Japani Pankha

From PhalkeFactory

After going to stay in his own house, Dadasaheb contracted diabetes. He was without work. He would sit and write whatever came to his mind. Like the father of cinematography, David Griffith, Dadasaheb made trips from one studio to another with his stories. Towards the end of 1942, he visited Prabhat Studio. V.Shantaram had left Prabhat by that time. Dadasheb met Vishnupant Damle and showed him some of his stories. Damle bought the story named Japani Pankha for which he was paid Rs. 2,000 as honorarium. Dadasaheb was very mcuh in need of money at the time.

Raja Nene, assistant director in Prabhat, who later became a director, read the story. He apprised his maternal uncle, Vishnupant Damle, of his opinion," We shall have to consider whether this story will be useful for a Prabhat movie". Damle replied immediately, " We shall see to it later. We had to buy one of his stories.I know his circumstances. If Ihad ofered himomoney fro free, this proud man would not have accepted it. That is why I bought the story. Whatever position we have today, Prabhat's affluence, its worldwide fame, our own prosperity, we owe it all to the indigenous industry started by this great man. Consider it as a token repayment of that debt'. Raja Nene hasnarrated this incident in a newspper article he wrote on the occasion of Damle's 25th death anniversary on 5th July 1970. I saw the file of Japani Pankha after joining Prabhat as Chief Assistant Director since the days of Ram Shastri.