Nandu Madhav), working as a printer and photographer in Bombay. He lives with his wife Saraswati Bai (Vibhavari Deshpande) and their children. Phalke's work at the printing press is interrupted by disagreements with his business partners, and he eventually leaves the printing business.

Phalke later watches a screening of a foreign silent film about Jesus Christ. Fascinated by the medium, he becomes determined to make films in India. He begins experimenting with filmmaking and photography at home, much to the curiosity and concern of his family. Saraswati Bai supports his interest despite the financial uncertainty it creates for the household. He studies available material about filmmaking and experiments with a camera and film equipment. He decides that he needs to learn the technical aspects of cinema and travels to London. Before leaving, he explains his plans to Saraswati Bai, who agrees to support him. In London, he meets filmmaker Cecil Hepworth and learns about filmmaking equipment and techniques. He returns to India with a motion-picture camera and begins preparing to make an Indian film.

Back in Bombay, Phalke starts experimenting with the camera and film stock. He conducts various tests, including filming a growing plant over several days to demonstrate the possibilities of time-lapse photography. He gradually assembles a team of assistants and begins searching for actors. He decides to make a film based on the story of King Harishchandra from Hindu mythology. He names the project Raja Harishchandra. Finding actors willing to work in films proves difficult, particularly for the female roles, as acting is regarded as socially unacceptable. He searches for suitable performers and eventually casts Anna Salunke (Mayur Khandge) a man who works as a cook, as Taramati.

As preparations continue, Saraswati Bai becomes closely involved in the production. She prepares costumes, helps with makeup and assists with the practical work required for the shoot. The family also becomes part of Phalke's filmmaking activities, with his children participating in the production. He and his team construct sets and begin shooting Raja Harishchandra. Because the actors and technicians have little experience with cinema, Phalke has to explain how scenes are to be performed for the camera. The production is repeatedly interrupted by technical and practical difficulties. He continues shooting despite these problems and the financial pressure caused by the production. At one point, Phalke's continued investment in filmmaking creates concern within his family. Saraswati Bai nevertheless remains supportive of his efforts. Phalke also faces difficulty feeding and maintaining his growing group of workers, while the production requires increasingly more money and resources.

After completing the shooting, Phalke processes and assembles the film. He prepares Raja Harishchandra for its first public screening. The film is screened at the Coronation Cinema in Bombay on 3 May 1913. The screening attracts an audience and establishes Phalke as the maker of India's first full-length Indian feature film.

Following the success of the screening, Phalke and his family celebrate the achievement. The film concludes with Phalke continuing his work in filmmaking, while his efforts have established the foundation for the growth of Indian cinema.[3]

Cast

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Critical reception

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The film was officially released in India on 29 January 2010 and received critical appreciation.[4]

Awards and honours

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Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2008 56th National Film Awards Best Feature Film in Marathi Harishchandrachi Factory Won [a 1]
SIGNS: John Abraham Awards Best Feature Film Harishchandrachi Factory Won [a 2]
2009 Ahmedabad International Film Festival Best Feature Film Harishchandrachi Factory Won [a 3]
18th Aravindan Puraskaram Best Debutant Director Paresh Mokashi Won [a 4]
Balasaheb Sarpotdar Award Best Feature Film Harishchandrachi Factory Won [a 5]
Gollapudi Srinivas Award Best Debutant Director Paresh Mokashi Won [a 6]
14th International Film Festival of Kerala Hassan Kutty Award for Best Debut Indian Film Harishchandrachi Factory Won [a 7]
India's Official entry Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film Harishchandrachi Factory Nominated [a 8]
1st International Film Festival Kolhapur Public Choice Award Harishchandrachi Factory Won [a 9]
46th Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Feature Film Harishchandrachi Factory Won [a 10]
Best Director Paresh Mokashi Won
Best Art Direction Nitin Chandrakant Desai Won
Marathi International Film and Theatre Awards Best Screenplay Paresh Mokashi Won [a 11]
Pune International Film Festival Best Director (Marathi Section) Paresh Mokashi Won [a 12]
2010 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles Audience Choice Awards Harishchandrachi Factory Won [a 13]

References

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  1. ↑ "Harishchandrachi Factory to tell story behind making of India's first feature film". Indian Express. Pune. 3 May 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "'Harishchandrachi Factory' India's entry for Oscars". The Times of India. Mumbai. 20 September 2009. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Sapre, Omkar (21 June 2008). "Dadasaheb Phalke: Man behind India's first film factory". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Masand, Rajeev (30 January 2010). "Masand Review: Harishchandrachi Factory, an important film". CNN IBN. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012.
Awards
  1. ↑ "56th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 82–83. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  2. ↑ "'Harishchandrachi Factory' wins award". Pune. 5 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 December 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  3. ↑ Rathore, Anurita (21 September 2009). "Amdavadis saw the Marathi film that could win Oscars next year". Ahmedabad Mirror. The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Paresh Mokashi bags Aravindan Puraskaram". Oneindia. Thiruvananthapuram. 17 March 2009. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "'Nave Valan' (New Turn) – Harishchandrachi Factory (Harishchandra's Factory)". National Centre for the Performing Arts. 16 November 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "The Gollapudi National Award Ceremony – 2009". Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "IFFK 2009: Awards". Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "List of Indian Submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film". Film Federation of India. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "Festival Report: 1st Kolhapur IFF". 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  10. ↑ Nair, Chitra (21 September 2009). "Harishchandrachi Factory is India's Oscar entry". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  11. ↑ "Marathi International Film and Theatre Awards 2010". Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "PIFF: A Flashback Studded With Memories of Treasure". Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  13. ↑ "2010 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles Award Winners" (Press release). Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
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