Raja Harishchandra, the first-ever full-length feature film in India was released today in 1913. The movie by Dadasaheb Phalke was screened for the public at Coronation Cinema in Girgaon, Mumbai. The silent film was produced and directed by Dadasaheb Phalke and based on the legend of Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra. The movie had its theatrical release on May 3, 1913. The movie was houseful for a week and extended for twelve more days post that. Later, the movie was screened in Pune, Colombo, London, and Rangoon.
Dadasaheb Phalke was interested in filmmaking ever since he went to watch Amazing Animals at the America India Picture Palace, he was amazed looking at animals on the screen. The very next day, he took his entire family to watch another movie ‘The Life of Christ’ which was screening as it was Easter. The legend envisioned Hindu deities such as Ram and Krishna on screen. He travelled to London to learn filmmaking. Once he returned to India, he founded the Phalke Films Company in 1912.
Raja Harishchandra features Dattatraya Damodar Dabke, Anna Salunke, Bhalchnadra Phalke, and Gajanan Vasudev Sane. As women were not available to play female roles, male actors played the female roles.
The reels of the film are partially lost, and only the first and last reels are preserved at the National Film Archive of India. Even though there is some debate about India’s first full-length feature film, the Government of India recognizes Raja Harishchandra as India’s first feature film.
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