Sri MGR Year 96, 6th April, Saturday
A postage of our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR has been issued earlier by the Government of India. Below is an article that appeared in The Hindu.
Film on Stamp
The Department of Posts has so far issued seven commemorative postage stamps related to cinema. On April 30, 1971, the first of its kind was issued in memory of Dada Saheb Phalke (1870-1944) the Initiator of Cinematographic Art in India. The 20 paise stamp in plum colour depicts a portrait of D.Phalke on the background of a filmstrip with a line drawing of a film camera of early days.
Commemorating the Sixth International Film Festival of India, a multicoloured Rs.2 stamp was brought out on January 3, 1977. The globe encircled with a filmstrip is shown on the stamp.
Honouring Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) a 25 paise stamp was issued on April 16, 1978. Marking the 7th year of Indian Cinema, another stamp was released on May 30, 1989. The 60 paise stamp in black and orange portrays a scene from the first Indian feature film “Raja Harishchandra”, produced and directed by Dada Saheb Phalke, and screened at the Coronation Cinema in Bombay on May 13, 1913. The film was 3,700 feet long.
Honouring M.G.Ramachandran (1917-1987) a great Tamil actor and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, a stamp was issued on January 17, 1990.
The red-brown 60 paise stamp shows his portrait with his typical fur cap and dark glasses.
In memory of Nargis Dutt, a one rupee stamp was issued on December 30, 1993. Apart from being a film artist, she founded the Society and School of Spastics in 1972. In sepia colour the stamp features a charming profile of Nargis together with the insignia of the Spastic society of India. The three letters (SSI) are so designed in the insignia as to show us a cramped victim of spasm.
A unique and beautiful stamp was brought out a fitting tribute to Satyajit Ray on January 11, 1994. The multi coloured Rs.17 stamp depicts a portrait of Satyajit with the honorary “Oscar” film on one part (Rs.6 stamp) and a scene from his first film “Pather Panchali” on the other (Rs.11 stamp).
This stamp is unique in using the Ray Roman type face for the first time on any Indian stamp, and also for the size 10.15 cm. by 3.15 cm.
The article was written by P.Solomon Dhanaraj.
The image given below:
