Bombay Talkies

The Bombay Talkies Limited (commonly known as Bombay Talkies), founded in 1934 in Malad, Bombay (now Mumbai), India by Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani, was a high-tech movie studio of its time, with sound and echo-proof stages, laboratories and editing rooms, and preview theatre. It was the first movie company of India, which was a public limited company and was registered as a company under the Indian Companies Act. Bombay Talkies emerged as a well organized, self-sufficient, and profitable company. It made public issues, declared dividends and bonus, and at its heyday commanded a good standing on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Related Topics:
1934 - Malad - Bombay - Mumbai - India - Himanshu Rai - Devika Rani - Movie studio - Public limited company - Indian Companies Act - Bombay Stock Exchange

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On account of its association with European technicians, particularly Germans, the Bombay Talkies set a high technical standard for film making in India. Bombay Talkies also imparted a higher level of dignity to the medium of movie making and acting. This film company gave some of very illustrious mega-stars to the Indian film industry, which included Devika Rani, Ashok Kumar and Raj Kapoor. Bombay Talkies also gave a new dimension to themes of the films, and produced films on controversial topics like the story of love (Achhut Kanya) between an untouchable girl and a high caste Hindu Brahmin boy. Other notable movies produced by the Bombay Talkies included famous movies of the period like Jawani ki Hawa (1935), starring Devika Rani, Jeevan Naiya (1936), a romantic movie, starring Devika Rani and Ashok kumar.

Related Topics:
European - Germans - Film making - Devika Rani - Ashok Kumar - Raj Kapoor - Untouchable - Hindu - Brahmin - 1935 - 1936

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After the outbreak of the World War II in 1939, Bombay Talkies faced a number of problems, resulting into nervous breakdown and then demise of Himanshu Rai, the founder and the key figure of the studio. The control of the film company passed on to his wife, Devika Rani, who was also made the controller of production of the Bombay Studios. Devika Rani continued the high tradition of Bombay Talkies. Some of the famous movies of the period included Kangan and Bandhan, and the famous artists with debut in films produced by Bombay Talkies were Madhubala and Dilip Kumar.

Related Topics:
World War II - 1939 - Madhubala - Dilip Kumar

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Soon rift arose between Devika Rani and her business partners, and a decline set into and Bombay Talkies passed into oblivion. Currently, the premises of the Bombay Talkies are in a dilapidated state, and have lost the pristine glory which it once commanded.

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