A Marathi, Dadasaheb Phalke, whose real name was Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, is credited with making Raja Harishchandra, the first feature film in India, and is thus called the father of Indian cinema. He did everything for the project – production, writing and direction. He even built the set himself and shot it for 7 months and 21 days.
Let’s look at some lesser known facts about father of Indian Cinema
*Dhundhiraj Govind Phalke, a.k.a Dadasaheb Phalke was born on April 30, 1870 in Trimbak, Maharashtra.
*Phalke had a lot of interest in the arts and studied photography, lithography, architecture, engineering, and magic. After working as a painter, draftsman, theatrical set designer, and lithographer, he saw Alice Guy’s silent film, “The Life of Christ” (1910), which motivated him to bring Indian culture to the silver screen.
*He is known as “Father of Indian Cinema” because he introduced the people of India to the beauty of cinematic experience and evolved the largest entertainment industry in the world.
*Phalke went on to make 95 movies and 27 short films in a career spanning 19 years. Phalke’s struggles to put together is first film was dramatised in Paresh Mokashi’s Harishchandrachi Factory.
*The most prestigious awards in the Indian film Industry “Dadasaheb Phalke Award” was started on his name which is a ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ presented to the eminent persons of Indian Film Industry for their valuable contribution in the promotion and development of Indian Cinema.
*In 1937, after making more than 100 films in his 25-year-long career, Dadasaheb Phalke took retirement. He passed away on February 16, 1944.
