SHRI Mukundrai Trivedi, born in a traditional family in Balaghat, MP, completed his education at Hislop College, Nagpur. A creative, multi-faceted personality with deep creative inclinations towards photography, music and theatre, he was driven by a deep-rooted passion to express his sensitivity towards social issues, regional culture and, most importantly, entertainment. Completing his education, he returned to Balaghat and established a centre for celebrating all forms of creativity and the arts, the Nutan Kala Niketan, ‘Niketan’ affectionately meaning ‘a family’. Now seventy years old, this institution is still alive and throbbing, carrying forward his legacy of supporting the arts. Though Niketan gave Mukundrai ji the ground to continue with his creativity, he soon moved to Mumbai to produce films, a bold step towards pursuing his passions.

 

A year of intense struggle was followed by the release of the film ‘Nartaki’ in 1962. It was directed and edited by Nitin Bose and Bimal Roy, respectively. This film was ahead of its time in portraying a courtesan’s desire to break free from social shackles and pursue education. Starring Sunil Dutt and Nanda, the film was successful in triggering public reactions, praising its socially progressive message in the iconic Picture Post Film Magazine. The evergreen songs received mainstream coverage and are still loved by film music enthusiasts. Encouraged by the success of ‘Nartaki’, Mukundrai ji moved on to producing ‘Gogola’ (1966), India’s one and only monster movie.

 

This film was made to entertain and captivate the public with fantasy. Again, a film much advanced for contemporary times, it expressed Mukundrai ji’s creative imagination, portraying a walking monster, dwelling in the sea and destroying the popular landmarks of Mumbai. Inspired by ‘Gojira’ (1954) and ‘Godzilla’ (1956), he embarked on this venture to join the international genre of ‘strange beast’ films and produced ‘Gogola’. To create an exclusive Indian version, Mukundrai ji urged his long-time friend from Balaghat, Shri Shambhu Nema, to write the script in Hindi and directed the songs himself under the duo moniker Roy-Frank, with Frank Fernand, the legendary jazz musician and lyrics given by Balkavi Bairagi. His favourite song was ‘Boribundar se Borivali, dekhi maine gali-gali’, tracking the ‘elitist’ landmarks of 1960s’ Bombay. Using skilful camera work, he brought together the well-known expertise for special effects by Balwant Dave and D S Malvankar’s tricks of ‘suitmation’ with two persons ‘animating’ the monster suit made of hessian gunny bags, paper stuffing and rope. Alas, ‘Gogola’ the monster, is now lost owing to calamitous incidents in the now historical Roop Tara Studio.

 

While pursuing his stints with films, Mukundrai ji continued to direct famous Gujarati plays in Mumbai, the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan auditorium being a popular venue. Among these was the famous play ‘Jevi Chhu Tevi’. Returning to his home ground in Nagpur, Mukundrai ji remained ever active with Niketan in Balaghat, and also shot ad-films and documentaries in Nagpur. In 1982, Mukundrai ji resumed film direction with the one and only film in the Malvi language, Bhadwa Mata, produced under the banner of Cine Tarang. The production of this regional film was a unique effort in itself. The entire cast comprised local film enthusiasts, working for the first time in films. The film was shot outdoors in Bazargaon, near Nagpur and Ramtek, as well as Rampura, Manasa, and Neelkantheshwar Bhadwamata Temple in Malwa. The indoor shooting was done in Joshi Mangal Karyalaya in Nagpur, with lyrics by Shri Balkavi Bairagi. Songs were recorded without the facility of a recording theatre, by Shri Damu More in an unfinished school in Laxmi Nagar, Nagpur. The film poster was also made by a local artist, Shri J Prabhakar.

 

Through these efforts, Mukundrai ji established the importance of regional cinema, generating a unique print-media footprint primarily documented in regional newspapers across Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh and especially Indian cinema chronicles. This is a small tribute to the creative spirit and the passion which drove Shri Mukundrai Trivedi, rather than the ambition to enter mainstream cinema to ‘make millions’. The glint in his eyes while recounting his experiences, especially when behind the camera and directing music, shall remain an indelible part of our fond memory of Shri Mukundrai ji.