Bhalji Pendharkar

Bhalji Pendharkar (1898-1994(?)) was a famous film personality in India, and recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the most prestigious award in the field.

Bhalchandra Pendharkar (not to be confused with the drama actor with the same name) was the son of Dr Gopal Pendharkar and Radhabai.

His elder brother Baburao Pendharkar was also a famous film personality. Other famous names from his close family associated with Indian films include Master Vinayak, who was also Radhabai's son, albeit with a different man, and V Shantaram, whose mother Kamalabai was Radhabai's younger sister. Bhalji had a couple of wives, one of whom, Leela Chandragiri, acted and sang in Hindi and Marathi films in 1930s. Bhalji's son Prabhakar Pendharkar was associated with the making of the film Do Aankhe Baarah Haath in 1950s, and became a notable writer and maker of documentaries.

Bhalji started his career in the era of silent films. He was associated with some of Prabhat Studio's earliest talkie films, and also worked with some other studios from his base in Kolhapur. Later he founded his own studio and produced and directed several films. He also write lyrics for some film songs in Marathi. His more famous films are: Marathi: Netaji Palkar, Thoratanchi Kamala, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Mohityanchi Manjula, Maratha Tututka Melvava, Sadhi Manse, Tambdi Maati.

Hindi: Maharathi Karna, Valimi, Chhatrapati Shivaji.

A few years before his death, he was awarded Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

1. Ganimi Kawa (1981)
2. Tambdi Maati (1969)
3. Sadhi Manse (1965)
4. Maratha Tituka Melvava (1964)
5. Mohityanchi Manjula (1963)
6. Akashganga (1959) ... aka Divine River (International: English title)
7. Naikinicha Sazza (1957) ... aka Naikinichi Sajja (India: Marathi title) ... aka The Courtesan's Varandah (India: English title)
8. Pavankhind (1956) ... aka The Fort of Pavakind (India: English title)
9. Yere Majhya Maglya (1955)
10. Maharani Yesubai (1954)
11. Mazi Zameen (1953)
12. Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952/I)
13. Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952/II)
14. Mee Daru Sodli (1950)
15. Shilanganache Sone (1950) ... aka Shilanga's Gold (India: English title)
16. Meeth Bhakar (1949)
17. Sasurvaas (1946) ... aka At the In-Laws (India: English title) ... aka Sasurvas (India: Marathi title)
18. Valmiki (1946/I)
19. Maharathi Karna (1944)
20. Swarna Bhoomi (1944)
21. Bahirji Naik (1943)
22. Bhakta Damaji (1942)
23. Soonbai (1942) ... aka Daughter-in-Law (India: English title)
24. Thoratanchi Kamla (1941)
25. Alakh Niranjan (1940)
26. Gorakhnath (1940)
27. Netaji Palkar (1939)
28. Raja Gopichand (1938/I)
29. Raja Gopichand (1938/II)
30. Kanhopatra (1937)
31. Rukmani Kalyanam (1936)
32. Savitri (1936)
33. Kalia Mardan (1935)
34. Muraliwala (1935)
35. Akashwani (1934/I)
36. Akashwani (1934/II)
37. Partha Kumar (1934/I)
38. Partha Kumar (1934/II)
39. Shyam Sundar (1932/I)
40. Shyam Sundar (1932/II)
41. Rani Rupmati (1931) ... aka Love Immortal (India: English title)
42. Vande Mataram Ashram (1927)
43. Bajirao Mastani (1925)

Writer:

1. Netaji Palkar (1939) (writer)
2. Kanhopatra (1937) (writer)
3. Akashwani (1934/I) (screenplay) (story)
4. Akashwani (1934/II) (screenplay) (story)
5. Shyam Sundar (1932/I) (screenplay) (story)
6. Shyam Sundar (1932/II) (screenplay) (story)
7. Vande Mataram Ashram (1927) (writer)
8. Bajirao Mastani (1925) (writer)

Producer:

1. Netaji Palkar (1939) (producer)
2. Vande Mataram Ashram (1927) (producer)

Actor:

1. Prithvi Vallabh (1924) ... aka The Lord of Love and Power (India: English title: informal title)