Let’s know about the film.
Sati Sulochana saw many firsts, it was also the first film to be screened in the then Kingdom of Mysore.
Exactly 89 years ago, in 1943, the first Kannada talkie film Sathi Sulochana released in theaters on March 3 launching an industry that made its mark in the world almost nine decades later. The film forms an important part of the Kannada film heritage. The Sati Sulochana produced by Shah Chamanlal Dungaji generated a lot of interest among people even from small towns and villages coming to Bangalore in bullock carts to watch it. Let’s know about the film.
Sati Sulochana saw many firsts, it was also the first film to be screened in the then Kingdom of Mysore. According to some archival agencies, actor R. Nagendra Rao, also known as the father of Kannada cinema, sincerely attempted to conceive a full-fledged Kannada talkie. He also tried to bring Ardeshir Irani, who was behind making Alam Ara, for the film, but the latter declined as he reportedly thought that the Kannada market was small at that time.
Nagendra Rao knocked on several doors for funding to make the film and at that time he met Chamanlal Dungaji, a Marwari businessman who was keen to produce the film, but received no support from the cast. Chamanlal and Shah Bhurmal Chamanlalji, who then owned a production company called South India Movietone, approached Yaragudipati Varada Rao in 1932 to direct a film based on the Ramayana.
Belawe Narhari Shastri wrote the screenplay of the film and the shooting was completed over a period of two months in a studio in Kolhapur with a budget of Rs 40,000. It was first released at the Paramount Theater in Bengaluru.
Sati Sulochana featured Subbaiah Naidu, Tripuramba, R Nagendra Rao, Lakshmi Bai, CV Seshachalam, DA Murthy Rao and SK Padmadevi in lead roles. YV Rao played the role of Lakshman in the film. Subbaiah Naidu and Tripuramba were the first leading actors in a Kannada film.
As per reports, there were 18 songs in the film, which narrate the story decently. Now, a gramophone record jacket has been found in the personal collection of writer Vijaya Subbaraj, whose father Seetharam reportedly worked with Sathi Sulochana’s production house. Records revealed that the film did not have 18 songs but a total of 30 tracks.
A few years ago, the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy declared March 3 as Kannada Cinema Day.
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