On May 3, 1913, Dadasaheb Phalke screened Raja Harishchandra at the Coronation Cinema in Bombay — India's first full-length feature film. Based on the Hindu mythological tale of King Harishchandra, the silent film ran approximately 40 minutes and featured an all-male cast (including a male cook playing the queen, since no women would act on screen). Phalke, inspired by the 1910 film The Life of Christ, had traveled to London to learn filmmaking techniques and purchase equipment. He mortgaged his wife's jewelry to finance the production. Despite these constraints, Raja Harishchandra was a commercial success and proved that Indian audiences wanted Indian stories told through cinema. Phalke went on to make over 90 films and is recognized as the "Father of Indian Cinema" — the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest film honor, bears his name.
Raja Harishchandra — India's First Feature Film
Dadasaheb Phalke produced and directed Raja Harishchandra, India's first full-length feature film, founding an industry that would become the world's largest by output.
Historical Context
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