What is the first Indian movie to premiere in the USA? | #225
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Mitron,
We love our little traditions here at IWTK and one of those is dedicating the first edition of October to the father of the Nation - Mahatma Gandhi. You can read our earlier editions on his cricketing connections, the time he endorsed skateboards, his appearance on currency around the world and lastly his love for football.
Side note: Sometimes we can scarcely believe that this humble newsletter has been sent out every Saturday morning for the the last 4 years. Thanks for reading <3
Letās start this newsletter with a terrible joke - "Why did Mohan name his son Dineshan?
So that he could be father of Dineshan.Ā
Things we learnt this week š¤
Since weāre talking about it - The first use of āFather of the Nationā as a title for Gandhi was by Subhash Chandra Bose during a radio address in 1944, acknowledging Gandhiās pivotal role in the fight for Indiaās independence. While Gandhi has been widely regarded as a spiritual father of the nation, there is no formal government correspondence officially granting him this title. Interestingly, a Right to Information (RTI) query in 2012 asked whether Gandhi was legally recognized as the Father of the Nation, to which the government replied that no such official document exists, leaving the title unofficial but widely accepted. Coincidentally, in 1972 the Constitution of Bangladesh declared Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to be "Father of the Nation". Stalin went one better in the 1930ās - he was bestowed the title āFather of Nationsā.
Hereās a quiz question:
Which was the first Indian film to be premiered in the USA?
Going by theme of the newsletter, the answer is Ram Rajya, famous as the only film that Gandhi, a man who didnāt like movies, watched in full. The director of the movie is Vijay Bhatt, grandfather of the contemporary director Vikram Bhatt. Vijay Bhatt first encountered Mahatma Gandhi in the late 1930s during a visit to Valsad. Upon learning that Bhatt was a filmmaker, Gandhiji suggested he create a film about Narsinh Mehta, the poet-saint whose bhajan "Vaishnav jan to..." was a favourite of Gandhiās. Bhatt immediately set to work and in 1940 released Narsi Bhagat in Hindi and Gujarati. The film was a success, but Bhatt regretted not being able to show it to Gandhi.
In 1943, Bhattās next film, Ram Rajya, caught Gandhiji's attention. While convalescing in Juhu, Gandhi watched the film. Though initially given only 40 minutes, he was so absorbed that he watched it for over 90 minutes without interruption, despite it being his day of silence. At the end, he expressed his approval with a simple pat on Bhattās back. Silence in this case was indeed Golden.Ā
Fun Fact: Shobhana Samarth aka Kajolās grandmother played Sita (below)
Speaking of..
When Gandhi first encountered Vaishnav Jan To, it was already a cherished part of Gujarati culture, written by the 15th-century poet-saint Narsinh Mehta. The song's message of empathy, humility, and righteous living struck a chord with Gandhi, as it mirrored the values he held dear. Gandhi began incorporating the bhajan into his daily prayers upon returning to India, especially at his ashram. He approached Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, a renowned vocalist and music educationist, to help organize these bhajan sessions. Paluskar sent his disciple Narayan Khare to Sabarmati Ashram, where Khare played a key role in compiling the Ashram Bhajanavali, a collection of devotional songs from various faiths. Thanks to Gandhiās influence, Vaishnav Jan To soon gained national prominence. The simplicity and universality of its message helped spread its fame beyond Gujarat, and it became intertwined with the Indian freedom movement.
Check out this version by Ustad Bismillah Khan and Pandit VG Jog.Ā
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