Chandulal Jesangbhai Shah (13 April 1898 – 25 November 1975) was a famous director, producer and screenwriter of Indian films, who founded

Ranjit Studios Ranjit Studios, also known as Ranjit Movietone, was an Indian film production company with studio facilities located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It produced films between 1929 and mid-1970s. The studio was founded by Chandulal Shah along w ...

in 1929.

Early life

Shah was born in 1898 in Jamnagar,

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

. He studied at Sydenham College in Bombay (now Mumbai) and got a job at the Bombay Stock Exchange in 1924. While waiting to get a job he helped his brother, J. D. Shah, who was a writer for mythological films. He was called by the "Laxmi Film Company" to direct a film ''Vimla'' in 1925 as its director Manilal Joshi was bedridden. Chandulal Shah not only directed the film but also went on to do two more films for the company, ''Panch Danda'' (1925) and ''Madhav Kam Kundala'' (1926) before returning to the Stock Exchange.

Film career

Amarchand Shroff, a friend of Shah, who was with the Laxmi Film Company, brought him to Kohinoor Film Company where he first came into contact with Gohar, a contact that eventually developed into both a personal and professional relationship. The first film independently directed by him at Kohinoor was ''Typist Girl'' (1926) starring Sulochana and Gohar which was made in 17 days. The film did extremely well at the

box-office A box office or ticket office is a place where ticket (admission), tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a Wicket gate, wicket. ...

leading Shah to direct another five films for the studio all featuring Gohar. Of these, the most famous was '' Gunsundari'' (1927). Dissatisfied with Kohinoor, Shah and Gohar went to Jagdish Film Company where Shah wrote and directed four films all with Gohar. In 1929, Shah and Gohar founded

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 ...

financed by Vithaldas Thakoredas. It produced films between 1929 and mid-1970s. The company began production of silent films in 1929 under the banner Ranjit Film Company and by 1932 had made 39 pictures, most of them social dramas. With the advent of sound, Ranjit Film Company became Ranjit Movietone in 1932 and during the 1930s produced numerous successful talkies at the rate of about six a year. At this time, the studio employed around 300 actors, technicians and other employees. Some of successful film of the studio include ''Sati Savitri'' (1932)'', Barrister’s Wife'' (1935) The Secretary (1938), Achhut'' (1940)'', Tansen'' (1943)'', Moorti'' (1943) and ''Jogan'' (1950). Besides Filmmaking, Chandulal Shah also devoted a lot of time to the organizational work of the

Indian Film Industry The cinema of India, consisting of Film, motion pictures made by the Indian film industry, has had a large effect on world cinema since the second half of the 20th century. Indian cinema is made up of various #Cinema by language, film indus ...

. Both the Silver Jubilee (1939) and the Golden Jubilee of the Indian film Industry (1963) were celebrated under his guidance. He was the first president of The Film Federation of India formed in 1951 and even led an Indian delegation to Hollywood the following year.

Later life and death

Shah's downfall started when

Raj Kapoor Raj Kapoor (; born as Shrishti Nath Kapoor; 14 December 1924 2 June 1988; also known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor) was an Indian actor, film director and producer, who worked in Hindi cinema. He is considered to be one of the greatest and most influen ...

and Nargis starrer ''Paapi'' (1953) failed at the box office. He directed three films thereafter; ''Ootpatang'' (1955), ''Zameen ke Taare'' (1960) and ''Akeli Mat Jaiyo'' (1963), the last co-directed with Nandlal Jaswantlal. He took to gambling and horse racing. On 25 November 1975, the industry's most powerful man, who once owned a fleet of cars, was reduced to travelling in buses and died penniless.Navhind Times Article

Filmography

Director

* '' Zameen Ke Tare'' (1960) * ''Oot Patang'' (1955) * ''Papi'' (1953) * '' Achhut'' (1940) * ''Pardesi Pankhi'' (1937) * ''Prabhu Ka Pyara'' (1936) * ''Sipahi Ki Sajni'' (1936) * ''Sipahini Sajni'' (1936) * ''Barrister's Wife'' (1935) * ''Desh Dasi'' (1935) * ''Keemti Aansoo'' (1935) * ''Toofani Taruni'' (1934) * '' Gunsundari'' (1934) * ''Miss 1933'' (1933) * ''Radha Rani'' (1932) * ''Sati Savitri'' (1932) * ''Sheil Bala'' (1932) * ''Devi Devayani'' (1931) * ''Diwani Dilbar'' (1930) * ''My Darling'' (1930) * ''Raj Lakshmi'' (1930) * ''Bhikharan'' (1929) * ''Chandramukhi'' (1929) * ''Pati Patni'' (1929) * ''Rajputani'' (1929) * ''Grihalakshmi'' (1928) * ''Vishwamohini'' (1928) * '' Gunsundari'' (1927) * ''Sindh Ni Sumari'' (1927) * ''Madhav Kam Kundala'' (1926) * ''Five Divine Wands'' (1925) * ''Vimla'' (1925) * ''Panchdanda'' (1925) * ''Typist Girl'' (1925)

Writer

* ''Akeli Mat Jaiyo'' (1963) tory & screenplay as Chandulal J. Shah* ''Papi'' (1953) tory, scenario & dialogue* ''Achhut'' (1940) * ''Prabhu Ka Pyara'' (1936) * ''Sipahi Ki Sajni'' (1936) * ''Sipahini Sajni'' (1936) * '' Gunsundari'' (1934) * ''Sati Savitri'' (1932)

tory A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...

Producer

* Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963) * Aurat Teri Yahi Kahani (1954) * Dhobi Doctor (1954) * Bahadur (1953) * Footpath (1953) * Papi (1953) * Humlog (1951) * Jogan (1950) (uncredited) * Madhubala (1950) * Nili (1950) * Bhool Bhulaiya (1949) * Garibi (1949) * Nazare (1949) * Bichhade Balam (1948) * Jai Hanuman (1948) * Mitti Ke Khiloune (1948) * Pardesi Mehman (1948) * Bela (1947) * Chhin Le Azadi (1947) * Duniya Ek Sarai (1947) * Kaum Hamara (1947) * Lakhon Mein Ek (1947) * Piya Ghar Aja (1947) * Woh Zamana (1947) * Dharti (1946) * Phoolwari (1946) * Rajputani (1946) * Chand Chakori (1945) * Moorti (1945) * Prabhuka Ghar (1945) * Bhanvara (1944) * Caravan (1944) * Mumtaz Mahal (1944) * Pagli Duniya (1944) * Shahenshah Babar (1944) * Andhera (1943) * Bansari (1943) * Gauri (1943) * Nurse (1943) * Shankar Parvati (1943) * Tansen (1943) * Vishkanya (1943) * Armaan (1942) * Bhakta Surdas (1942) * Chandni (1942) * Dhiraj (1942) * Dukh Sukh (1942) * Fariyad (1942) * Iqrar (1942) * Maheman (1942) * Return of Toofan Mail (1942) * Dhandora (1941) * Pardesi (1941) * Sasural (1941) * Shaadi (1941) * Ummeed (1941) * Aaj Ka Hindustan (1940) * Achhut (1940) * Diwali (1940) * Holi (1940) * Musafir (1940) * Pagal (1940) * Adhuri Kahani (1939) * Nadi Kinare (1939) * Sant Tulsidas (1939) * Thokar (1939) * Baazigar (1938) * Ban Ki Chidiya (1938) * Billi (1938) * Gorakh Aya (1938) * Prithvi Putra (1938) * Professor Waman MSc (1938) * Rikshawala (1938) * Secretary (1938) * Dil Faroshi (1937) * Mitti Ka Putla (1937) * Pardesi Pankhi (1937) * Shama Parwana (1937) * Sharafi Loot (1937) * Toofani Toli (1937) * Zamin Ka Chand (1937) * Chalak Chor (1936) * Dil Ka Daku (1936) * Jwalamukhi (1936) * Laheri Lala (1936) * Matlabi Duniya (1936) * Prabhu Ka Pyara (1936) * Raj Ramani (1936) * Rangila Raja (1936) * Sipahi Ki Sajni (1936) * Barrister's Wife (1935) * College Girl (1935) * Desh Dasi (1935) * Kimti Ansoo (1935) * Noore Watan (1935) * Raat Ki Rani (1935) * Gunsundari (1934) * Kashmeera (1934) * Nadira (1934) * Sitamgar (1934) * Toofan Mail (1934) * Toofani Taruni (1934) * Veer Babruvahan (1934) * Bhola Shikar (1933) * Bhool Bhulaiya (1933) * Krishna Sudama (1933) * Miss 1933 (1933) * Pardesi Preetam (1933) * Lal Sawar (1932) * Sipahsalar (1932) * The Captain (1932) * Bombay The Mysterious (1931) * Bugles of War (1931) * Desert Damsel (1931) * Drums of Love (1931) * Hoor-E-Roshan (1931) * Love Birds (1931) * Milkmaid (1931) * Painted Angel (1931) * Prince Charming (1931) * Sinning Souls (1931) * Siren of Baghdad (1931) * The Knife (1931) * Beloved Rogue (1930) * Castles in the Air (1930) * Divine Dowry (1930) * Glory of India (1930) * Jawan Mard (1930) * Love Angle (1930) * Magic Flame (1930) * My Darling (1930) * Outlaw of Sorath (1930) * Patriot (1930) * Ranak Devi (1930) based on Ranakadevi legend * Romances of Radha (1930) * The Tigress (1930) * Wild Flower (1930)

References

External links

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Gomolo Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shah, Chandulal 1898 births 1975 deaths People from Jamnagar Hindi-language film directors Film producers from Gujarat Hindi film producers University of Mumbai alumni Indian silent film producers Film directors from Gujarat Hindi-language screenwriters Screenwriters from Gujarat 20th-century Indian screenwriters