The Retrospective on Indian Musicals began at IFFI-05 in Panaji with a Blockbuster Telgu film ‘Shankarabharanam’, directed by K. Vishwanath as the inaugural film. This section is a new edition to the IFFI and films which have music as their theme would be shown in this category. In all six films would be screened under this category. Besides the opening film, other films included are, Amar Bhoopali (Marathi) directed by V. Santaram, Baiju Bawra (Hindi)directed by Vijay Bhatt, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne ( Bengali) directed by Satyajt Ray, Sindhu Bhairavi ( Tamil) Directed by K. Balachander and Tansen ( Hindi) directed by Jayant Desai.

The film witnessed very poor audience. But it’s no wonder according to the director of the film. The film when released experienced the same in 1970 and surprisingly, remained houseful for number of months and established all the commercial records.

Synopsis of the films under this section:
Amar Bhoopali. (1951)
This is a biopic of Honaji Bala, a legendary Marathi poet from the Gawali Cast during last years of Peshawa regime in Pune. He was known for popularizing the musical dances of Lawani style in Maharashtra and specially for his classical compositions alike “ghanasyam Sundara Shridhara..” He later involved in acquiring associations alluded anti-British discourse. Director V.Shantaram contrasts Honaji’s erotic poetry with prevailing decadent Bramhinal effusions.
Director : V.Shantaram. Music: Vasant Desai.
Cast : Panditrao Nagarkar, Sandhya, Lalita Pawar, Bhalchandra Pendharkar.

Baiju Bawara. (1952)
The film takes considerable liberties with the History of Indian classical music and focus on Tansen the court musician of Mughal emperor Akbar and the itinerant Baiju. The film is remembered mostly for its classical music as Pt. D.V.Paluskar and Amir Khan play backs voice.
Direction: Vijay Bhatt. Music: Naushad.
Cast: Bharat Bhushan, Meena Kumari.

Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne ( 1968)
This children’s fantacy was satayajit Ray’s first majour commercial success, becoming a cult movie in Bengal. It is a fairy tale about ghost and Kings. The impoverished amature musicians Goopy and Bagha., banished for their inept playing, receive a magic pair of slippers from a animated ghost-king which allows them to travel anywhere they like. They can alo conjure up food. They become master performers, arriving in the kingdom of Shundi whose king makes them his court musicians. And they continue with amazing adventures.
Direction /Music: Satyajit Ray.
Cast: Tapan Chatterjee, Robi Ghosh, Jahar Roy, Santosh Dutta, Harindranath Chatopadhyay.

Sindhu Bhairavi ( 1985)
Classical singer J.K Balaganapathy falls in love with Sindhu, a folk music teacher. His barren wife Bhairavi attempts suicide and he renounces his affair, only to seek refuge in drinks, which entails degrading scenes such as a forced strip tease and singing of non classical folk songs in exchange of alcohol.. Bhairavi sacrifices herself for the sake of her husband’s music and ask Sindhu to help and save artiste.
Direction: K. Balachander. Music: Illiyaraja
Cast: Sivakumar, Delhi Ganesh, Suhasini, Sulakshana.

Shankarabharanam (1970)
The film a monstrous hit, borrows extensively from Caranatic classical music to tell the story of a relation between a Caranatic Guru and a prostitute. The prostitute Ratnaprabha runs away from home and reluctantly accepted as a student, which brings guru Shankara Shastri into social disrepute. When Ratnaprabha is forced to her ancestral vocation, she murders her customer but finds herself pregnant. She gives birth to a son, who now studies under the guru. Eventually Ratnaprabha becomes rich and builds an autorium in the name of he Guru. During the opening performance, he has a heart attack and son replaces the guru on stage, extending the tradition. The film was re-made in Hindi titled Sur Sangam.
Direction : K.Vishwanath. Music: K.V.Mahadevan
Cast: J.V.Somayajulu, Manju Bhargavi, Allu Ramalingaiah.

Tansen (1943)
It is one of the K.L.Saigal’s best known film. It featured him in the role of thelegendary classical musician from Mughal emeor Akabar’s court. Tansen created some of the best known Ragas. The film is presented as a love fantacy between Tansen and a shepherdess.
Direction : Jayant Desai Music: Khemchand Prakash
Cast: K.L.Saigal, Khursheed, Mubarak, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay.

A report by Rajendra Joshi.