Dadasaheb Phalke – The Father of Indian Cinema
Dadasaheb Phalke: Dadasaheb Phalke was an Indian producer, director, and screenwriter, born in Mumbai on 30 April 1870. He is known as the “Father of Indian Cinema”. In his golden memory, and honor for his lifetime contribution to Indian cinema, the Government of India introduced the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in the year 1969.
Dadasaheb Phalke Ji made a total of 95 movies and 26 short films during his entire film career. One of his most appreciated and noted works includes Shri Krishna Janma in the year 1918.
Dadasaheb Phalke Ji began his career as a small-town photographer in Godhra. He worked for the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) as a draftsman. He later became a printer opened a printing press at Lonavla under the name of “Phalke Engraving and Printing Works” or “Shri Phalke’s Engraving and Photo Printing” and became quite successful in it. However, after a fallout with his partner, he turned to the motion picture. Phalke Ji made his first film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1912-13 and thereby becoming the first Indian to make a film.
Phalke Ji formed a film company, named Hindustan Films and set up a model studio to trained technicians, actors, but unfortunately, the idea failed miserably. His last silent movie Setubandhan was released in the year 1932. This film was later released with dubbing. During 1936-38, he produced his last film Gangavataran (1937), before retiring and settling down in Nashik. He died on 16 February 1944.
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