Manoos
Manoos, also called Life's for Living, is a Marathi films|1939] Indian Marathi social melodrama film directed by V. Shantaram. The was simultaneously made in Hindi as Aadmi. The film was based on a short story called "The Police Constable". The story was by A. Bhaskarrao, with screenplay and dialogue by Anant Kanekar. The cinematographer was V. Avadhoot and the music was composed by Master Krishna Rao, with lyrics by Kanekar. The cast included Shahu Modak, Shanta Hublikar, Sundara Bai, Ram Marathe, Narmada, Ganpatrao and Raja Paranjpe.
Manoos, termed as a "reformist social melodrama", involved the subject of an honest policemen's love for a prostitute and his attempts to rehabilitate her, and the rejection by society.
Plot
plays the role of an honest policeman, Ganpat, who, on his beat round, meets a prostitute, Maina. He saves her when there is a police raid on the sex workers. Over their several meetings, he falls in love with her. He attempts Maina's rehabilitation by getting her out of that atmosphere by marrying her. In this endeavour, he takes her to meet his mother to get her approval. The social disapproval brings misery. Modak resorts to drinking and descends into alcoholism. Maina is driven by guilt and is unable to bear the jeers and snide remarks. She finally kills her evil uncle and refuses Ganpat's help when arrested.Cast
- Shahu Modak as Ganpat / Moti
- Shanta Hublikar as Maina / Kesar
- Sundara Bai as Ganpat's mother / Moti's mother
- Budasaheb as Megharam
- Ram Marathe as Mannu
- Chhottu as Old Man
- Gauri as Bijli
- Manju as Shama
- Narmada Shankar as Radha
- Ganpatrao Tambat as Police Inspector
- Raja Paranjpe as Mama
- Manajirao as Motel Keeper
Review
The film is stated to be "classic" along with his other two films Kunku and Shejari or Padosi, and cited as one of the "best social films" that became successful. Manoos'' was appreciated by the audience and commended by Charlie Chaplin.
Production
Shantaram had initially decided to take Shanta Apte as the sex-worker and had auditioned the music director Vasant Desai for the hero's role. Desai's screen test was successful, however, he was disappointed when Shantaram informed him that he was taking the newcomer Shahu Modak for the part. Modak's debut role had been as a child star opposite Shanta Apte in Shyam Sunder, where he played the child Krishna. With Manoos/''Aadmi he became a "top level star".Shantaram visited the red light areas of Bombay in order to achieve accurate sets, which were recreated by S. Fattelal at Prabhat Studios. Director Shyam Benegal stated in the news report that "it was hard to believe" the scenes were shot in a studio. A retired army officer was hired to give training to Modak and the other cast playing policemen. The training sessions turned out be vigorous and lengthy and Modak had to ask them to be stopped.
The film bore some similarity to Waterloo Bridge'', directed by James Whale.