Bilwamangal

Bilwamangal (pronounced [bilamaŋal]), also known as Bhagat Soordas, is a 1919 Indian black-and-white silent film directed by Rustomji Dhotiwala, based on a story by Champshi Udeshi about the medieval Hindu devotional poet Bilwamangala (also identified with Surdas). This full length (12000 feet) film was produced by the Elphinstone Bioscope Company, Calcutta with Bengali intertitles and is credited as the first Bengali feature film. It was released on 1 November 1919 at Cornwallis Theatre in Calcutta.[2][1] The National Film Archive of India acquired the footage of film from Cinémathèque Française, France in 2016. The acquired footage is 594 metres long or run 28 minutes at 18 fps.[3][4]

Bilwamangal
Film advertisement
Directed byRustomji Dhotiwala
Written byChampsi Udeshi
Produced byElphinstone & Pt. Kanhaiya lal Bioscope Company, Calcutta; Madan Theatres Ltd
StarringMiss Gohur, miss Gulab devi, Dorabji Mewawala
Release date
  • 1 November 1919 (1919-11-01)[1]
Running time
132 minutes (12000 feet)
CountryIndia
LanguagesSilent film
Bengali intertitles

Plot

It featured the story of Bilwamangal (or Surdas), a man whose life ruined due to his relationship with courtesan Chintamani.[3]

Cast

References
  1. Sur, Ansu (1999). Bengali Film Directory. West Bengal Film Centre(Calcutta). p. 01.
  2. K. Moti Gokulsing; Wimal Dissanayake (17 April 2013). Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas. Routledge. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-136-77284-9.
  3. "NFAI acquires Bilwamangal, a 1919 silent film". The Indian Express. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  4. Scroll Staff. "Missing silent film 'Bilwamangal' finally returns to India". Scroll.in. Retrieved 10 February 2017.


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