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''Manoos'', also called ''Life's for Living'', is a
1939 This year also marks the start of the World War II, Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history. Events Events related to World War II have a "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 ** Coming into effect in Nazi Ger ...
Indian
Marathi Marathi may refer to: *Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India **Marathi people (Uttar Pradesh), the Marathi people in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh *Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Mar ...
social melodrama film directed by V. Shantaram. Th
movie
was simultaneously made in
Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
as ''Aadmi''. The film was based on a short story called "The Police Constable". The story was by A. Bhaskarrao, with screenplay and dialogue by Anant Kanekar. The cinematographer was V. Avadhoot and the music was composed by Master Krishna Rao, with lyrics by Kanekar. The cast included Shahu Modak, Shanta Hublikar, Sundara Bai, Ram Marathe, Narmada, Ganpatrao and Raja Paranjpe. ''Manoos'', termed as a "reformist social melodrama", involved the subject of an honest policemen's love for a prostitute and his attempts to rehabilitate her, and the rejection by society.


Plot

Shahu Modak plays the role of an honest policeman, Ganpat, who on his beat round meets a prostitute, Maina ( Shanta Hublikar). He saves her when there is a police raid on the sex-workers. Over their several meetings, he falls in love with her. He attempts Maina's rehabilitation by getting her out of that atmosphere by marrying her. In this endeavour, he takes her to meet his mother to get her approval. The social disapproval brings misery. Modak resorts to drink and descends into alcoholism. Maina is driven by guilt and is unable to bear the jeers and snide remarks. She finally kills her evil uncle and refuses Ganpat's help when arrested.


Cast

* Shahu Modak as Ganpat / Moti * Shanta Hublikar as Maina / Kesar * Sundara Bai as Ganpat's mother / Moti's mother * Budasaheb as Megharam * Ram Marathe as Mannu * Chhottu as Old Man * Gauri as Bijli * Manju as Shama * Narmada Shankar as Radha * Ganpatrao Tambat as Police Inspector * Raja Paranjpe as Mama * Manajirao as Motel Keeper


Review

Shantaram was "admired" as a visionary for his social reformist films like ''Shejari'' in Marathi or '' Padosi'' in Hindi is about Hindu-Muslim unity, ''Manoos''/'' Aadmi'' for the topic of alcoholism as well as upliftment of women, and '' Kunku''/''
Duniya Na Mane Duniya may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Duniya'' (1968 film), a Hindi romantic thriller * ''Duniya'' (1984 film), a Hindi film * ''Duniya'' (2007 film), an Indian Kannada-language film * ''Duniya'' (album), a 1997 album by Raageshwa ...
'' for women's emancipation. The film completed 75 years in 2014, and still "remains fresh". The film is stated to be "classic" along with his other two films '' Kunku'' (1937) and Shejari or '' Padosi'' (1941), and cited as one of the "best social films" that became successful. ''Manoos'' was appreciated by the audiences and commended by
Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is considered o ...
.


Production

Shantaram had initially decided to take
Shanta Apte Shanta Apte (1916–1964) was an Indian actress-singer who worked in Marathi language, Marathi and Hindi cinema. Renowned for her roles in films like ''Duniya Na Mane/Kunku'' (1937) and ''Amar Jyoti'' (1936) under the Prabhat Films banner, she w ...
as the sex-worker and had auditioned the music director
Vasant Desai Vasant Desai (1912–1975) was an Indian film music composer, most remembered for his score in V. Shantaram films like '' Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje'' (1955), ''Do Aankhen Barah Haath'' (1957), Vijay Bhatt's '' Goonj Uthi Shehnai'' (1959), ''Samp ...
for the hero's role. Desai's screen test was successful, however, he was disappointed when Shantaram informed him that he was taking the newcomer Shahu Modak for the part.Gavankar2011, p. 43 Modak's debut role had been as a child star opposite Shanta Apte in ''Shyam Sunder'' (1932), where he played the child Krishna. With ''Manoos''/''Aadmi'' he became a "top level star". Shantaram visited the red light areas of
Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...
in order to achieve accurate sets, which were recreated by S. Fattelal at Prabhat Studios. Director
Shyam Benegal Shyam Benegal (14 December 1934 – 23 December 2024) was an Indian film director, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. Often regarded as the pioneer of parallel cinema, he is widely considered as one of the greatest filmmakers post 1970s. H ...
stated in the news report that "it was hard to believe" the scenes were shot in a studio. A retired army officer was hired to give training to Modak and the other cast playing policemen. The training sessions turned out be vigorous and lengthy and Modak had to ask them to be stopped. The film bore some similarity to ''
Waterloo Bridge Waterloo Bridge () is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges. Its name commemorates the victory of the British, Dutch and Prussians at the ...
'' (1931), directed by
James Whale James Whale (22 July 1889 – 29 May 1957) was an English film director, theatre director and actor, who spent the greater part of his career in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood. He is best remembered for several horror films: ''Fra ...
.


Soundtrack

The music composer was Master Krishnarao and the lyricist was Anant Kanekar. The song, "Kashala Udyachi Baat- Hi Sarun Chalali Raat" (Why do you worry about tomorrow, the night is slipping away)' became popular. It contained a mix of six Indian languages, Marathi, Hindi,
Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati and Punjabi. According to Anil Damle, grandson of
Vishnupant Govind Damle Vishnupant Govind Damle (14 October 1892 – 5 July 1945) was an Indian production designer, cinematographer, film director and sound engineer for Marathi language, Marathi films. His 1937 film ''Sant Tukaram (film), Sant Tukaram'' was the firs ...
, the music composer Anil Biswas and other regional composers were hired to get "the correct lyrics and pronunciation". It was critically acclaimed by
Baburao Patel Baburao Patel (1904–1982) was an Indian publisher and writer, associated with films and politics. Career Baburao: A Pioneer of Indian Cinema. Baburao was a key figure in the early days of Indian cinema. He started his career as a journalist ...
in his review of the film in the cine-magazine ''
Filmindia ''filmindia'' is an Indian monthly magazine covering Indian cinema and published in English language. Started by Baburao Patel in 1935, ''filmindia'' was the first English film periodical to be published from Bombay. The magazine was reportedly ...
'' of October 1939. Another notable song cited was "Man Paapi Bhoola Kaun Ise Samjhaye" sung by Bai Sundrabai. There is also a parody of the famous
Ashok Kumar Ashok Kumar (born Kumudlal Ganguly; 13 October 1911 – 10 December 2001), was an Indian actor who attained iconic status in Indian cinema. He is regarded as one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema. He is considered to be the first Super-st ...
and
Devika Rani Devika Rani Chaudhuri (30 March 1908 – 9 March 1994), usually known as Devika Rani, was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. Widely acknowledged as the First Lady of Indian cinema, Devika Rani is regarded as one of the greatest ...
song from Achhut Kanya (1936) "Main Ban Ka Panchhi" to "Main Panch Ban Ban Dolu Re" sung by Shanta Hublikar.


Marathi Songs


Hindi Songs


References


External links

* {{V. Shantaram 1939 films 1930s Hindi-language films Films directed by V. Shantaram Prabhat Film Company films Articles containing video clips Indian drama films 1939 drama films Indian black-and-white films 1930s melodrama films 1939 multilingual films Indian multilingual films 1930s Marathi-language films Films about prostitution in India Films about interclass romance