Surendra Pai Palondicar from Margao city of Goa came to the ongoing International Film festival of India with the huge collection of lyrics from yesteryears' Hindi film songs, right from the 1940s.
The books, collected over the last five decades by Palondicar's family, include timeless collection of lyrics from movies like 'Amar Shakti', 'Anban', 'Dulhan' and 'Khajanchi', the yesteryear's classics.
"There was no medium for the producers to promote films that time. These books of film lyrics were the means through which the movie was introduced to the audience," Palondicar said.
The collection of books began when Goa was under the Portuguese rule. Palondicar's brother, who was working in Mumbai, used to buy them at a price of four paisa each and send them back home.
"Gradually over the years, it became a hobby for our family to collect such books. I could not save few of these books as I lost them to ants," Palondicar said.
His two daughters are actively working on restoring these priceless compilations, that are withering away.
Palondicar's entry at IFFI was facilitated by Sharmad Pai Raiturcar, a local social activist who is also an active member on the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), a body organising IFFI.
ESG vice chairman Vishnu Surya Wagh told PTI that these books would now be displayed alongside IFFI for the people to have a glimpse of the golden era of Indian cinema.
"This is a rare collection and we did not even know that there is a Goan with such a hobby," Wagh said, adding that these books can later be kept in the state-run museum.
