Phalke outside Prabhat

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Gangavataran was the only talkie directed by DadaSaheb.Thereafter he did not involve himself with film production. After this movie was completed, he stayed for about a year with Narayan Hari Apte at Koregaon for peace of mind. Then he moved to Pune, where Nanasaheb Sarpotdar made efficient arrangments for him in Poona Guest House with respect and solicitude. Negotiations were on for Prabhat Film company to produce documentaries, newsreels and educational films with Dadasaheb in charge of the department. An honorarium of about two hundred and fifty rupees a month were also paid to him. He rented a rom for Rs. 10 a month in Dole's bungalow. After some days he moved to Vaidya Wada. However, Prabhat's scheme did not materialise.1939


Bhalchandra alias Babarya Phalke.

As Prabhat Film Company bought Dadasaheb's story Japani Pankha, we could make a copy of Setubandhan. It had a satisfactory audience response, which improve our financial circumstances. During the Second World Wat, a licence was essential for producing a movie. After Dadasaheb applied to the government in New Delhi, I met V.Shantaram, as he was the president of the IMPPA ( Indian Motion Pictures Producerss' Association). He told me, however that he could not do anything as the government implemented the rules very strictly Hearing this, I was more sorry than disappointed, because merchants of asafoetida, iron and shev gathya, whjo had nothing at all to do with the film industry were becoming producers of films, passing the government's strict tests.I wanted to get our application approved through an instituin like the IMPPA. It was obvious that we had made the first claim. As, however, IMPPA did nothign, we sent the application direct but it was rejected by the government in clear terms. That too only two days before Dadasaheb's death. Earlier, on Dadasaheb's return from a tour of Iran, he had received enough publicity, but it was of no avail. Bhalchandra alias Babarya Phalke.

from Bapu Vatve's book on Dadasaheb Phalke published by the National Book Trust