Last updated: October 2026 Β· 3 min read
Every Indian film, from a Marathi drama to a pan-India blockbuster, owes something to Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly called Dadasaheb Phalke. In 1913 he released Raja Harishchandra, India’s first full-length feature film.
Early life
Phalke was born on 30 April 1870 at Trimbak near Nashik, Maharashtra. He studied at the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai and worked as a photographer, printer and magician before discovering cinema.
The spark: The Life of Christ
Around 1910, Phalke watched the film The Life of Christ in a Bombay theatre. Inspired, he decided to make films about Indian stories. He travelled to London in 1912 to learn filmmaking and buy equipment, funding it partly by pledging his family’s savings.
Making Raja Harishchandra (1913)
- Based on the legend of the truthful king Harishchandra.
- Released on 3 May 1913 at the Coronation Cinema, Bombay.
- It was a silent film with title cards in Marathi, Hindi and English.
- No women would act, so men played female roles; Anna Salunke played Queen Taramati.
- Phalke’s wife Saraswatibai helped with processing and production.
Later work
| Year | Film | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | Raja Harishchandra | First Indian feature film |
| 1913 | Mohini Bhasmasur | Featured Durgabai Kamat and her daughter Kamlabai Gokhale, among the first women on Indian screen |
| 1917 | Lanka Dahan | Huge commercial hit |
| 1919 | Kaliya Mardan | Featured his daughter Mandakini as young Krishna |
| 1937 | Gangavataran | His only sound film |
He founded Hindustan Film Company in 1917 and made around 95 feature films and 27 short films. He died in Nashik on 16 February 1944.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Instituted by the Government of India in 1969, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest honour in cinema, given for outstanding lifetime contribution. The first recipient was actress Devika Rani. Later winners include Raj Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth and Mithun Chakraborty.
Frequently asked questions
Which was India’s first feature film?
Raja Harishchandra (1913), directed by Dadasaheb Phalke.
Which was India’s first sound film?
Alam Ara (1931), directed by Ardeshir Irani.
Who received the first Dadasaheb Phalke Award?
Devika Rani, in 1969.
Keep exploring
- The story of Indian cinema
- Facts about Indian cinema
- How a film is made
- More Cinema articles on Tiwaripedia
Facts are based on widely accepted official, scientific and historical sources at the time of writing. Spotted something that needs updating? Let us know.
