By Madhup yadav 1st Aug :Shemaroo Entertainment released Guldasta – a collection of stories filmed on Munshi Premchand’s work and observations on social ills and other issues. After being telecasted on Doordarshan in 1996, these stories are released on DVD and VCD for the first time by Shemaroo. ‘Prem Utsav’ 2009 is a theatre festival organized by Ideal Drama and Entertainment Academy (IDEA) for celebrating Munshi Premchand’s 129th birthday, which falls on 31st July.
Shemaroo released the ‘GULDASTA’ DVDs at ‘Prem Utsav’ 2009, held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chowpatty on 30 July 2009, where acclaimed Film Maker Mr. Anurag Kashyap unveiled the DVDs and also two drama Books based on stories of Shree Premchand – ‘MAA’ in Urdu and ‘AADAB MAIN PREMCHAND HOON’ -II in Hindi.
Director, Anurag Kashyap says, ‘Premchand’s ‘Mansarovar’ was my introduction to the world of literature and short stories. Releasing Premchand’s filmed TV episodes on DVDs and VCDs is a great medium to reach out to today’s youth, to get them connected to our literature in an entertaining manner. Such DVDs would serve as great resource material for schools, colleges, students, writers who teach and study Hindi literature.’
Hiren Gada, Director, Shemaroo Entertainment shares his thoughts, ‘Premchand stories continue to be part of every Indians academic curriculum. Premchand wrote on the realistic issues of society which are relevant even today. His stories represented the ordinary Indian people as they were. By releasing Premchand’s stories on home video we will not only be reaching out to a lot more audiences, but will also be providing them with quality and enlightened content.’
Adds Mujeeb Khan, Founder and President of IDEA, ‘Even though Premchand’s stories come out from the pages of history, most of the topics that he wrote are still pertinent. Unfortunately not much has changed even after 62 years of independence. The only way to speak to the masses about Premchand’s thoughts was through ‘DRAMA’ as it is the best medium. So we thought of scripting dramas based on the stories of Premchand for their convenience.’