Harishchandrachi Factory

Prakash Mokashi's 'Harishchandrachi Factory' is a breath of fresh air. Of late, when the Indian film industry has mostly been churning one stale product after another with minimal positive quality, Mokashi gives the viewer this Marathi gem. Now this isn't your traditional biopic that starts from birth and ends in death. Nor is it the depressive kind. 'Harishchandrachi Factory' is a movie that is both funny and poignant. It tells how India's first film director made the first Indian movie and this is done with heart and humour.

The film starts off with Phalke skipping his job to work as a magician as he finds his passion in entertaining people. On impulse, he and his son decide to go to the theatre and they watch a short silent film about the 'Passion of Christ'. Phalke is moved by the experience and he keeps returning to the theatre. He decides to make a movie. The man just about makes enough to support his family, but his passion, determination and support of his family, especially his wife, allows him to pursue his destiny.

Mokashi has chosen a unique way of storytelling that has barely been done with biopics. His humour is both satirical, situational, witty and even understated at times. At the same time he does not derail from the focus of the film and its characters. The characters are very real. Phalke may appear larger then life but at the same time he is the common man who lives his life with hope and a little sugar. His wife is far from the caricature wife who nags about her husband's risky attempts. She supports him all the way and does not hesitate to sell off their furniture to make her husband's dream come true. The comedic sequences work excellently. They had me laughing out loud.

Nandu Madhav passionately plays who is today known as the father of Indian cinema. His spirited performance along with Vishawai Deshpande's natural portrayal as Mrs. Phalke are a delight to watch. The supporting cast do a commendable job too.

'Harishchandrachi Factory' is a beautiful little film. The execution is first rate. The cinematography, score, editing and lighting are superb. Mokashi's charming gem is one of a kind and I am sure to revisit this just to feel this film-viewing experience once again.

I love movies about the movies, and this one is a standout.

Often I've thought about the dawn of cinema - that first heady round, the rush of making a picture that moved. Here's an appropriately joyful - and funny! - glimpse of that moment in India, home of the world's biggest movie business, the story of the making of India's first full-length film.

It starts when the man known as Dadasaheb Phalke sees a film for the first time -- British, short, Jesus dying and rising from dead, in a no-frills sort of way -- and gets the idea of making a movie like this for Indians, about Indian culture. It ends with the completion and recognition of the full-length Rajah Harishchandra, an historical film of a virtuous long-ago king. (The present film's title means "Harishchandra's Factory": in India in about 1913, if you've got a job on a film, what do you tell your neighbors who've never seen one? Phalke's advice -- say you work at a "factory" -- the foreign word will impress them and keep them out of your hair.)

The character of Phalke, as played with warmth and charm by Nandu Madhav, would be optimistic "to a fault," except that his persistence is so right, even when he goes to London alone and unannounced to get the advice and equipment he needs. He is in some ways the preoccupied technician/professor type, and in a pitch-perfect decision, director/writer Paresh Mokashi gives us a larger world that meets his somewhat blinkered but brilliant obsession with more or less unfailing appreciation and support. Local appreciation may be slower in coming, but of course we know that it did.

The story, all very solidly researched, is carried more by our itch to see his film get made and shown than by any manufactured tension about too many bad things happening. And by our anticipation of the next comic moment - expect special delight once casting problems arise where no woman will go near the camera, and mustache-retention problems arise when compromise casting for ladies' roles is accomplished.

The husband-wife partnership shines, Vishawai Deshpande's lovely and grounded Mrs P learns to develop film, and whatever is in her heart lets her survive furniture sales and big risks without resorting to nagging. Especially elegant, the matter-of-fact cooperation between Phalke and British film guys, who "get" him more or less right away, the way artists worldwide have pretty much always loved each other and their work in fellowship, irrespective of national tensions and problems.

Finally - production values are high, this looks as beautiful as it should and - for any worried western viewer - this is not a musical!! it's a "regular movie."

"Harishchandrachi Factory" is Indian Cinema's official entry into the Academy Awards and the million-dollar question is - does it justify? Yep, you bet! Maybe not soul-stirring, not a tear-jerker either, sans social message and not even magnum-opus.... yet "Harishchandrachi Factory" lingers in your head like a sweet aroma.

Biopics generally tend to have a format which demonstrate the hardships and struggle of an individuals to realise the dream. It is exactly here "Harishchandrachi Factory" truly standouts by adopting an untrodden path. It depicts Mr. Phalke's journey of creating the first celluloid on Indian Cinema without getting over-bearing, in the light-hearted way possible ensuring the essence is not lost. I am sure the truth is far from it and should not discount the pains Mr. Phalke underwent to plant the seeds of germination for Indian Cinema.

Performances are spot-on, especially Nandhu Madhav who portrays Mr. Phalke. Nicely complimenting him is Vibhwari Deshpande as Mrs. Phalke to extent the audience would feel that marriages are indeed made in heaven. If Mr. Phalke is depicted as an eccentric genius, his better-half is no less crazy.

There are a few emotional moments in the movie like for instance when Phalke loses his eye-sight or when his son falls ill but what is commendable is that either its depicted humorously or the narrative moves on to the next part. The screenplay and editing should be complimented. Of course, the writer/ director truly deserves standing ovation for choosing Dadasaheb Phalke as his subject. And last but not the least UTV for backing this deserving project.

Let me not comment on the chances of "Harishchandrachi Factory" garnering statuettes at Academy awards, however I am confident that you will google and read about Dadasaheb Phalke after watching this movie.

Arishchandrachi Factory depicts the making of India's first full-length feature film by Dadasaheb Phalke. First of all, this film was a magnificent watch for me. The film showed so many things but in a very entertaining way and this is the major plus point of this film. The editing of this reminded me of old silent films like Chalie Chaplin. BGM is so beautiful.

Paresh Mokashi in his directorial debut did a wonderful job. Nandu Madhav as Phalke was just great & Vibhavari Deshpande as his supporting wife was perfect. If you're a true movie lover I'm sure there'll both tear & clap in the end. This was sent to the Oscars and in my opinion it should've won. This is a Must Watch for those love cinema or want to become filmmaker in future.

Available on Netflix.

© MandalBros.

I watched 3 movies last weekend: Up in the Air, Invictus and Harishchandrachi Factory, in that order. And Harishchandrachi Factory really touched my heart. If you ask a South African, he might say Invictus. But I, for one, love Marathi movies for their humor.

HF (I cannot type Harischandrachi Factory all the time) is about how Dadasaheb Phalke, i think he is called Father of Indian cinema, made the first movie in India, "Raja Harishchandra". He must've gone through a lot while making the movie. But the portrayal of the events is damn funny. My roommate, who does not understand Marathi was literally on the floor laughing! Excellent acting, direction, attention to detail and did I mention funny? And it does teach you to follow your heart and don't care about results. Loved the way his family supports him.

Must watch for all movie fans and non movie fans too!