The childhood tales of a brave king Shivaji was narrated to the kids of Bhopal through children’s film. Bal Shivaji, the Marathi movie was screened on Sunday at Bharat Bhavan’s ongoing Children’s Film Festival.
The movie was directed by Prabhakar Pendharkar. The director picked up some interesting incidents from the childhood of Chttrapati Shivaji and showcased through a brilliant movie.
The legendary Maratha king Chatrapati Shivaji, famous for his valour and brave exploits, had become a great leader when he was still in his teens. This biographical film depicts how he commanded his own army by the age of 16 and outwitted and defeated veteran warriors like Adil Shah who caused grave injustice to his people.Through the real life example of the great Maratha warrior, this inspirational film that won its lead a best child actor award, gives the message that no age is too young for true leadership, grit, humanism and a resolve to fight injustice
The movie won award for Best Child Actor Award in 2nd Neo Youth international Competitive Film Festival, Madras in year 1982.
It is to be noted that Prabhakar Pendharkar got a chance to see and study how films are made firsthand at a very young age from his filmmaker father Bhalji Pendharkar, a Dadasaheb Phalke award winner. He formally worked with his father as an assistant director as also with V Shantaram between 1952 and 1959.
He wrote and directed the Marathi film ‘Bhau Tithe Dev’. He worked in the Films Division for many years since 1961 and has won the National Award for the best educational and best promotional film.