Harishchandrachi Factory - Phalke saheb, Jai Ho!

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A delightfully-narrated description of Dadasaheb Phalke's struggle during the making of India’s first motion picture!

Be it mortgaging his house or raising Rs.4 crores on his own in order to make this film, débutante writer/director Paresh Mokashi has left no stone unturned in ensuring that Harishchandrachi Factory is made, and made so well that it makes its mark on the minds of both types of audiences – the critics as well as the common man. Harishchandrachi Factory is a journey that the audience undergoes alongwith Dadasaheb Phalke, his family and his supporters during the making, release and success of India's first silent black & white film, Raja Harishchandra. It showcases a period of 2 years, from 1911-1913. This, is its story.

Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, aka Dadasaheb Phalke (Nandu Madhav) had abandoned a well established printing business after a quarrel with his business partner, and soon Phalke's family was struggling to survive. One day he accidentally stumbled across a tent theatre that was screening a silent motion picture and was awestruck by it. It was then that the idea of making a film struck him. Along with his hardworking wife Saraswati (Vibhawari Deshpande) and two enthusiastic children, he ventured into a field unknown to colonial India. Making Raja Harishchandra was an amazing adventure. The Phalke family then encountered many ups and downs but remained upbeat throughout. They were a team of crazy yet lovable people that helped in winning over patrons, and eventually money. When the film released in 1913, it became a runaway hit! In 1914, Phalke refused offers from his English friends to make films in London, the reason being - 'I must keep making films in India, so that it gets established as an industry at home'. The rest, as they say, is history.

Pros

1. The story – of Dadasaheb Phalke’s struggle to make India’s first film and his family’s staunch support through thick and thin. A wonderful subject to make a film on!
2. Paresh Mokashi’s screenplay as well as the dialogue is perfectly suited for celluloid. No unnecessary song-and-dance routine, no big stars, no flashy cars! Just the right content.
3. The approach of Dadasaheb Phalke towards making a motion picture and that too beginning from less than a scratch has been beautifully shown to the finest detail. The story is simple and humorous, with no clichéd drama or emotional conflict. It is a very optimistic, positive and refreshing take on a man's stuggle to achieve his dreams - developed along the 'One Rasa Theory’ of film-making, which has been used in films like Life Is Beautiful.
4. How can a movie succeed without strong performances from all its actors? Nandu Madhav as Dadasaheb himself colours his part extremely well and is very believable. Vibhawari as Phalke's wife Saraswati paints a picture of an epitome of trust & understanding. Even the other actors playing Phalke's sons and actors from the drama troupe are casted well and help carry forward the tone set for the film.
5. And last but defiinitely not the least, the length. Harishchandrachi Factory is a crisp 96 minutes, in a time when even English movies today are over 2 hours! But since the story is so relevant and concisely told, even the hour and a half suffices. 

Cons
It might seem a little unfair and biased, maybe, but I really didn't find anything lacking or excess in the movie. I might've written that the movie should've been released with English subtitles too, but then UTV has also taken care of that! So after that, it becomes nothing but an extraordinary piece of cinema.

Verdict
Close on the heels of Natarang, comes yet another feather on the cap of Marathi cinema. Harishchandrachi Factory is a befitting tribute to the genius that was Dadasaheb Phalke - and a token of appreciation for initiating a movement that has gone on to create the second largest movie industry in the world.
To sign off, despite all its pluses, I will rate this movie a 4.75 since there are a handful of movies that are, albeit only a shade, better. Otherwise, Harishchandrachi Factory is a complete package. Please do not miss this lovely cinematic tribute. It's a must watch!

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Rating --- 4.75/5

 

 

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this review are my personal views and do not reflect those of my employer or its clients in any way)

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