V. Shantaram, as he came to be known
professionally, was born in Kolhapur in 1901. From the job in the cinema hall, Shantaram
graduated to a job as an assistant to a photographer, before joining Baburao Painter's
newly opened Maharashtra Film Company in Kolhapur. The new apprentice was put to every
conceivable task in film production, from a cleaning job to that of a laboratory
assistant, a special effects man and a performer. At the age of twenty-eight, Shantaram,
along with four other partners, V.G. Damle, K.R. Dhaibar, S. Fattelal and S.B. Kulkarni,
decided to launch a film company of their own--the Prabhat Film Company. Some of his box
office hit films were Zhanak Zhanak Payal Baje, Amrit Manthan, Aadmi, Padosi, Navrang,
Sehra, Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne, Ladki Sahyadriki, Boond Jo Ban aye Moti, Jal Bin Machhli
Nrity Bin Bijli, Pinjra, Chandanchi Choli Ang Ang Jali, Chaani, Dr Kotniski Amar Kahani.
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