Basant Pictures

Credits

Captures by
Camenati and Minako Arisato

Video captures courtesy of
ifrequire

Background

Basant Pictures was an Indian Hindi-language film production company founded by Indian film director and producer Homi Wadia in 1942.

1st Logo (March 15, 1956)

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Visuals: While scrolling over a shot of jewellery, we then see a book containing the company's name in blue and "PRESENTS" in white underneath. Above the text is an emblem of a hand dropping flowers over fire, with the flame behind a yellow circle. Also included in the emblem is a stick holding two bags and a book to the lower right. A human hand opens the book and then the movie's opening credits play as normal.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: The opening theme of the movie.

Availability: Seen only on Hatim Tai.

2nd Logo (April 20, 1961-December 20, 1968)

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Visuals: The sequence starts with a close up of the same emblem as before, this time hand-drawn and with "ESTD. 1942" on top of the emblem. The camera zooms out quickly to reveal "BASANT PICTURES" in black on a white rectangle underneath the emblem. The logo itself appears to be within a box with the centre square resembling a picture frame and the left and right sides having the same colour as the centre square's inner colour.

Variant: On Char Dervesh, the logo is colorized.

Technique: Camera-controlled animation.

Audio: A very loud, if somewhat muted, gong which echoes throughout the logo.

Audio variants: On Reporter Raju, it starts with an orchestral stinger before heading to a relaxing clarinet and harp melody.

Availability: Seen on Sampoorna Ramayana, Reporter Raju, Subhadra Haran, Char Dervesh, Nishan, Zimbo Finds A Son, and Khiladi.

3rd Logo (January 15, 1971)

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Visuals: There is the same text and emblem from the previous logo, this time as a statue. This statue is place over a blanket full of flowers while smoke rises from the ground and a multicoloured burst rotates clockwise.

Variant: On remastered prints of Shri Krishna Leela the logo is still.

Technique: Practical effects. None for the variant.

Audio: An extreme solo of an tempura plays first, followed by the first part of the opening of the movie.

Availability: Seen only on Shri Krishna Leela.