Dharmatma (1935 film)

Dharmatma
Screen shot of Dharmatma
Directed by	V. Shantaram
Produced by	Prabhat Film Company
Written by	K. Narayan Kale
Starring	Bal Gandharva Chandra Mohan Ratnaprabha Vasanti
Music by	Master Krishnarao
Cinematography	Keshavrao Dhaiber
Production company	Prabhat Film Company
Release date	1935
Running time	144 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Dharmatma (The Holy Soul) is a 1935 Hindi social devotional biopic directed by V. Shantaram. The film was a bilingual made in Marathi and Hindi. This was the only devotional film directed by Shantaram, though he had made several mythological films. The story and screenplay were by K. Narayan Kale and the music was composed by Master Krishnarao. The cast included Bal Gandharva in his debut role and Chandra Mohan as the villain, with Master Chhotu, K. Narayan Kale, Ratnaprabha, Vasanti and Hari Pandit.

The film is about the "legendary" Marathi religious poet and scholar Sant Eknath (1533–99), author of a variation of the Bhagavata Purana called Eknathi Bhagvata, numerous abhangs and the bharuda form of solo performances. The story revolves around his teachings regarding social injustices concerning untouchability, equality and humanity.

Eknath (Bal Gandharva) concentrates on giving charitable and caring help to people especially those of the untouchable caste. This goes in variance against the vindictive Mahant (Chandra Mohan) who opposes such practices. Things come to a head when at a prayer meeting, Eknath feeds the untouchables first, before the Brahmins, as would be the normal custom. Eknath does not differentiate between castes and eats at their house too. This enrages the Mahant and he has Eknath ex-communicated. Eknath's son Hari Pandit (Kale) has joined the people and the Mahant who oppose his father's practices. Eknath finally arrives at Kashi and defends his behaviour by reciting verses of his poems to Pradayananda Shastri.

Sant Eknath was the "only male role" enacted by Bal Ghandharva, who was a Marathi stage "legend". The film had a bigger budget allocated to it than Prabhat's Sant Tukaram (1936) made the following year. The original title Mahatma had to be changed due to the censors objection. Chandra Mohan's character was given a "nervous tic in one eye" to make him appear as an ordinary villain, and for expressionistic purposes Shantaram made use of "high-angle close-ups". Dharmatma was one of the only four films made on caste system around that period. The others were Chandidas (1932), Chandidas (1934), and to a lesser extent Achhut Kanya (1936) which had a "contemporary setting".