Dadasaheb Phalke Remembered: Pioneer of Indian Cinema Honoured on His 156th Birth Anniversary

Mumbai: A grand समारोह was organized at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari (Film City Studio) to mark the 156th birth anniversary of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema. The event witnessed the presence of his grandson Chandrashekhar Pusalkar along with family members, representatives from film organizations, renowned Bollywood personalities, administrative officials from the Maharashtra government, and attendees from across the country. The gathering paid floral tribute to Phalke’s statue, remembering his invaluable contribution to Indian cinema.

Dadasaheb Phalke laid the foundation of the Indian film industry with an extraordinary career spanning 19 years, during which he created 121 films, including 26 short films. He was not only a visionary director but also a producer and screenwriter. His last silent film was Setubandhan, and his final feature film was Gangavataran. He passed away on February 16, 1944, in Nashik. In his honour, the Government of India instituted the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969, with Devika Rani as its first recipient. Earlier, in 1971, the Indian postal department also released a commemorative stamp in his name.

Early Life

Born as Dhundiraj Govind Phalke on April 30, 1870, in Trimbak (then in the Bombay Presidency), he belonged to a Marathi family. His father, Govind Sadashiv Phalke, was a Sanskrit scholar and Hindu priest, while his mother, Dwarkabai, was a homemaker. Phalke completed his early education in Trimbakeshwar and later moved to Bombay for matriculation. In 1885, he joined the Sir J. J. School of Art for a drawing course and later studied painting at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, where he also developed skills in architecture and modeling. He soon began experimenting with photography, printing, and film processing.

Career Beginnings

Phalke initially set up a photo studio named “Phalke’s Engraving and Photo Printing.” Despite early struggles, he continued working with theatre groups and even served as a photographer with the Archaeological Survey of India. In 1912, he built a small glass studio and darkroom to process films. Overcoming multiple challenges, he created India’s first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra, which premiered at the Olympia Theatre in Bombay and became a landmark success, effectively establishing the Indian film industry.

Pioneering Role of Women in Cinema

At a time when women acting in films was socially unacceptable, Phalke had to cast a male actor, Anna Salunke, in the role of Queen Taramati in Raja Harishchandra. However, he broke this barrier with his next film Mohini Bhasmasur, where Durgabai Kamat played Parvati and her daughter Kamlabai Gokhale portrayed Mohini—marking the entry of women into Indian cinema.

Later, he cast his daughter Mandakini Phalke in films like Lanka Dahan (1917) and Shri Krishna Janma (1918). His wife, Saraswatibai Phalke, also made a significant contribution as India’s first female film editor, working on films including Raja Harishchandra.

Today, the Indian film industry has grown into a multi-billion-dollar sector employing millions. Yet, its origins trace back to Phalke’s modest investment of just ₹20,000–25,000. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy, struggles, and vision continue to inspire generations of filmmakers to move forward with determination and creativity.