Curtain raiser of Indian cinema happened on May 18, 1912 when ‘Sree Pundalik’ was first shown. But Sree Pundalik was not given the credit of a movie. It is only 22 minutes film and whole processing work was done abroad. The credit of first Indian movie goes to Dadasaheb Phalke’s Raja Harischandra, released on May 3, 1913. The movie is complete and 40 minutes long. The greatest achievement is that whole shooting and processing were done in India itself. Now India is the biggest film industry of the world which makes maximum movies in a year; that too, belongs to different regional languages. Indeed it’s a great moment to celebrate 100^th year celebration of Indian cinema.   

Dadasaheb Phalke – Father of Indian cinema

His real name is Dhundiraj Govind Phalke. He was the director of India’s first feature film - Raja Harischandra. In a film career spanning to 19 years, he made 95 movies and 26 short films. He gave new direction to Indian movies as well as other directors to know more about cinema making. Once he happened to see the movie, ‘The life of Christ’ which prompted him to make a movie in India. Now Dadasaheb Phalke Award, in honour of this great artist, is given by Government of India every year to the film personalities who gave significant contributions to Indian cinema.

Important Milestones

• The first film (not an Indian movie) was shown in India on 1896 July 7 at Mumbai Watson Hotel.  
• India’s first film theatre – Elfinston Picture Palace, Kolkata (1907)
• First Indian law for cinema – Indian cinematograph act, 1918
• First South Indian movie – Keechakavadam (Tamil – 1918)
• The first Indian sound film – Alam Ara released on 1913 March 14
• First color movie – Sairandri released in 1933
• First background music and dialogues – started in 1935
• First Indian movie to be shown in an international film festival – Sant Thukaram (1937 at Venice film festival)  
• First Indian movie to win an international award – Chetan Anannt’s Neecha Nagar (1946 – Grand price, Cannes Film festival)
• National awards were started in the year 1954
• First Indian cinemascope movie – Kaagaz ka phool directed by Guru Dutt
• First Indian 3D movie – My dear kuttichathan (Malayalam – 1983)

Now a few interesting facts

1. ‘Indra Sabha’, released in 1932 had 71 songs!
2. LOC Kargil is the lengthiest Indian movie – 4 hours and 25 minutes!
3. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge is the longest running Indian movie. Released on November 1995, it’s still running at Maratha Theatre, Mumbai.
4. Yadein, Hindi movie released in 1964 had only one artist, Sunil Dutt!
5. Do you know who India’s first hero is? Dattatraya Damodar Dabke – Hero of Raja Harischandra

Article Posted By : Sandhya Rani  On October 16, 2013lView All Articles

Really a great moment to feel proud of Indian cinema

Article Source :

http://www.veethi.com/articles/milestones-of-indian-cinema-article-2785.htm

Keywords :
Indian cinema in the past 100 years , Milestones of Indian cinema , Indian cinema 100 years