Varma Films
Varma Films was a film production and distribution company founded in Bombay, India. The company was predominantly involved in producing and distributing Hindi-language films and to a lesser extent distributing some Italian-language films with English subtitles in India.
During its 18-year existence, starting from its inception with the release of the film Suhaag Raat in 1948, to the release of its last film, Budtameez in 1966, Varma Films and its affiliates distributed 18 films, of which 15 were Hindi-language films and the remaining 3 were Italian-language films. This corresponds to an average of one film per year. In his sample of 274,991 films with 269,385 individual producers over the years 1949 to 2018, film researcher Stephen Follows finds that the average producer starting out in 1950 would go on to produce 6 films over their career span. With 18 of the films distributed by Varma Films and its affiliates including 12 films produced by the company, the above benchmark is an indicator of the notability of Varma Films arising from their prolific productivity.
In addition, the prominence of Varma Films and its affiliates emanates from the notable array of stars that worked in its films during the so-called Golden Age of Hindi Cinema that stretched for the first two decades following India's independence in 1947. Three of these films, Badal and Baghi Sipahi ) starred Madhubala, called “the biggest star in the world” by David Cort of Theatre Arts Magazine. Another film featured Raj Kapoor, one of the greatest and most influential actors and filmmakers in history of Indian cinema. Other distinguished stars that acted in the films linked with Varma Films and its affiliates includes Nutan, Mala Sinha, Sadhana, Geeta Bali, Kamini Kaushal, Rehana, Bharat Bhushan, Shyam, Premnath, Ashok Kumar and Shammi Kapoor. Similarly, the noteworthy stars that worked in the Italian-language films distributed by the affiliates of Varma Films includes Sophia Loren, Anita Ekberg, Romy Schneider, Ursula Andress and Marcello Mastroianni.
Further contributing to the significance of Varma Films are the directors who worked in the films produced and/or distributed by the filmmakers. Extant research on film directors shows that director talent, as measured by the total number of films directed during a director's entire career, has a significant effect on the financial and critical success of their films. Furthermore, academic research also finds that it is only when a director makes at least 7 films that one can conclude that the director's talent transcends sheer luck. The prolific directors who worked for the Hindi-language films produced and/or distributed for Varma Films as well as its affiliates and the total number of movies made by these directors during their entire careers includes Amiya Chakrabarty, Ravindra Dave, Manmohan Desai, O.P. Dutta, H. S. Rawail, Kidar Sharma, and Naresh Saigal. Likewise, the prolific directors who worked in the Italian-language films distributed by the affiliates of Varma Films, and the total number of movies made by these directors during their entire careers, includes Vittorio De Sica, Frederico Fellini, Elio Petri and Luchino Visconti. Overall, these numbers corroborate the talent of the directors that worked for films associated with Varma Films and its affiliates.
Finally, given the belief that a film's songs are a crucial ingredient of the box-office success of any mainstream Indian film, the prominence of Varma Films comes from the songs in its films. For a majority of the films produced by Varma Films and its affiliates, the songs were composed by Shankar-Jaikishan, a composer duo who are widely considered to be one of the greatest ever music composers of the Hindi film industry. More evidence on the noteworthiness of the songs composed by the Shanker-Jaikishan duo for Varma Films and its affiliates comes from Binaca Geetmala, the radio countdown show hosted by the iconic Ameen Sayani. With its blend of chart-topping Hindi filmi songs and Sayani's distinctive style, the show captured the hearts of listeners and became a rage across the Indian subcontinent. The song Zahid Sharab Pine De Masjid Me Baithkar from the film Main Nashe Main Hoon, ranked number 2 on Binaca Geetmala's Annual list of Top Songs for 1959. Further, the song, Budtameez Kaho Ya Kaho Jaanvar from the film Budtameez ranked number 10 on Binaca Geetmala's Annual list of Top Songs for 1966. Interestingly, what is probably the most memorable song in a film produced by Varma Films was the evergreen song Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon composed by another renowned composer C. Ramchandra for Patanga, a film produced by Varma Films.
History
Founded in 1948 by six brothers in the Chawla family, born to Laxmidas and Hakumdai Chawla from the Punjab Province of British India. After moving to Bombay to enter the movie industry, the six brothers changed their last name to Varma, became a part of the Varma family, and named their newly founded company Varma Films.1940s
Varma Films was initially involved only with distributing films and afterward with producing as well as distributing Hindi-language films. The first film distributed by the company was Suhaag Raat. Kidar Sharma, the film's director, had been looking for a financier/distributor for Oriental Pictures, a film company that he had founded a few years ago. When Varma Films offered to take on the distribution rights for Suhaag Raat, Kidar Sharma made Munshiram Varma, one of the founders of Varma Films, a co-producer of Suhaag Raat. The story of Suhaag Raat revolved around a love triangle between Bharat Bhushan, Begum Para and Geeta Bali, the three leading stars of the film. The film's music was composed by Snehal Bhatkar. Suhaag Raat was a box-office hit; it was the seventh highest-grossing film of 1948. Much of the film's success was attributed to Geeta Bali's breakthrough performance in the film.Given how well Suhaag Raat did at the box-office, Varma Films and Oriental Pictures collaborated on two more films: Thes and Neki Aur Badi. The narrative of both films once again centered around love triangles and both films were directed by Kidar Sharma as well as produced for Oriental Pictures by Kidar Sharma and Munshiram Varma. Thes starred Shashikala and Bharat Bhushan in lead roles with Purnima in a supporting role, whereas Neki Aur Badi featured Madhubala, Geeta Bali and Kidar Sharma in the lead roles. Neither of these two films were commercially successful. However, both films were recognized for other contributions. For her role in Thes, Purnima, was praised by Filmindia, for "promising a good future." and for making “a good impression” Further, renowned music composer Roshan made his debut as a music director in Neki Aur Badi.
Kidar Sharma, the director of all three films discussed above was credited by renowned filmmaker Raj Kapoor as “a one-man institution who taught me all I know about film-making.” Likewise, Munshiram Varma, the most prominent founder of Varma Films in the 1940s, after working as a co-producer in three movies with Kidar Sharma, developed the skills needed to lead Varma Films into its maiden venture as a production and distribution company with the film Patanga. Starring Nigar Sultana and Shyam in the lead roles with supporting roles performed by Yakub, Gope and Purnima, the film was directed by H. S. Rawail with its music being composed by C. Ramchandra. Famous actor Rajendra Kumar, regarded as one of the greatest actors of the Indian cinema, debuted in the film industry with a cameo in the film. Patanga was a major commercial success; it was the seventh highest-grossing film of 1949.
1950s
The 1950s decade began with Varma Films releasing two films in 1951. Among these was Sagai, previously titled Ek Nazar.Following the commercial success of their film Patanga, Varma Films once again hired H. S. Rawail to direct and C. Ramchandra to compose the music of the film. Rehana, the film's female lead, was at that time in the best phase of her career being paired with the top heroes of the time and Sagai turned out to be one of her two biggest hits. Premnath, the film's male lead, made his first of several collaborations with Varma Films. Purnima was once again cast in a supporting role. As in Patanga, Rajendra Kumar, worked in Sagai as an assistant to director H. S. Rawail.
The other film released by Varma Films in the same year as Sagai's release, was Badal, an Indian adaptation of Robin Hood, the legendary outlaw who supposedly stole from the rich to give to the poor. Bhagwan Das Varma, one of the founders of the Varma Films, made his debut as a film producer with this film. Starring Madhubala and Prem Nath in lead roles with Purnima in a supporting role, the film was directed by Amiya Chakravarty. It was also the first film where Varma Films collaborated with the Shankar–Jaikishan duo for the composition of the film's music. The film was a phenomenal commercial success; Badal was the eighth highest-grossing film of 1951.
The company's next film was Parbat featuring Prem Nath and Nutan in lead roles with K. N. Singh and Purnima in supporting roles. The film's narrative centered around what happens to the two lovers, played by the film's lead stars, when a former lover—who is insanely obsessive—enters their lives. Directed by O.P. Dutta, the film's music was composed by the Shanker Jaikishan duo.
Varma Films subsequently released Aurat, a period film, which was a retelling of the Samson and Delilah biblical tale. The film featured Prem Nath and Bina Rai in the lead roles with Purnima in a supporting role. The Shanker Jaikishan duo composed the musical score for the film. Bhagwan Das Varma, one of the founders of Varma Films, made his directorial debut with Aurat.
The company's first film for 1954 was the comedy Ladla whose story uncovered the experiences of the protagonist as he ventures out into the world leaving behind all the privileges arising from being the favorite son of wealthy parents. Starring Karan Dewan and Shyama in the lead roles, the film was directed by Surya Kumar. Ladla's musical compositions, which were composed by Vinod, are regarded as one of his best-known creations.
Ladla was followed by and Pooja starring Bharat Bhushan and Purnima. It was directed by Bhagwan Das Varma with music composed by the Shanker Jaikishan duo. Bold for its time, the film dealt with issues related to the remarriage of Indian child widows. Pooja was the first film in which Purnima, who had previously worked in supporting roles for several films associated with Varma Films, worked in the leading role portraying a child widow. In the same year that Pooja was released Bhagwan Das Varma married Purnima.
During the latter half of the 1950s, the Varma Films banner was retired following the death of one of its founders, Munshiram Varma, in 1958. Varma Films subsequently evolved into two affiliated companies, both associated with the production and distribution of films for the rest of the 1950s decade. V P Productions was connected with Baghi Sipahi whose narrative revolved around the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire. Bhagwan Das Varma worked as the producer as well as the director for Baghi Sipahi and the music for the film was composed by the Shankar–Jaikishan duo. Madhubala and Chandrashekhar played the lead roles of the film. Varma Pictures, the other affiliated company associated with Varma Films, was the production/distribution company for two films. The first of these was Night Club. The narrative of this film unraveled the challenges faced by a female protagonist when she attempts to avenge the murder of her brother by an omnipotent criminal. Starring Kamini Kaushal and Ashok Kumar in the lead roles, the film was directed by Naresh Saigal with music composed by Madan Mohan. The second film associated with Varma Pictures, also directed by Naresh Saigal, was Main Nashe Mein Hoon. The story of this film centered around the descending consequences of heavy drinking and the ameliorating role that family can play in subduing these effects. Raj Kapoor and Mala Sinha played the lead roles and the Shankar–Jaikishan duo composed the film's music.
Overall, whereas Munshiram was the most prominent member of the six founders in the 1940s, Bhagwan Das was the most noteworthy member in the 1950s. However, they also had distinct roles within Varma Films and its affiliates. Munshiram was the co-producer, along with Kidar Sharma, for three movies in the 1940s for which Oriental Pictures was the production company, and Varma Films was the distributor. Bhagwan Das, on the other hand, was the solo producer for two movies and the solo director for three movies, all produced and distributed by Varma Films and its affiliates.
Also different were the approaches to storytelling associated with Munshiram and Bhagwan Das. All three of the movies which Munshiram co-produced in the 1940s had contemporary plots based on love triangles that were marked by unrequited love. In contrast, both movies produced by Bhagwan Das were historical, and two out of the three movies directed by Bhagwan Das were also historical, all based on epic tales including those of Samson and Delilah and the persecution of Christians during the Roman Empire.