Video Films based on Workshops
PRAMILA
Video Notes on the life and times of an actress
Based on the Visual History Workshop held on 31st August 1997
COLOUR/ENGLISH/ 57 MINUTES
CREDITS:
CAMERA: Alok Upadhyay EDITING: Jyoti Kapoor SOUND: Arun Nambiar, Suresh Rajamani PRODUCTION MANAGER: B.S. Narayanaswanmy PRODUCED BY: C.S. Lakshmi, SPARROW VIDEO NOTES: Asha Dutta
SPARROW held a Visual History Workshop where Pramila, who has been in Hindi films as an actress, producer and distributor, shared with an audience of students, teachers and researchers the memories of her life and times. Pramila was Esther Victoria Abraham, a Jewish girl from Calcutta. She was a brilliant student who passed both junior and senior Cambridge with honours. She also got six art diplomas from London. She became the headmistress of the Talmud Torah Jewish Boys' School and it was a casual visit to the Imperial Studios in 1935 to watch a shooting that brought her into films. Besides, her sister Sophie, known as Romila and her cousin Rose, were already in the Hindi film industry. Pramila acted in many memorable films like Jungle King, Our Darling Daughter, Maha Maya, Basant, Bekasoor, Ulti Ganga etc. During the course of this she married the famous star of those years, a Rudoph Valentino kind of figure, Kumar. Together they produced many films under the banner of Silver Films. After partition when her husband decided to migrate to Pakistan, Pramila stayed on in India with her children because she felt that India was her country.
Apart from being an actress, Pramila was a well-known model and a favourite of the famous photographer A.J. Patel. She was the first Miss India in 1947. Pramila passed away in the morning hours of August 6, 2006
The video notes present a history of films and people involved in the making of films in Pramila's own words
Watch full video by clicking on the image below.
KANAKA: STONE AND GOLD
Video Notes on Kanaka Murthy, A Traditional Sculptor
Based on the Visual History Workshop held on 30th November 1997
COLOUR/ENGLISH/ 58 MINUTES
CREDITS:
CAMERA: S. Ramachandra & Alok Upadhyay EDITING: Jyoti Kapoor SOUND: Mohan Das PRODUCTION MANAGER: Gurudas Pai PRODUCED BY: C.S. Lakshmi, SPARROW VIDEO NOTES: Vishnu Mathur
At SPARROW's second Visual History Workshop, Kanaka Murthy, a traditional sculptor, portrayed her life and art before the students, teachers and others who participated in the workshop. Kanaka, a student of the famous traditional sculptor, Vadiraj, works with stone, wood, sandalwood and clay. She enjoys working with stone for she feels that stone can depict emotions, and doing portraits gives her special joy. It has not been easy for her to become a sculptor and continue to be one. Kanaka Murthy's experiences are of great value not only in understanding and appreciating traditional sculpture but also in knowing how choices are made by women and how women create space for the pursuit and practice of art.
Watch full video by clicking on the image below.
DAMAYANTI: MENAKA’S DAUGHTER
Video Notes on Damayanti Joshi,A Kathak Dancer
Based on the Visual History Workshop held on 15th February 1998
COLOUR/ENGLISH/ 58 MINUTES
CREDITS:
CAMERA: S. Ramachandra & Alok Upadhyay EDITING: Jyoti Kapoor SOUND: Mohan Das PRODUCTION MANAGER: Gurudas Pai PRODUCED BY: C.S. Lakshmi, SPARROW VIDEO NOTES: Vishnu Mathur
Damayanti Joshi, the renowned Kathak dancer and teacher, captivated an audience of students, teachers and art enthusiasts at SPARROW’s third visual history workshop.
Damayanti was brought up by her young widowed mother Vatsala Joshi who remained Damayanti’s inspiration and support till the end of her life. When she was just four years old Damayanti was brought under the protective wings of Madame Menaka, the pioneering choreographer-dancer. Damayanti dedicated her entire life to dance and details of her performing life and personal life are captured in this film. In September 2004, six years after the making of this film, Damayanti Joshi passed away.
Watch full video by clicking on the image below.
SUSHAMA: VHAY, MEE SAVITRIBAI
Video Notes on Sushama Deshpande
A Theatre Artiste
Visual history workshop held on 30th August 1998
COLOUR/ENGLISH/ 58 MINUTES
CREDITS:
CAMERA: Alok Upadhyay & Vishwanath EDITING: Jyoti Kapoor SOUND:Suresh Rajamani PRODUCTION MANAGER: Narayanaswamy & Gurudas Pai PRODUCED BY: C.S. Lakshmi, SPARROW VIDEO NOTES: Anik Ghosh
Sushama Deshpande is a theatre artiste who performed and spoke about her life and theatre career to an audience of students, teachers and art enthusiasts at SPARROW’s fourth visual history workshop. In the video notes on Sushama Deshpande, she reveals details of her life and her theatre experiences. She also performs Vhay, Mee Savitri Bai, a solo performance based on the life of Savitri Bai Phule.
Watch full video by clicking on the image below.
NEELA: COLOURS OF TRADITION
Video Notes on NEELA PANCH
A Traditional Painter
Visual History workshop held on 29th September 1998
COLOUR/ENGLISH/ 49 MINUTES
CREDITS:
CAMERA: Avijit Mukul Kishore EDITING: A.V. Narayanan SOUND:Gissy Michael PRODUCTION MANAGER: Gurudas Pai PRODUCED BY: C.S. Lakshmi, SPARROW VIDEO NOTES: Anik Ghosh
Neela Panch is a painter who paints in the traditional Mysore style of painting. She participated in the sixth visual history workshop of SPARROW which students and teachers and art enthusiasts attended. In the video notes made on this occasion, Neela Panch speaks about why she chose the traditional style of painting, how gods and goddesses and images from mythology form her subject, what challenges it holds for her and how much spiritual satisfaction it gives her. She also demonstrates the painting of a traditional image choosing a non-mythological image in traditional vibrant colours.
Watch full video by clicking on the image below.
MAYA VISMAYAH
Video Notes on MAYA
A Theatre Artiste
Visual History workshop held on 25th October 1998
COLOUR/ENGLISH/ 58 MINUTES
CREDITS:
CAMERA: Mukul Kishore & Sejal Shah SOUND:Suresh Rajamani PRODUCTION MANAGER: Gurudas Pai PRODUCED BY: C.S. Lakshmi, SPARROW VIDEO NOTES: Chandita Mukherjee
Maya Krishna Rao, a Kathakali dancer and a theatre artiste, participated in the fifth visual history workshop of SPARROW which students and teachers and art enthusiasts attended.
In the video notes made on this occasion, Maya Krishna Rao speaks about her growing up with a mother who was a dancer and explains and demonstrates details of her performing career, creating a theatrical experience for the audience.
Watch full video by clicking on the image below.
