Sat Nov 30 14:38:23 UTC 2024: ## Mangaluru Celebrates “Kadambari”: Film’s Producer Recounts 1970s Bollywood Triumph
**Mangaluru, November 30, 2024** – Film producer Madhusudhan Kumar, a Mangaluru native, captivated an audience Thursday evening with a talk on the making of his critically acclaimed 1976 film, “Kadambari.” The event, hosted by the Mangaluru chapter of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) in association with Art Kanara Trust, offered fascinating insights into the film’s production and the Bombay film industry during the 1970s.
Kumar, a renowned musician and artist, detailed the challenges and triumphs of producing “Kadambari,” a film written by Amrita Pritam, directed by H.K. Verma, and starring Vijay Arora and Shabana Azmi. The film, which marked the debut of playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy and featured the music of Ustad Vilayat Khan, went on to win five Filmfare awards.
Remarkably, “Kadambari” was released during the Emergency, just a week before the blockbuster “Sholay.” Despite this challenging backdrop, its success in major Indian cities and international markets helped revitalize the Hindi film industry, Kumar explained. He attributed the film’s enduring legacy to its bold treatment of taboo subjects, strong female characters, and innovative storytelling. Today, “Kadambari” is considered a classic of Hindi cinema.
The event also included an introduction by Nemiraj Shetty, co-convener of INTACH Mangaluru, and an overview of the film and its crew by artist Vivek A.R. The evening concluded with a felicitation of Mr. Kumar, who expressed his ambition to create a future epic film showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Tulunadu.
First Piper 