1946
Information
Films of India disbanded. Dharti ke Laal produced by
Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and directed by
K.A. Abbas wins critical acclaim at home and abroad. Chetan
Anand's Neecha Nagar shown at the Cannes Film Festival.
Dr. Kotnis ki Amar Kahani made as a war-effort film.
Ranakdevi establishes the Gujarati Cinema as a financially
viable industry.
1947
Vijay
Bhatt's Ram Rajya (1943), A.R. Kardar's Shah Jehan(1946)
and V.Shantaram's
Dr. Kotnis ki Amar Kahani shown at Canadian National
Exhibition in Totonto. AVM Film Co. starts with Nam Iruvar.
Paul Zils and Fali Billimoria start the Documentary Unit -
India. Udaya Studios is the first film studio in Kerala. Satyajit Ray,
Chidananda Das Gupta and others start the Calcutta Film Society.
Foundation of the Bengali film weekly Rupanjali. Deaths
of Master Vinayak, K.L.
Saigal.
1948
Government
revives the production of documentaries and newsreels. S.S. Vasan's Chandralekha
is his first major hit in Hindi. Uday Shankar's Kalpana
is applauded in India and abroad for its innovation and artistry.
RK Films with Raj Kapoor as
Producer and Director debuts with Aag. Ajit is
made on 16mm Kodachrome and blown up to 35mm. Nehru announces
a freeze on construction of movie theatres. The Bengali film
monthly Chitrabani is initiated.
1949
June
30. Government re-introduces compulsory exhibition of 'approved'
documentary films. Countrywide closure of cinemas in protest
against the Government's taxation policy. Entertainment Tax
is raised to 50% in the Central Provinces and 75% in West
Bengal. Indian Cinematograph 1918 amended to include new censorship
classification for 'Adult' and 'Unrestricted' exhibitions
of films. Film Enquiry Committee appointed
under chairmanship of S.K. Patil. Films Division is set up.
Dharti ke Lal is the first film to receive widespread
release in the U.S.S.R. Dev Anand and
Chetan Anand start Navketan Productions.
1950
Various Film Trade Organizations confer
to decide upon formation of Film Federation of
India (FFI) as an apex body. Death of Rai Bahadur
Chuni Lall, President of IMPAA and MPSI and one
of the architects of FFI. The Pakistan Government
levies a tax of Rs 1 per foot on all imported
Indian films.
1951
FFI
formed with Chandulal Shah
its first president. The Film Enquiry Committee submits its
report. Formation of Central Board of Film Censors with B.N.
Sircar representing the Film Industry. Russian director Pudovkin
and actor Cherkasov visit India traveling to Bombay, Calcutta
and Madras to meet Indian Film Makers. Guru Dutt makes
his directorial debut with Navketan's Baazi. The
weekly newspaper Screen is set up by the Indian Express
Group.
1952
First International Film Festival
held in India traveling to Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi
and Madras. Parliament passes the Cinematograph
Act of 1952 replacing 1918 Act though with little
changes. A film delegation lead by Chandulal Shah
visits Hollywood to study its working and to meet
prominent filmmakers there. Parasakti,
the most famous DMK film is released. Colour Films
Aan and Jhansi
ki Rani are made. Filmfare claiming
to be 'first serious effort in film journalism
in India' launched. Hindi tabloid Cinema
begins publication. West Pakistan bans import
of Indian Films. Bombay Talkies ceases production.
1953
Censorship
rules amended for re-certification of films every five years
and for depositing a copy of the script or film with the Censor
Board. Prabhat Studio ceases production. The Cinematograph
Act is amended extending the power of various authorities
to suspend exhibition of certified films. The Film Federation
of India accepts an Advertising Code. The Trade Weekly Trade
Guide is started. Maiden Filmfare Awards are inaugurated.
1954
P.K.
Atre's Marathi Film Shyamchi Aayee bags the first President's
Gold Medal as the Best feature Film of 1953. Bimal
Roy's Do
Bigha Zameen also made in 1953 gets special mention at
Cannes. Indian Film Festival held in the Soviet Union. Awaara (1951) is
a major hit in the USSR. Government publishes its decision
on the S.K. Patil Enquiry Committee Recommendations. K.A.
Abbas's film Munna is the second songless film. Talks
between the Film Federation of India and the Government fail
over All-India Radio’s policy of broadcasting film songs
without crediting sources, driving producers to Radio Ceylon.
The compulsory exhibition of 'approved' films (Government
propaganda films) in Madras is declared unlawful by the Supreme
Court. Last ditch effort to save Bombay Talkies - Badbaan
fails. Death of Baburao Painter.
1955
Pather Panchali directed
by Satyajit Ray
has its world premier at Museum of Modern Art,
New York. Sangeet Natak Akademi organizes film
seminar in Delhi at which prominent film personalities
participate. Festivals of Indian Cinema in Beijing
and London. The Children's Film Society is set
up. The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce
starts The Journal of the Film Chamber.
The High Court at Andhra Pradesh grants an interim
stay on the law of compulsory exhibition of 'approved'
films and on the show tax
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