Phalke's Kaliya Mardan

The father of Indian cinema. A man interested in magic, theatre and painting - interests that were to converge in his films and transmute into unforgettable sequences.

Born at Nasik (state : Maharashtra), he studied at the Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay and the Kala Bhawan at Baroda. Photography and architecture were added to his skills and he later acknowledged that his Baroda education ''helped me to develop all the qualities needed for a successful film producer.''

A viewing of 'Life of Christ' and seeing first-hand the impact the film had on the audience, decided his vocation. He made up his mind about cinema production, and that mythological films were close to the viewer's heart. Plus, that Indian subject matter would birth the indigenous film industry.

In 1912, he left for England with the intention of learning the trade and purchasing equipment. Cecil Hepworth, the well-established producer, proved an invaluable source and Phalke returned with a Williamson camera, developing and printing equipment, a perforating machine, and raw film stock.

Roles requiring women performers were played by men as no women were willing to act. He settled for Solanke, an effeminate cook he chanced upon in a cafe.

His films centered on well-known mythological stories and episodes, and audience response was positive.

In 1913 - Raja Harishchandra.
Phalke's first film, it was 3,700 feet long and played for close to a month. Other films at the time ran for less than a week! Initial shows included live dances to lure in an audience as yet unaccustomed to film shows.
Trick photography, a passion with Phalke, and the acting skills of the cast, received rave reviews.

One newspaper, Bombay Chronicle, eulogised over Raja Harishchandra - ''The possibilities of Indian mythology for cinematograph exploitation are tremendous .... one can freely praise the beauty and ingenuity with which he (Mr. Phalke) has succeeded in presenting effectively the most difficult scenes. It would be hard to imagine anything more dramatically impressive in pantomime action, than the despairing embrace of the king and queen ...(at) the burning ground, where she has brought her son for cremation ...one may mention the striking effect of the scene of the burning forest, and the cleverness of the apparition of the God Shiva and his restoration of the dead boy to life.''

In 1913 - Mohini Bhasmasur.
A film that had women playing the female roles!

In 1914 - Satyavam Savitri.

Dadasaheb Phalke, as he was fondly known, was making 20 prints of the films at this stage.

The outbreak of World War I created an uncertainty and many of Dadasaheb's financiers panicked. Nonetheless, he was persuasive and able to send for the machinery still in England. His technicians, however, remained steadfast and willingly accepted reduced renumerations.

In 1917 -
-Lanka Dahan.
- Phalke Films made into a partnership concern and renamed Hindustan Film Company.

In 1918 - Shri Krishna Janam.
The special effects here were truly spectacular : The evil king Kamsa dreamt of many Krishna figures attacking him, and cutting off his head. The severed would float awhile and then rejoin the body, only to be cut off again!

That year, this was the only film showing in Bombay.

In 1919 - Kaliya Mardan.

By now, the studio in Nasik was flourishing, and it housed a library, reading rooms, bodybuilding-riding-fencing facilities, a zoo, and accomodation for technicians and artistes.

Due to differences with partners, Phalke took a respite from film-making and wrote the satire Rangabhoomi. Other studios - Madan Theatres (Calcutta), Kohinoor (Bombay), and Maharashtra Film Company (Kolhapur) had entered the world of film production and were making a mark.

In 1921 - Sant Tukaram.

In 1931 - Sound arrived in cinema! The era of silent films was over, and the talkies would reign supreme.

In 1932 - Setu Bandhan.
Despite its synchronized sound, the film failed.

Gangavataran Dadasaheb's only talkie (directed for Kolhapur Cinetone) failed.

SOURCE

So Many Cinemas.
Author - B.D. Garga
Publishers - Eminence Designs Private Limited.

Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema.
Author -Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen
Publishers -Oxford University Press.

Feedback  Be a Contributor  Site Map   Advertising Enquiries   Discussion Group