Anant Mane

Anant Mane (22 September 1915 - 9 May 1995) was a film director who directed approximately 60 movies during the golden era of Marathi cinema. He was known for making films based on the folk art form Tamasha, and also directed a number of family melodramas. Mane was the recipient of 3 National Film Awards and 7 Maharashtra State Film Awards. He teamed up with the music director Vasant Pawar and directed several hit movies in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Mane's 1961 film Manini won the President's Silver Medal for best regional film of the year. In 2006, the Lokmanch Charitable Trust, Kolhapur, instituted an annual Anant Mane award for outstanding contribution to the Marathi film industry.

Early life Anant Mane was born on 22 September 1915 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. His interest in the film industry was sparked during his youth due to his uncle, Gyanoba Mane, a wrestler who worked as an actor at the Prabhat Studio in Kolhapur. Accompanying his uncle to the studio, Mane became drawn to the filmmaking environment, which eventually led him to discontinue his formal school education.

On June 1, 1930, Mane officially joined Prabhat Studio, initially working in the laboratory department. He worked without remuneration for the first year and five months before transitioning to a paid position with a monthly salary of ten rupees. During his tenure at Prabhat Studio, Mane gained foundational experience across various departments by observing and participating in film editing, art design, cinematography, sound recording, and crowd scenes, which helped develop his technical and artistic understanding of cinema.

Career Early Technical Training and Prabhat Film Company (1930–1942)

Mane began his career at the Prabhat Film Company on June 1, 1930, initially working in the laboratory department. He gained a wide range of experience by observing operations in film editing, art design, cinematography, sound recording, and crowd coordination. During this period, he closely observed the directorial and editing techniques of V. Shantaram. Mane made a brief onscreen appearance as Vishnu in India's first color talkie, Sairandhri (1933), a joint venture between V. Shantaram and Prabhat.

When Prabhat Film Company relocated its operations to Pune, Mane moved with the studio and transitioned to the editing department in 1933. Under Shantaram's mentorship, he worked as an editor on several of the company's major productions, including Amrit Manthan (1934), Chandrasena (1935), Amrit Sena, and Dharmatma (1935). He remained with the studio through the production of notable films like Manoos (1938), Sant Tukaram (1936), Shejari (1941), and Sant Dnyaneshwar (1940). Following internal disagreements among Prabhat's partners, V. Shantaram left the company in 1942, and Mane's formal contract with the studio concluded the following year.

Collaborations and Transition to Direction (1943–1949)

In 1943, Mane began working as an editor with director Raja Nene. Together, they worked on films such as Taramati (1945), Phir Bhi Apna Hai (1946), and Bachchon Ka Khel (1946). During this period, he also served as the director for the music-focused film Lalat.

In 1946, Jobanputra, the owner of Pune's Deccan Studio, commissioned Nene to make a biographical film based on the life of folk poet Patthe Bapurao. Mane contributed to the screenplay and directed the project, Patthe Bapurao, though he was officially credited as the co-director. This project marked his formal entry into screenwriting. He followed this with Ketakicha Banaat, which featured actor Suryakant in his first leading role.

Mane subsequently established his own production banner, Chetan Chitra. The company's first venture, the socially conscious drama Paydali Padleli Phule (1956), was a commercial failure. He followed it with a series of films, including Zakli Mooth (1956), Sata Janmacha Sobati (1957), Don Ghadicha Daav (1957), and Paishacha Paus (1958).

In 1959, Mane directed Sangtye Aika, which became a major milestone in his career. Written by G. G. Parkhi with dialogues by Vyankatesh Madgulkar, and an ensemble cast including Jayshree Gadkar, Sulochana, Chandrakant, Suryakant, Dada Salvi and Hansa Wadkar, the film completed a historic 131-week run in a single theatre.

Later Directorial Career and Industry Contributions

Following Avaghachi Sansar (1960), Mane received Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Director and National Film Award for Best Marathi Feature Film awards for his directorial work on Shahir Parshuram (1961) and Manini (1962). Over his career, he directed approximately 58 films, including Rangpanchami (1962), Maza Hoshil Ka? (1964), Sawaal Majha Aika! (1965), Kela Ishara Jata Jata (1965), Ek Gaon Bara Bhangadi (1968), Pahuni (1974), Lakshmi (1976), Kalavantin (1977), Sushila (1978), Haldi Kunku (1979), Kulswamini Ambabai (1984), and Gaon Tasa Changla Pan Veshila Tangla (1986). He also wrote the stories and screenplays for 14 of his films, including Aboli, Don Ghadicha Dav, Ek Gaon Bara Bhangadi, Naar Nirmite Nara, and Kela Ishara Jata Jata.

Throughout his career, Mane collaborated with prominent literary figures, including G. D. Madgulkar, P. B. Bhave, Y. G. Joshi, Pandit Mahadevshastri Joshi, Ranjit Desai, Vyankatesh Madgulkar, and Shankar Patil. Despite his established success as an independent director, he returned to assist his mentor, V. Shantaram, as an assistant director on the landmark film Pinjara (1972).

Outside of active filmmaking, Mane served as an advisor to the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandala and was actively involved in the advocacy and development efforts to establish the Chitranagari studio complex in Kolhapur.

Suhagan Hindi film Shubh Mangal Owalni Kalakar 1955 Punvechi Raat 1956 Paidali Padleli Phule

Preet Sangam Zakli Mooth

Dhakti Jaoo National Film Award for Best Marathi Feature Film Don Ghadicha Daav

Sangtye Aika Saata Janmachi Sobati

Paishacha Paaus Avaghachi Sansar

Shahir Parshuram Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Director Rang Panchami Manini National Film Award for Best Marathi Feature Film

Preeti Vivah Chimnyachi Shala Bhagya Laxmi

Naar Nirmite Nara Majha Hoshil Ka?

Sawaal Majha Aika! National Film Award for Best Marathi Feature Film Kai Ho Chamatkar 1966 Kela Ishara Ishara Jata Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Director 1967 Saangu Kashi Me 1968 Ek Gaon Bara Bhangadi

Gan Gavlan Dongarchi Maina

Ashich Ek Ratra Hoti Aai Udhe Ga Ambabai 1973 Mee Tujha Pati Nahi 1975 Paach Rangachi Paach Pakhare

Pahuni Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Director Farari 1977 Asla Navra Nako Ga Bai!

Kalavantin Sushila Laxmi

Haldi Kunku Duniya Kari Salam 1980 Saawaz

Totaya Aamdar Pori Zara Zapun Aai

Galli Te Dilli Don Baika Phajeeti Aika 1983 Sansar Pakhrancha

Kulswamini Ambabai Jagavegli Prem Kahani 1985 Gaon Tasa Changla Pan Veshila Tangla

Bandhan Z.P 1993 Lavanyavati