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Published: 07 March 2023

Last Updated: 07 March 2023

NOTE: The book is available on the following websites

Amazon.com (and other Amazons), pothi.com, notionpress.com, Amazon.in, soon on flipkart.com

Please search with the name of the author and/or title.

professor toofaanii publishers, Lansing, MI USA is happy to announce their 49th book

Group Dancers of Indian Cinema (Golden Age and Beyond)
by
Upendra Samaranayake
and
Professor Surjit Singh

Group dancers are also called chorus or backup dancers. Clearly, without them most of the dance sequences would not be too interesting. The reason is that solo performances by the lead characters are rare and usually occur in formal, classical dance settings. For an average movie-goer, these are not very appetizing. Most of the time, though, the main dancer or dancers have to be embedded in a matrix of backup dancers.
The tradition of having other dancers present when the leads are dancing goes back a long way. In the story of the divine dancing pair Radha-Krishna we have Radha's friends almost always present. In fact, sometimes they are so jealous of Radha that Krishna clones himself such that each of Radha's friends thinks that she is the one dancing with him alone.
Quite a few of the folk dances that grew in the middle ages had other dancers besides the lead, sometimes complementing, sometimes mimicking what he or she was doing. As we have seen many times before, this tradition was continued in the theater, silent films, and finally the talkies.
In the talkies, when the dances moved away from the temple or the court to other locations, a need arose for more dancers. These dancers were, unfortunately, very low in the movie industry hierarchy, just above the extras. The extras are the ones sitting in the cafeterias or in parties. You can actually recognize many of them who are common fixtures sometimes for years. Little bit above them are the unheralded group dancers. They are usually hired by dance directors, sometimes called the dance masters or simply masters. They work in groups, get to know each other and typically do not need much rehearsal. They work is reasonably hard, very enjoyable for those who love dancing and pays well, roughly about 5-10 times a secretarial or low-level desk clerk job.
Sadly not much has been written about them. One can forget about biographies, for the most part, even their names are unknown to an average film-goer.
This book is a small effort to name them and have their filmographies written down. Much work still needs to be done.

Paperback, 6 by 9 in, 209 pages. Ts 750 (India), $8.5 (US).

First 15 pages may be seen here

Now You Know!

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Published: 15 April 2023

Last Updated: 15 April 2023

Note: This book has been already published in India, please see photos for buying info. This post is about the International Edition.

Available on Amazon

professor toofaanii publishers, Lansing, MI USA is happy to announce their 56th book

filmindia Covers Collection
by
Sanjeev Tanwar

filmindia was a very popular film magazine during the 30s to the 50s. It was edited and published by Baburao Patel. It has many beautiful photos and covers designed by S M Pandit. The book has 237 fully color covers from the magazine.

    Sanjeev Tanwar is a native of Delhi. After completing his school and college education, he joined the Shri Ram Centre For Arts And Culture in 1996 to pursue his keen interest in theatre and writing. In 1998, he earned his diploma in acting.
    He has translated many important works of English literature into Hindi - 'The Time Machine' (H G Wells), 'Man & Superman' (G B Shaw), 'Adolf Hitler' (James Bunting), 'Anthony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare), 'Old Man & The Sea' (Ernest Hemingway).
    While at the Shri Ram Centre, he wrote the play 'Chuna Ek Murga Beeti' based on ashort story by Sharad Joshi. His other dramatic works include - 'Hitler, Ek Marta Hua Sapna', 'The Court is Adjourned', 'Kishnuli' (based on a story by Shivani), 'Lolita' (based on the novel by the same name by Vladimir Nabokov).
    As an ardent lover of cinema, he has to his credits the compilation 'Tujhe Mere Geet Bulate Hain' (2015), a complete filmography of Bharat Vyas, and two books on Hindi Film posters, 'Pictorial Journey of Hindi Cinema 1939' and 'Pictorial Journey of Hindi Cinema 1940'.

US Letter size, paperback, Color, 251 pages, $24.49

As usual, first 10 pages may be seen here

Now You Know!

Details

Published: 11 April 2023

Last Updated: 11 April 2023

NOTE: The book is available on the following websites

Amazon.com, pothi.com and notionpress.com

Please search with the name of the author and/or title.

professor toofaanii publishers, Lansing, MI USA is happy to announce their 55th book

Hindi Films The Stars of Silent Films Hindi Films Stars Series: Part 1
by
Sheo Khetan

In this book the author discusses the Silent Era of Indian cinema. He introduces us to dozens of long-forgotten stars, their basic information, their life and their films. It is fully illustrated with scores of pictures from books, magazines and films.

This is his 6th book. It was earlier published by Vinay Aditya, his friend from IITK. The present edition is an imprint of professor toofaanii publishers, Lansing, MI USA

Paperback, 122 page, BW interior, Rs 450 (India), $5.95 (International).

First ten pages may be read here.

Now You Know!