Tribute to Dadasaheb Phalke on his Birth Anniversary

Tribute to Dadasaheb Phalke on his Birth Anniversary.

Dhundiraj Govind Phalke was born in Triambak at Nashik in 30 April 1870. His father had seven kids where his elder brother joined in service with Baroda State. His father was appointed as professor in Mumbai thus his family moved to Mumbai.

He joined Sir J J College of Arts where he learnt painting and later joined Kala Bhavan in Baroda where he learnt art, modelling and designed architecture modelling for buildings.

Later he learnt Photography and became photographer though the business didn’t flourish due to the Myth behind Photography he began career as a background artist for many Theatre groups.

He learnt magic tricks and run Magic Shows in the Name Professor Kelpha. He started Printing press which was successful still because of difference with partners he abandoned the partnership without any monetary benefits.

After watching movie Amazing Animals and Life of Christ he got inspired to Make movie in the meantime because of working with cinema related materials he got issue with his eyes which was rectified with the help of Doctors with 3 to 4 glasses.

He visited London and learnt film making from Cecil Hepworth of Walton Studios and began production of Raja Harishchandra.

The first full length film Raja Harishchandra was a great success and received well. Thus he produced many films in silent era.

With the arrival of Talkies era he retired and came back with a movie Gangavarthan in 1937. Thus with old age he retired and died in 1944.

Dadasaheb Phalke award is the highest honour given for people who contribute to cinema in India.

He initially gave permission to J Daniel Nadar of Malayalam cinema to observe his film making techniques thus First Malayalam film of silent era Vighitakumaran was released.

Thus let’s remember one of the finest Individual, with passion for Arts and Father of Indian Cinema.

-Tribute by Srikaanth Sridhar

PS: Harishchandrachi Factory a Marathi film that shown his life phase of first film making introduced me to the world of Marathi Cinema.