Dadasaheb Phalke: - Father of Indian Cinema
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke by original name was born on 30th
April 1870 in Trymbakeshwar near Nasik. Born Indian nation has given a great
contribution to Indian cinema. Phalke did his art education from J.J school of
art – Mumbai (that time Bombay) from 1885 till 1890 and then moved to Kalabhavan
Baroda.for higher education in arts
Phalke’s father was an accomplished Sanskrit scholar. Phalke
started his professional career as portrait photographer In Godhra but left
business after the death of his first wife and child in an outbreak of the
plague. He even went on to do stage makeup, and also assisted a German
illusionist named Carl Hertz due to his great interest in magic. He started
Phalke’s Art Printing & Engraving Works at Lonavala in 1908, and later Laxmi Art
Printing for making photolitho transfers of Ravi Varma’s oleographs. He also
went to Germany to buy three-color printing machines.
The changing point in Phalke’s life was when he first time saw silent film “The
Life of Christ”. The film made such a great impact on his mind that he began to
think if such films could be ever made with Indian themes. After raising some
money and experimenting with a few short films, he went to London in February
1912 to learn the art and craft of film-making. Cecil Hepworth of Walton Studios
trained him in the craft of film-making. Phalke bought a Willamson camera and
returned India and set up Phalke Films in Bombay (current Mumbai).His second
wife Saraswati Phalke was an active partner in the venture, who not only managed
the Studio but also looked after the technical aspects of film-making. These
efforts gave birth to first India’s full length cinema named “Raja
Harishchandra” in 1912. With this Indian cinema began to grow and the
current picture is well known to everyone.
In 1918 he established Hindustan Films along with 5 other business partners and
later resigned in 1920. After his last film, Phalke retired from film making. He died on 16 February
1944.
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