{"id":1996,"date":"2026-10-13T07:42:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T02:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tiwaripedia.com\/?p=1996"},"modified":"2026-10-13T07:42:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T02:12:13","slug":"incredible-facts-about-indian-cinema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tiwaripedia.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/13\/incredible-facts-about-indian-cinema\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Incredible Facts About Indian Cinema"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated: October 2026 \u00b7 3 min read<\/em><\/p>\n

India makes more films than almost any other country, in dozens of languages, and its songs and stars are loved worldwide. Here are 12 incredible facts about Indian cinema.<\/p>\n

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12 Incredible Facts About Indian Cinema \u2013 infographic by Tiwaripedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12 incredible facts about Indian cinema<\/h2>\n

1. It began in 1913<\/h3>\n

Dadasaheb Phalke released Raja Harishchandra, India’s first full-length feature film, in 1913.<\/p>\n

2. Men played women’s roles<\/h3>\n

Acting was considered unsuitable for women at the time, so in Raja Harishchandra the role of Queen Taramati was played by a man, Anna Salunke.<\/p>\n

3. The first talkie came in 1931<\/h3>\n

Ardeshir Irani’s Alam Ara was India’s first sound film, and songs became a defining feature of Indian cinema.<\/p>\n

4. India makes about 2,000 films a year<\/h3>\n

India’s film certification board certifies around 2,000 feature films a year in many languages, more than almost any other country.<\/p>\n

5. Mother India was nominated for an Oscar<\/h3>\n

Mother India (1957) was India’s first submission to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.<\/p>\n

6. India’s first Oscar went to a costume designer<\/h3>\n

Bhanu Athaiya won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for “Gandhi” in 1983, the first Oscar won by an Indian.<\/p>\n

7. Satyajit Ray received an honorary Oscar<\/h3>\n

Satyajit Ray received an Academy Honorary Award in 1992, shortly before his death.<\/p>\n

8. 2023 was a historic Oscar year<\/h3>\n

“Naatu Naatu” from RRR won Best Original Song, and “The Elephant Whisperers” won Best Documentary Short Film at the 2023 Oscars.<\/p>\n

9. DDLJ has played for decades<\/h3>\n

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, released in 1995, has been shown at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theatre for decades, the longest run in Indian cinema history.<\/p>\n

10. Sholay ran for five years<\/h3>\n

Sholay (1975) ran continuously for about five years at Mumbai’s Minerva theatre.<\/p>\n

11. India has a giant film city<\/h3>\n

Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest film studio complex.<\/p>\n

12. India’s top film honour began in 1969<\/h3>\n

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in cinema, was first given to actress Devika Rani in 1969.<\/p>\n

Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n

Is Bollywood the same as Indian cinema?<\/h3>\n

No. Bollywood refers to the Hindi film industry in Mumbai. India also has major Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi and other industries.<\/p>\n

Who is called the father of Indian cinema?<\/h3>\n

Dadasaheb Phalke.<\/p>\n

Which Indian films have won Oscars?<\/h3>\n

RRR (song “Naatu Naatu”) and The Elephant Whisperers (documentary short) won in 2023; earlier Indian winners include Bhanu Athaiya, Satyajit Ray (honorary), A.R. Rahman, Gulzar and Resul Pookutty for “Slumdog Millionaire”.<\/p>\n

Keep exploring<\/h2>\n