[2] The company gained prominence during the transition from silent films to talkies and was recognised for its technical excellence and socially conscious storytelling.
During the advent of talkies in India, Prabhat Films, along with Kolkata’s New Theatres, stood out for its artistic achievements and socially relevant themes.
Some of its notable productions include Kunku (released in Hindi as Duniya Na Mane), Swarajyacha Toran (also called Udaykal), based on the life of Shivaji, Dharmatma on Saint Eknath, Sant Tukaram on the eponymous saint-poet and social reformer, Shejari (released in Hindi as Padosi), addressing communal harmony, Manoos (also called Aadmi), tackling alcoholism, and Amar Jyoti, advocating women’s emancipation.
[1][3] The site also features the Prabhat Museum, which showcases artifacts, original contracts, costumes, props, equipment, posters, and stills from the company's history.
The four of them got together, and with Sitaram Kulkarni, well-established jeweller in Kolhapur as their fifth partner and financier, started a new company on 1 June 1929, with an initial investment amount of Rs 15,000.
When India entered the era of talkies with Alam Ara in March 1931, Shantaram predicted that it was a transient phase, and the silent films were the real artistic area.
The biopic, title Sant Tukaram, in 1936, made by V. Damle and S. Fattelal of Prabhat Film Company and starring Vishnupant Pagnis as the lead, and released on 12 December 1936 at Central Cinema in Mumbai.
[9][10][11] After Shantaram split away in 1942 to form his own "Rajkamal Kalamandir" studios, and Damle Mama fell ill, the company encountered hard times.