FIRST EVER MULTICOLOUR FULL BIG SCREEN GARHWALI FILM “JAGWAL”, WAS MADE TODAY – 40 YEARS AGO MAKING HISTORY!
It was today, forty days ago on 5 th May 2023 that the first full screen Garhwali feature film was released in Mavlankar Hall, Rafi Marg with full fanfare, pomp and show with hundreds of people thronging here for tickets, everyone eager to watch this, first ever multi coloured feature film in a regional dialect with attractive music and serene beauty of the Uttarakhand hills, then in undivided Uttar Pradesh.
It was indeed a dream come true for the artists, film makers and the entire film fraternity including the curious pahadi audience, especially those who lived in Delhi and NCR.
Even curious audience from Kotdwar and Pauri Garhwal couldn’t resist their charm to watch this film and thronged to the national capital to watch it.
The film titled ” JAGWAL” MEANS ” WAIT”, in Garhwali dialect. The first ever Garhwali film’s colourful poster looked very fascinating attracting one and all.
To make “JAGWAL” a full big screen multicolour feature film was not a joke or easy task those days especially by a producer, director n a poet Parashar Gaur who was then serving in Constitution club as a manager on monthly salary.
However, by the dint of his hard work, dedication and commitment he fulfilled his long felt dream and made history by making JAGWAL in 1983.
People call him as the “Dada Saheb Falke “, of Garhwal and Uttarakhand.
He is now based in Canada.
I remember, the Mavlankar Hall went house full all days and tickets were sold costly in black.
Even the lead actors of this film Ramesh Mandolia hero and Dinesh Kothiyal including Mr. Farendia, the leading comedian sold tickets and worked as torchmen guiding audience to their seats.
Ramesh Mandolia and, Dinesh Kothiyal lived at Netaji Nagar then, (now no more) and Farendia serving in Delhi government apart from acting and singing. He is known for his famous GARHWALI song ” SATPPULI KA SAINA MERI BAU SUREELA”.
The film “JAGWAL”, which made history in Uttarakhand cinema was produced by Parashar Gaur, a Garhwali poet and actor, writer having tremendous passion for regional theatre.
The movie was edited and directed by Tulsi Ghimire, music by Ranjit Gajmer, and Photography by Prakash Ghimire.
The movie was primarily shot in Pauri Garhwal district and Kaljikhal block from where belonged the producer Parashar Gaur.
His native home was village Mirchauda in Aswalsiun Patti, Pauri Garhwal. shoot
The then lawmaker from Pauri Narendra Singh Bhandari rendered all possible help in shooting and granting permission for various locations.
Mrs Kusum Bisht living in Delhi ( Sarojini Nagar then) then, was its first heroine.
Today is the fortieth anniversary of this regional Garhwali film and this writer was witness to the first show at Mavlankar Hall when audience in uncontrollable numbers thronged it forty years ago from now, today.
It was on this day 5 th May, 1983 that JAGWAL was etched as the first Garhwali film in golden letters in Uttarakhand’s film history and Parashar Gaur as its first producer with Kusum Bisht as its first heroine.
It was after the making of this Garhwali film that first Kumaoni film too was introduced followed by several full big screen multicolour feature films like Udankaar, Angwal, Samlaun, Byo, Junyali Raat, Sanjog, Ann Data, Gharjawain, Fyonli, Sukh Dukh, Yu Kannu Rishta, Meru Gaaon, Subheru Ghanm , Major Nirala , Bathaun etc and hundreds of CD films n musical sings etc. Good luck.
