Google Doodle- The World Of V. Shantaram

Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre was born to Rajaram and Kamala at the turn of the century on November 18, 1901, barely five years after the birth of cinema. His father, Rajaram was an impoverished shop-owner who, to supplement his meagre income, hired out petromax lamps to drama troupes who performed musical plays late into the night.

Rarely has the cinema – Indian or international – seen a filmmaker as complete as V. Shantaram. A consummate actor, an innovative editor, an insightful director and a producer. He was a filmmaker of many talents and evolved a new style of filmmaking and grammar. As an actor he played the lead in at least of two of India's landmark films, which he also directed. As a producer his films dealt with the social, economic and political problems of a society struggling under colonial rule and then as a country trying to establish its place as a nation.

Born​ ​at​ ​the​ ​turn​ ​of​ ​the​ ​century,​ ​five​ ​years​ ​after​ ​the​ ​new​ ​medium​ ​of moving​ ​pictures​ ​had​ ​made​ ​its​ ​debut,​ ​he​ ​was witness to the evolution of cinema technology right from its silent days to the advent of digital technology in the 1980s.

He made his directorial debut during the silent cinema, established his reputation during the early talkie era and became a legend in his own lifetime. Over the decades he produced 92 films, directed 55 films and acted in 25 films.