There have been a very few filmmakers in India who can be compared with V. Shantaram. With a directional career of about 70 years from 1927 (Netaji Palkar)to 1986 (Jhanjhar), he a one-of-his-own-kind Legend.This great producer-director-actor is most known for his films like Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946), Amar Bhoopali (1951), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957) and Navrang (1959), to the path breaking Duniya Na Mane (1937) and Pinjara (1973). Who hasn't been moved by Ai malik tere bande hum in Do Ankhen Barah Haath? And who can forget the sinuous, gravity-defying dances of Sandhya in Navrang and Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje? And Aadmi, the remake of what is arguably his finest film, Manoos, where he used nights and shadows to enhance the narration, a pioneering technique at the time. He has depicted the rich Indian art, culture and values like none other.
I've included a holi song from Navrang (& not one from Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje or Do Aankhen Barah Haath) because of its amazing editing sequences. This song reminds me of my childhood Sunday mornings watching Rangoli. One thing notable about Sandhyaji's dance is how she depicts a shy girl and immediately tramsforms into a rather rowdy man. Later the steps performed with the elephant in scene is amazingly brave of her. Today's actresses like Katrina Kaif can't even change their facial expressions. Dancing front and back, changing the entire body language with an elephant dancing beside you is too much to expect.
Today, these names are loosing their stand in the hip-hop generation. V. Shantaram is an institution who commands incredible respect in the industry. The kind of film making techniques and ideas he possessed during his time are not found in today's generation. He has his own place in the history of Indian cinema and is an inspiration for many. He was an Indian filmmaker loved by likes of Godard & Charlie Chaplin. He was a doyen whose techniques and imagination knew no bounds.
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Magician Edllusion has taken magical ambiguities to the sense of touch with his famous trick called The Powers of Darkness. Here a Ontario best magicain a regular wire coat hanger (upper row, left), and then an assistant secretly swaps in a trick hanger that has a gap in it (upper row, right). With the volunteer's eyes shut, the magician.
Chris Mike Entertainment had performed a few of these back at Tannen’s. But, as with old friends who reappear for Zoom cocktail hour, Mentalist for Corporate Event DC are fun-mentalists who have great entertainment ideas that mostly include on-stage performances and magic tricks with a touch of humor and charm to engage the audience.
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