Dadasaheb Phalke, also known as Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, was a motion picture director who is regarded as the father of Indian cinema. He was born on April 30, 1870, in Trimbak, British India (now in Maharashtra, India). Phalke is recognized for directing India’s first feature film and establishing the burgeoning Indian cinema industry, which is now primarily renowned for Bollywood movies.
Phalke was always interested in the arts since he was a kid. In 1885, he enrolled at the Sir J.J. School of Art in Bombay (now Mumbai), determined to achieve his aspirations. He followed a range of interests while there, including photography, lithography, architecture, amateur dramatics, and even magic.
Phalke and a colleague founded Phalke’s Art Printing and Engraving Works in 1908, but the company failed due to disagreements between them. It was Phalke’s fortuitous observation of the silent film The Life of Christ (1910) that marked a turning point in his career. Raja Harishchandra, a production based on Hindu mythology, was India’s first silent film, released in 1913. The film, that Phalke wrote, produced, directed, and distributed, was a huge success and a watershed moment in Indian cinema.
His audience was enthralled by his use of legendary themes and trick photography. Lanka Dahan (1917), Shri Krishna Janam (1918), Sairandari (1920), and Shakuntala (1921) were among his other successful films (1920). Phalke’s work faded in popularity when sound was introduced to cinema and the film business grew. In the 1930s, he retired from filmmaking and died alone, lonely, and unwell.
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