DADASAHEB PHALKE
Father Of Indian Cinema
Prepared by : Devashish G. Bhave , Class 5 , Div. F
Born on April 30 , 1870
At Tryambkeshwar a religious place
near city of Nasik in the State of
Maharashtra in Central India
Named as Dhundiraj
In the later years became famous as
Dadasaheb Phalke
Dadasaheb left us on
February 16,1944
A MAN OF VARIED QUALIFICATIONS !
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His father was an accomplished
Sanskrit scholar and young
Dhundiraj hence was well versed
with Indian mythology.
He studied at famous J J School of
Arts in Mumbai
After passing out from there in
1890 he went to famous Kala
Bhawan ( Art Academy ) in Baroda
where he studied sculpture,
engineering, drawing , painting &
photography !!
So many capabilities & so much
talent bundled into one individual !!
A MAN OF VARIED QUALIFICATIONS !
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He began his career as a small town photographer
Later he worked first as assistant to famous
German magician Carl Hertz. Later he performed
himself as magician !
Then he worked as a draftsman for Archeological
Survey of India for some time.
But he was restless with the constraints on
creativity and hence started his own business of
lithography and even worked with the world famous
Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma
He started his own printing press and even visited
Germany to learn latest printing technology. In
those days, a foreign trip of this type and for such
purpose with borrowed money was absolutely
unheard of !
THE TURNING POINT
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Around 1910 he chanced upon to
see the film ‘ The Life of Christ ’.
And the curiosity was aroused.
“Could we the sons of India, ever
be able to see Indian images on
the screen!” curiosity thus became
an obsession!!
He raised money from friends,
against his own insurance policy
and went to London in February 12
to learn the art & craft of film
making
He bought a Williamson camera &
returned to India to set up Phalke
films in Mumbai !
THE FIRST WHOLLY INDIAN MADE FILM
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It was on 3rd May 1913 that
the film “Raja Harischandra”
was premiered at the
Coronation Cinematograph in
the city of Mumbai
Trials & tribulations of
producing that movie have
been brilliantly chronicled in a
movie “Harischandrachi
Factory” which was one of the
nomination in foreign film
category for Oscar in 2009
THE PERSEVERING DADASAHEB
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People were apprehensive as to
whether the society will appreciate
moving pictures in place of live dramas
which were popular
Moneyed people were reluctant to
invest money in this industry
Manpower was not available for
carrying out various activities
connected with this industry
No women would be willing to come
forward to enact female roles
But nothing could stop persevering
Dadasaheb
His wife Saraswatibai Phalke became
an active partner in this venture. She
not only managed the studio but also
looked after the technical aspects of
film-making.
ALL-ROUNDER DADASAHEB!
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Inspite of all these odds Dadasaheb
completed his first film in just 6 months!
“Nobody knew anything about this
industry in India at that time. Shooting in
the day, doing lab work & editing in the
evening was how I worked ”.
And mind you editing had to be done
manually using scissors in those days !
There was nothing like modern day
editing software !!
Dadasaheb was the writer , director,
costume designer,photographer, editor ,
processor and later even had to do
himself the projection of his films in
theaters in theaters !!!
ALL FUNCTIONS BUNDLED IN ONE
PERSON !
SOME SHOTS FROM RAJA HARISCHANDRA & OTHER
FILMS!
DADASAHEB ROLLS ON !
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Success of Raja Harischandra further
enthused Dadasaheb. In a span of
only 19 years after that till 1932 he
made 95 movies and 26 short films !!
His success encouraged many others
to take this industry seriously, in
which today thousands of crores are
being earned and lacs are employed
In 1932 , movies got voice. The age of
silent movies receded back. He made
only one talkie “Gangavataran” in
1932 which was not very successful
commercially. After that he retired.
During his hey days he constructed a
laboratory and a studio in Nasik , a
city close to his birth place.
DADASAHEB HONOURED
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In 1969 Indian government
and the greatful Indian film
industry instituted ‘The
Dadasaheb Phalke’ award in
his honor. This award is
India’s highest award in
cinema given every year to a
personality for his / her
lifetime contribution to Indian
cinema.
A stamp was also released in
his honor by department of
Indian post & telegraph.
A studio has been named
after him.
Dadasaheb has
become immortal in the
hearts of Indian film
industry !
THANK YOU