Dadasaheb Phalke 1

Dadasaheb Phalke

Dadasaheb Phalke

Born Dhundiraj Govind PhalkeApril 30, 1870Tryambakeshwar, Nasik, Maharashtra, India

Died 16 February 1944 (aged 73)

Occupation Film director, producer, screenwriter

Years active 1913–1937

Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke (Marathi : दादासाहेब फाळके) (  pronunciationWikipedia:Media helpImage:Ma-Dadasaheb Phalke.ogg) (30 April 1870 – 16 February 1944) was anIndian producer-director-screenwriter, known as the father of Indian cinema.[1][2][3][4][5] Starting with his debut film,Raja Harishchandra in 1913, now known as India's first full-length feature, he made 95 movies and 26 short films inhis career spanning 19 years, till 1937, including his most noted works: Mohini Bhasmasur (1913), Satyavan Savitri(1914), Lanka Dahan (1917), Shri Krishna Janma (1918) and Kaliya Mardan (1919).[6]

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, for lifetime contribution to cinema, was instituted in his honor by the Government ofIndia in 1969, and is the most prestigious and coveted award in Indian cinema.[citation needed]

Biography

Early life and educationDhundiraj Govind Phalke was born on 30 April 1870 in Marathi family at Tryambakeshwar, 30 km from Nasik,Maharashtra, India,[6] where his father was an accomplished scholar.[7]

He joined Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai in 1885. After passing from J.J. School in 1890, Phalke went to the KalaBhavan in Baroda, where he studied sculpture, engineering, drawing, painting and photography.[8]

Early careerHe began his career as a small town photographer in Godhra but had to leave business after the death of his first wife and child in an outbreak of the bubonic plague. He soon met the German magician Carl Hertz, one of the 40 magicians employed by the Lumiere Brothers. Soon after, he had the opportunity to work with the Archeological

Dadasaheb Phalke 2

Survey of India as a draftsman. However, restless with his job and its constraints, he turned to the business ofprinting. He specialized in lithography and oleograph, and worked for painter Raja Ravi Varma. Phalke later startedhis own printing press, made his first trip abroad to Germany, to learn about the latest technology and machinery.

Film

Raja Harischandra 1913, directed by DadasahebPhalke

Following a dispute with his partners about the running of thepress, he gave up printing and turned his attention to movingpictures, after watching a silent film, The Life of Christ andenvisioning Indian gods on the screen. Phalke made his first film,Raja Harishchandra, in 1912; it was first shown publicly on 3May 1913 at Mumbai's Coronation Cinema,[9] effectively markingthe beginning of the Indian film industry. Around one year before,Ramchandra Gopal (known as Dadasaheb Torne) had recorded onfilm a stage drama called Pundalik and shown recording at thesame theater. However, the credit for making the first indigenousIndian feature film is attributed to Dadasaheb Phalke[10] as it issaid that "Pundalik" had British cinematographers.

Once again, Phalke proved successful in his new art and proceededto make several silent films, shorts, documentary feature,

educational, comic, tapping all the potential of this new medium. Film, having proved its financial viability, soonattracted businessmen who favored money over aesthetics.

Hindustan Films

Phalke formed a film company, Hindustan Films in partnership with five businessmen from Mumbai, in the hopethat by having the financial aspect of his profession handled by experts in the field, he would be free to pursue thecreative aspect. He set up a model studio and trained technicians, actors but, very soon, he ran into insurmountableproblems with his partners. In 1920, Phalke resigned from Hindustan Films, made his first announcement ofretirement from cinema, and he wrote Rangbhoomi, an acclaimed play. Lacking his extremely imaginative genius,Hindustan Films ran into deep financial loss, and he was finally persuaded to return. However, Phalke feltconstrained by the business and, after directing a few films for the company, he withdrew.

Sound film

The times changed and Phalke fell victim to the emerging technology of sound film. Unable to cope with the talkies,the man who had fathered the Indian film industry became obsolete. His last silent movie Setubandhan was releasedin 1932 and later released with dubbing. During 1936-38, he produced his last film Gangavataran (1937), beforeretiring to Nashik, where he died on 16 February 1944.

Selected filmography• Raja Harishchandra (1913)• Lanka Dahan (1917)• Shri Krishna Janma (1918)• Kaliya Mardan (1919)• Setu Bandhan (1932)• Gangavataran (1937)•• "Mohini Bhasmasur" (1913)•• "Savitri Satyavan" (1914)

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In popular cultureIn 2009, Marathi film Harishchandrachi Factory, depicting the struggle of Dadasaheb Phalke in making RajaHarishchandra in 1913, thought to be India's first feature film, directed by theater-veteran Paresh Mokashi wasselected as India's official entry to Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category.[11][12][13]

Family•• His great-great grandson Parth Phalke teaches History and Physical Science at Sahyadri School of Krishnamurthy

Foundation India, at Rajgurunagar, Pune.

References[1] (http:/ / arts. guardian. co. uk/ image/ 0,,1857620,00. html)[6] (http:/ / niffindia. com/ phalke. htm)[13] (http:/ / www. ptinews. com/ news/ 291828_-Harishchandrachi-factory--India-s-entry-for-Oscars)

Further reading• Dadasaheb Phalke, the Father of Indian Cinema, by Bapu Vatave, National Book Trust, 2004. ISBN

81-237-4319-X.

External links• List of Silent films made in India (http:/ / www. livevisionusa. com/ 1913-1947. htm)• Dadasaheb Phalke (http:/ / www. imdb. com/ name/ nm0679610/ ) at the Internet Movie Database• Dadasaheb Phalke @ SPICE (http:/ / www. spicevienna. org/ showPerson. php?p=12)• Website on Dada Saheb Phalke (http:/ / www. phalkefactory. net/ wiki)

Article Sources and Contributors 4

Article Sources and ContributorsDadasaheb Phalke  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=547047634  Contributors: A8UDI, AKeen, Actionist, Alcmaeonid, Amit20081980, Andreasmperu, Apeloverage, B3t,BD2412, Bill william compton, Bracknell, Bunnyhop11, Chris the speller, Derek R Bullamore, Dharmadhyaksha, Ekabhishek, Electronz, Felix Folio Secundus, Garybel, Gujuguy, Huaiwei,ImpuMozhi, Jay, Kedar Borhade, Koavf, Kumar skr, Malo, Munita Prasad, NGC 2736, Naniwako, Nitsakh, Palaviprabhu, Pamri, Proscript, R'n'B, Rajmatajijaumovie, Randhirreddy, Ravidreams,Redtigerxyz, Rjwilmsi, Sachinvenga, Sandy13991, Sankalpdravid, Shivap, Shovon76, Subhash1969, Tabletop, Tharkee, Tushti, Utcursch, Vacation9, Vicharam, Vinay Jha, Vivvt, Vogon77,Waacstats, Wadje, WikHead, Wiki13, Woohookitty, Xanov, 106 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Phalke.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Phalke.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Original uploader was Palaviprabhu aten.wikipediaFile:Loudspeaker.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Loudspeaker.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Bayo, Frank C. Müller, Gmaxwell, Gnosygnu, Husky,Iamunknown, Mark91, Mirithing, Myself488, Nethac DIU, Omegatron, Rocket000, Shanmugamp7, The Evil IP address, Túrelio, Wouterhagens, 26 anonymous editsImage:Raja Harishchandra.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Raja_Harishchandra.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Abhishekjoshi, Deanlaw,Dharmadhyaksha, Ermanon, Hekerui, Redtigerxyz, Roland zh, Sankalpdravid, SpacemanSpiff

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