A
passion
to
'make
images
moving'
gave
birth
to
the
Indian
film
industry,
the
world's
largest
film
industry
with
over
1,000
films
made
in
various
languages.
A
photographer,
who
saw
an
English
film
on
the
life
of
Jesus
Christ
in
Mumbai,
was
motivated
to
make
movies
on
Indian
epic
heroes.
But
mere
aspiration
was
not
enough
for
him
to
create
a
motion
picture
as
the
road
to
make
a
film
had
difficulties
at
every
step.
Yet,
he
created
what
he
wanted
to
and
laid
the
foundation
stone
to
billion-dollar
Indian
industry.
It
is
none
other
than
Dadasaheb
Phalke
aka
Dhundiraj
Govind
Phalke,
who
made
the
first
silent
film
on
this
very
day
(May
3),
100
years
ago.
Dadasaheb
Phalke
produced
and
directed
Raja
Harishchandra.
The
film
revolves
around
the
story
of
mythological
King
Harishchandra,
a
King
who
never
uttered
a
lie
in
his
entire
life.
He
was
the
ruler
of
Ayodhya.
He
ruled
his
Kingdom
wisely.
It
throws
light
on
the
nobles
and
righteousness
of
the
ruler
and
his
vow
to
tell
nothing
but
truth.
His
struggles
and
sacrifices
on
his
path
form
the
crux
of
the
story.
The
story
was
penned
by
the
director
with
the
support
of
Ranchhodbai
Udayram.
Phalke
had
chosen
Marathi
stage
actors
to
play
the
lead
roles.
It
has
to
be
noted
that
male
actors
had
enacted
the
roles
of
female,
as
casting
woman
in
those
times
was
unimaginable.
Continue
reading
the
story
in
the
slideshow...
A
Still
From
Raja
Harishchandra
Dattatraya
Damodar
Dabke
enacted
the
role
of
Raja
Harishchandra,
and
Anna
Salunke
was
seen
in
the
role
of
his
wife
Taramati.
Phalke's
son
Bhalachandra
D
Phalke
did
the
role
of
the
King's
son
Rohtash
and
GV
Sane
played
the
role
of
Sage
Vishwamitra.
A
Still
From
Raja
Harishchandra
The
movie
lasted
for
40
minutes.
The
film
was
released
on
3
May
1913
at
Mumbai's
Coronation
Cinema,
Girgaon.
The
silent
film
had
titles
in
Hindi
and
English
languages.
A
Still
From
Raja
Harishchandra
Phalke
took
seven
months
and
21
days
to
complete
Raja
Harishchandra.
The
film
was
well
received
by
public,
and
it
was
a
commercial
hit
too.
A
Still
From
Raja
Harishchandra
The
massive
response
got
by
audience
for
its
first
release
made
Dadasaheb
to
increase
prints
and
release
it
in
rural
areas.
The
film
was
a
grand
success
and
soon
established
Phalke
as
a
producer
and
paved
the
way
for
the
Indian
film
industry.
A
Still
From
Raja
Harishchandra
Thus,
Raja
Harishchandra
remains
the
landmark
film
in
Indian
films
and
Dadasaheb
Phalke,
the
father
of
Indian
cinema.