Celebrating the 110th anniversary of India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra

Widely considered the first Indian feature film, Raja Harishchandra is directed and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema

Hyderabad: From silent black and white to colorful; from multiple reels to a single showreel; from zero graphics to animation, Indian cinema has come a long way and it all started on this day 110 years ago with “Raja Harishchandra” issue.

Directed and produced by the father of Indian cinema, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, this silent film, widely regarded as the first Indian feature film, premiered at the Coronation Film and Variety Hall in Bombay on May 3, 1913.

This mythological film tells the story of King Harishchandra, the legendary ruler of India, who was known for his honesty and integrity. The film depicts his struggle and sacrifice to stand up for his values, even in the face of tough choices and personal hardships.

In this film, Phalke experimented with new tricks and techniques, such as using double exposures and special effects. He also introduced the concept of film music which is now an integral part of Indian cinema.

The film’s commercial success was a landmark achievement for Indian cinema, giving birth to an art form that reverberates around the world. The film inspired a generation of filmmakers to explore the medium’s possibilities.

Parts of the film are lost; the National Film Archive of India preserves only the first and last volumes of the film. However, it’s unclear if it’s the film or the 1917 remake of the same film.

It took almost two decades after “Raja Harishchandra” to release the first sound film “Alam Ara”. Directed by Ardeshir Irani, the film opened on March 14, 1931. In 1937, the first color film ‘Kisan Kanya’ directed by Moti B Gidwani was released.

From ‘Raja Harishchandra’ which has recently made an impression on global audiences to ‘RRR’, Indian cinema has evolved into forms and genres that were unimaginable a century ago.