A Silent Tribute

There couldnt have been a better cinematic coincidence. It was 100 years ago that the first-ever Indian movie,Raja Harishchandra,was made by a visionary who broke all barriers to launch the worlds largest film industry.

There couldnt have been a better cinematic coincidence. It was 100 years ago that the first-ever Indian movie,Raja Harishchandra,was made by a visionary who broke all barriers to launch the worlds largest film industry. A century later,Dadasaheb Phalkes contribution to Indian cinema is being celebrated in a book,The Silent Film,written by his great-grandniece,Sharayu Phalke Summanwar.

He made 130 films in his lifetime,which is a great feat considering the technology that was available at that time. He struggled against all odds and despite the displeasure of the British,the advent of the World War and his own financial struggles,he accomplished his dream of having an Indian film industry, says Summanwar,whose book contains details of Phalkes personal life as well as of his prolific film career.

She adds that it was after watching The Life of Jesus Christ at a local theatre that Phalke got inspired to make a film. With Rs 25,000 and a staff of around 40 people,in 1912,he began filming Raja Harishchandra,a silent film. However,the movie captured the imagination of thousands of Indians,who were delighted with the subject he chose for the film and the smooth trick photography and technology that was used.

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Summanwars research recorded all the anecdotes she had heard about Phalke in her childhood from her relatives,but since these were usually about his personal life,she had to dig deeper and read old publications and watch his films to understand the filmmaker that he was. She read copies of Kesari and Navayug,popular Marathi publications of that time,which featured regular columns on filmmaking by Phalke.

The true magic in the book,however,is Summanwar giving the readers a glimpse of Phalke in his private moments. We used to hear stories about how he lived in Nasik. He lived a grand life there and would entertain over 40 people at his house everyday, she says.

She emphasises that Phalke did not care much for money and invested his maximum earnings in movies. There were times when he lost money and the family had to sell their belongings,but that didnt stop him.