India's first feature film 'Raja Harishchandra' was premiered on this day, back in 1913. The movie, made by the Father of Indian Cinema, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, better known as Dadasaheb Phalke, was screened on May 3 at the Coronation Cinematograph and Variety Hall, Sandhurst Road, Girgaum, Bombay. As the film completes 110 years of release, here's looking at some of the lesser-known facts associated with it.
Updated On: 2023-05-03 07:44 PM IST
Compiled by : Bahni Bandyopadhyay
Raja Harishchandra is a 1913 Indian silent film directed and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke.
Dadasaheb Phalke held the first show of 'Raja Harishchandra' - which is widely considered the first Indian feature film - at Bombay’s Olympia Picture Palace on April 21, 1913. It was commercially premiered on May 3 at Coronation Cinematograph and Variety Hall, Sandhurst Road, Girgaum, Bombay.
The movie depicts the story of King Harishchandra, an ancient ruler from India, known for his honesty. 'Raja Harishchandra' features Dattatraya Damodar Dabke, Anna Salunke, Bhalchandra Phalke, and Gajanan Vasudev Sane.
Dadasaheb Phalke funded the movie himself. When he returned to India, he encashed his life insurance policies and his wife sold her jewellery to obtain the money required to make the movie.
A section of the National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai is dedicated to 'Raja Harishchandra'. The film took Phalke seven months and 21 days in total to complete.
