Saw a few nostalgic old films on Shemaroo Vintage Collection DVDs:
Najma: Mehboob Khan's first film - Ashok Kumar, Yakub, Sitara Devi, Veena.
It's from those days when Ashok Kumar used to sing for himself.
Dulari: Madhubala, Suresh, Geeta Bali - Song: Suhaani Raat Dhal Chuki Na Jaane Tum Kab Aaoge by Rafi
Dillagi: Suraiyya, Shyam - Song: Tu Mera Chaand Mein Teri Chandni,
(Dharmendra remembers walking miles to see this film 40 times)
Prithvi Vallabh: Sohrab Modi & Durga Khote in lead, K N Singh villain. Historical nature - not sure if fictional or real history ?? - Among my first few films that I saw in the early 60s (Some journalist gave me a press pass for Charity show; It was House full - Delite Cinema Delhi).
Andaaz: Famous Dilip, Raj Kapoor, Nargis film.
Sikander: Sohrab Modi as Porus and Prithvi Raj Kapoor as Sikander
Tansen: Singer Actors: K L Sehgal, Khursheed
Khota Paisa: Johny Walker & Shyama in the lead. Memorable/ Nostalgic songs.
Amaanat: Bimal Roy film, Bharat Bhushan, Chand Usmani
Baadal: One of the early films of Sanjeev Kumar, also stars Shekh Mukhtair, L Vijyalakshmi & Helen, Music by Usha Khanna.
- There must be more in this series .
- No big deal but all had a free random VCD as well.
- Prints are as expected from Shemaroo for old restored films.
- Packaging was attractive for Pricing & for Introducing this vintage Series.
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More info added on March 30, 2013:
Except for the last two (Amaanat & Baadal), other DVDs (8) cover states that
SHEMAROO HAS TRIED ITS BEST TO DIGITALLY RESTORE AND UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF THIS CLASSIC WORK. YET IN ABSENCE OF ANY OTHER SOURCE MATERIAL, KINDLY BEAR WITH THE LOW QUALITY IN CERTAIN PARTS
But, at beginning of the feature, a few DVDs out of those 8 that I saw so far, it also (in addition to what it states on the cover) states that:
It Is Declared That Contents Of This DVD Pertain To A Film Which Is Now In Public Domain, Since The Term Of Copyright Has Expired, Under The Copyright Act, 1957.
Recall, a similar statement that T-Series used to state when they started selling all the film albums, legally or illegally, ethically or UN-ethically, on Cassettes.
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DULARI:
1975 Film CC shows length as 3845 meters which is 140 min. DVD is 134.5 min which is same 140 min with a 4% Film to PAL speed up. Despite, this DVD feature being same length as the 1975 certified film print, cuts and something-missing segments are obvious at many places.
Out of 134.5 min, 39.5 min is 12 songs in the film, all of them were hit songs. Wow!
- Madhubala (born 1933) could not have been older than 16 Yrs in a 1949 film. Her looks as well as her voice is not recognizable, the way we are used to for her later films. Madhbala started acting in films since her childhood. I wonder, which was her first film in a non-child role ?? Another famous film of hers, Neel Kamal, was released in 1947. She must be around 14 Yrs old for that film. Was she acting an adult or child in that film ??
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Dillagi:
1949 film.
This DVD from: Date not visible on CC, but is from the days when film used to be specified in feet.
Film Length as per CC:11391 ft (126.5 min) in 13 reels. DVD run time: 111.5 min (116 min @ 4% speed up).
12 songs (all hit songs) 36 min
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Sikander:
1941 film
DVD from 1953 CC print. Length: 13156 ft (146 min). DVD run time: 124 min (129 min @ 4% speed up)
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Baadal:
1966 film
DVD from 1977 CC print. 3901 meters (142 min). imdb states run time @ 150 min. DVD run time: 136 min (142 min @ 4% speed up) same as 1977 print. Songs: 22 min
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Khota Paisa:
1958 film. DVD from 1977 CC print, 4166 meters (152 min). DVD is 140 min (146 min @ 4% speed up). Songs 26 min.
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Andaz:
1949 film. DVD from 1974 CC print @ 3888 meters (142 min). DVD is 140 min i.e 146 min @ 4% speed up. imdb states run time as 148 min orig and 142 min edited. (Songs are 33 min)
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PRITHVI VALLABH:
It's a 1943 film. It's from those days when Censor Cert used to be from different offices. It has Original CC from Bombay Board Of Film Censors, dated Oct 14, 1943, Film Length 10924 ft (121 min). DVD is 114 min which is 119 min @ 4% speed up. Only 2 min missing for a 1943 film.
DVD is from a film print sharp and clear PQ is very good, could have been excellent if it was Direct Film to NTSC instead of Film to PAL to NTSC that it is.
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Amaanat:
Its a 1955 film, DVD is from a 1976 CC film print 4096 meters which is 149.5 min. DVD is 129.5 min or 135 min film time @ 4% speed up. So, some 14-15 min is missing. So far have seen about half way and no significant cuts apparent. Story keeps flowing well. An interesting film. For once, can see Kanhaiyya Lal in a non-villain role. I think I saw Mehmood in a scene too ??
Added Later:
What a contrast. Hardly any cuts were visible until half time but, later on the cuts are at the worst possible places. Saara Maza/ climax kharaab/spoilt.
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NAJMA: It's from those days when Ashok Kumar used to sing for himself.
It's a well known fact, Ashok Kumar sang lots of songs for himself in the early days of his acting career. And, they were very popular and in high demand - as mentioned by Ameen Sayani in his Geetmala Ki Chhaon Mein CD set. But, strangely, imdb doesn't list any of these songs under Ashok Kumar filmography.
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