 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Indian Film industry, Entertainment |
| Founded | 1 June 1929 |
| Founder | Vishnupant Govind Damle, V. Shantaram, S Fatelal, Keshav Rao Dhaibar, Seetaram Kulkarni[1] |
| Defunct | 13 October 1953 |
| Headquarters | , India (1933 onwards) |
Key people | V. Shantaram |
| Services | Filmmaking |
| Website | www |
Prabhat Film Company (popularly known as Prabhat Films) was an Indian film production company and studio facility founded in 1929 in Kolhapur. It was established by filmmaker V. Shantaram, along with Vishnupant Govind Damle, Keshav Rao Dhaibar, S. Fatelal, and S. V. Kulkarni.[2] The company gained prominence during the transition from silent films to talkies and was recognised for its technical excellence and socially conscious storytelling.
In 1933, the company moved to Pune, where it established its own studio. Over 24 years, Prabhat Films produced 45 films in Marathi and Hindi. During the advent of talkies in India, Prabhat Films, along with Kolkata’s New Theatres, stood out for its artistic achievements and socially relevant themes. Some of its notable productions include Kunku (released in Hindi as Duniya Na Mane), Swarajyacha Toran (also called Udaykal), based on the life of Shivaji, Dharmatma on Saint Eknath, Sant Tukaram on the eponymous saint-poet and social reformer, Shejari (released in Hindi as Padosi), addressing communal harmony, Manoos (also called Aadmi), tackling alcoholism, and Amar Jyoti, advocating women’s emancipation.
Today, the former premises of Prabhat Film Company in Pune houses the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).[1][3] The site also features the Prabhat Museum, which showcases artifacts, original contracts, costumes, props, equipment, posters, and stills from the company's history.[4] Additionally, the University of Chicago Library holds a collection of 27 films produced by Prabhat Film Company between 1932 and 1949.[5]
- ^ a b The eternal dawn[dead link] Uma Karve, Indian Express, 28 May 2002.
- ^ A navrang of Shantaram's films - Retrospective[usurped] The Hindu, 2 May 2002.
- ^ 75 years on, this film company's classics haven't faded out[dead link] Express Features Service, Indian Express, 14 June 2003.
- ^ Prabhat Museum Archived 2009-08-08 at the Wayback Machine Film and Television Institute of India.
- ^ Prabhat Films Archived 31 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine University of Chicago Library.