INTACH and Art Kanara Trust host talk on Bombay Film Industry of the 1970s by Film Producer Madhusudan Kumar

INTACH and Art Kanara Trust host talk on Bombay Film Industry of the 1970s by Film Producer Madhusudan Kumar

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, November 29, 2024: The Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in association with Art Kanara Trust presented a talk on ‘The Making of Kadambari and the Bombay Film Industry of the 1970s’ by film producer Madhusudan Kumar on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at 5:00 PM at the Kodialguthu Center for Art and Culture in the city.

Madhusudan Kumar, a celebrated musician, artist, and filmmaker hailing from Mangaluru, is best known as the producer and creative director of the 1976 Hindi film ‘Kadambari’. The film, written by renowned author Amrita Pritam and directed by H. K. Verma, starred Vijay Arora and Shabana Azmi in lead roles. It also marked the debut of playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy, with its music composed by legendary sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan. Garnering critical and popular acclaim, Kadambari went on to win five Filmfare Awards. The full movie is available for viewing on YouTube.

During the talk, he shared fascinating insights into the making of the film and his experiences in the Bombay film industry during the 1970s. Recalling his early days in the industry, he spoke about balancing multiple jobs while exploring various filmmaking formats before producing his first feature film. “Kadambari was released during the Emergency in 1975, just a week before Sholay. Despite the political uncertainty, the lack of new films created a high demand among distributors, and Kadambari played a role in reviving the Hindi film industry,” Kumar shared.

He further highlighted the film’s success in cities like Bombay, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Calcutta, as well as its reception in international markets, even amidst Sholay’s historic run. “Today, the film is considered a classic for its bold approach to taboo topics, portrayal of strong female characters, and innovative storytelling,” he added. Concluding his talk, Kumar expressed his desire to create an epic film showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Tulunadu.

Nemiraj Shetty, Co-convener of INTACH Mangaluru Chapter, introduced the speaker and anchored the programme. Artist Vivek A. R. provided an overview of the film and its crew. The event concluded with a felicitation of Madhusudan Kumar.