Pundalik was a play presented by Shripad Natak Mandali. It was converted into a film by Dadasaheb Torane, and the film was released in Mumbai’s Coronation Theatre on 18th May, 1912. The even happened 102 years ago. Pundalik was Advocate Ramrao Kirtikar’s play, and was staged first by Pathare Prabhu Amateur Dramatic Club in 1904. The first show was witnessed by Ramchandra Gopal Torane as a spectator. He congratulated the cast and director. Thereafter, Kirtikar set up his Shripad Natak Mandali, and presented Shree Pundalik.There were many shows of the play.
India was influenced by the advent of films in 1896. Torane intended to picturise it. He contacted Hollywood people to get the technical know-how in 1909. He estimated the budget. One member of this Natak Mandali Advocate Nanasaheb Chitre secured Williamson Kinematograph movie camera of Born and Shepherd Company’s Mumbai branch.He also procured raw film and Johnson as cameraman. The cast included Torane, Tipnis and Joshi. The film was sent for processing to London by ship and the print was brought back. Whether there was a separate script for the film or the drama was captured on the film is still a matter of research. Shri Pundalik was released in Coronation Theatre, Sandhurst Road, Girgaon, Mumbai on 18th May, 1912. Dadasaheb Torane was just 22 then.
Dadasaheb Torane was from Malwan. He was born on 13th April, 1890 at Sukulwad village. He went to Karachi and learnt about electricity while on the job. He came to Mumbai and joined Greaves Cotton. He worked on Pundalik in his leisure time. He again went to Karachi. There he set up his first distribution company — Famous Pictures. He learnt about the different departments of film making.
In 1927, the first talkie Jazz Singer of Hollywood was released. Torane was fascinated by audio recording. He set up Movie Camera Company to provide audio equipment. He imported audiochemix from Hollywood to record sound. The same equipment was used for India’s first talkie Alam Ara of Ardeshir Irani.
He set up a production house Saraswati Cinetone in 1931. He presented Shamsundar in 1932. It was directed by Bhalji Pendharkar, and edited by Nanasaheb Sarpotdar. Shamsundar was both in Hindi and Marathi. The Marathi version completed 27 weeks at West End (present day Naaz ) in Mumbai. It was the first talkie that completed a Silver Jubilee. It had the cast of Shahu Modak and Shanta Apte. In those days, Prabhat’s Ayodhyacha Raja and Agnikankan too were released both in Marathi and Hindi.
Dadasaheb Torane has to his credit 20 films. He ceased his production work after 1942. His films include 5 silent films and fifteen talkies. Of these fifteen, 5 were bilingual, 7 Marathi and 3 Hindi. He had given his studio on rent, but the tenant mortgaged the studio using fake documents. He was betrayed. He, therefore, bade good bye to film industry.
The inputs have been given by Firoz Rangoonwalla and by an article obtained by Haneef Shakur for Screen from Dadasaheb Torane himself (1953 ).Paras Publications, Kolhapur has published a book on his life (2007). Shushma Yervadekar has contributed an article on him to Rangdeep, 2007. She got some inputs from Anil Ramchandra Torane, son of Dadasaheb Torane.
Advocate Ramrao Kirtikar’s contribution must be recorded. Pundalik as a play was conceived by him — the costumes, script, direction, stage arrangement, entry and exits. Pundalik as a film owes a lot to Kirtikar.