Bhalji Pendharkar

Bhalji Pendharkar May 3, 1897 November 26, 1994 was a film personality in India, and recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the most prestigious award in the field.

Early life
Born in family of Dr Gopal Pendharkar and Radhabai, Bhalji was related to quite a few film personalities in Indian film industry. His elder brother Baburao Pendharkar was a famous film personality. Other famous names in family included step brother Master Vinayak Radhabai's son, cousin V Shantaram, son of Kamalabai, Radhabai's younger sister.

Film career
Bhalji started his career in the era of silent films. He was associated with Prabhat Film Company's earliest talkies, and also worked with other studios in hometown of Kolhapur. Later he acquired his own studio in form of Jayprabha Studio and became a film producer and director. He also write lyrics for some film songs in Marathi. His more famous films are: Netaji Palkar, Thoratanchi Kamala, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Mohityanchi Manjula, Maratha Tututka Melvava, Sadhi Manse, Tambdi Maati. Hindi: Maharathi Karna, Valimi, Chhatrapati Shivaji. Ganimi Kawa

He has directed following list of successful movies. 1969 Tambdi Maati 1965 Sadhi Manse 1964 Maratha Tituka Melvava 1963 Mohityanchi Manjula 1959 Akashganga 1957 Naikinicha Sazza 1956 Pavankhind 1955 Yere Majhya Maglya 1954 Maharani Yesubai 1953 Mazi Zameen 1952/I Chhatrapati Shivaji 1952/II Chhatrapati Shivaji 1950 Mee Daru Sodli 1950 Shilanganache Sone 1949 Meeth Bhakar 1946 Sasurvaas 1946/I Valmiki 1944 Maharathi Karna 1944 Swarna Bhoomi 1943 Bahirji Naik 1942 Bhakta Damaji 1942 Soonbai 1941 Thoratanchi Kamla 1940 Alakh Niranjan 1940 Gorakhnath 1939 Netaji Palkar 1938/I Raja Gopichand 1938/II Raja Gopichand 1937 Kanhopatra 1936 Rukmani Kalyanam 1936 Savitri 1935 Kalia Mardan 1935 Muraliwala 1934/I Akashwani 1934/II Akashwani 1934/I Partha Kumar 1934/II Partha Kumar 1932/I Shyam Sundar 1932/II Shyam Sundar 1931 Rani Rupmati 1927 Vande Mataram Ashram 1925 Bajirao Mastani He also wrote following film which very successful

1939 Netaji Palkar (writer) 1937 Kanhopatra 1934/I Akashwani (screenplay / story) 1934/II Akashwani (screenplay / story) 1932/I Shyam Sundar (screenplay / story) 1932/II Shyam Sundar (screenplay / story) 1927 Vande Mataram Ashram 1925 Bajirao Mastani

As producer, he has produced two film 1939 Netaji Palkar (producer) 1927 Vande Mataram Ashram (producer)

and finally he acted in one film 1924 Prithvi Vallabh

Personal life
Bhalji had a couple of wives, one of whom, Leela Chandragiri, acted and sang in Hindi and Marathi films in 1930s. Bhalji's son Prabhakar Pendharkar was associated with making of Do Aankhe Baarah Haath in 1950s, and author-director of documentaries. A few years before his death, he was awarded Dadasaheb Phalke Award.