A MANY FACETED man, Dadasaheb Dhundiraj Govind Phalke was
born on April30, 1870 at Trimbakeshwar, Nasik. He trained as a Sanskrit scholar
but soon abandoned academics to join the J.J. School of Art, Bombay and kala
Bhavan, Baroda he dabbled in various forms of art and craft, but boldly
embarked an a career as a portrait photographer and scene painter in theatre
companies.
After winning a silver medal in a Bombay exhibition in 1903, Phalke once again switched careers: he joined the Archaeological Department as a draughtsman and photographer. Phalke’s early working life was a never ending search for what the really wanted out of life. Soon he set up an engraving and printing business, which took him to Germany in 1909 to buy three-color printing machinery. In 1912 he went to London to get know how and machinery with money loaned by a friend. During this decade, Phalke even tried his hand at writing: he penned Rangbhoomi, a satire on theatre.
It was then that he drifted towards cinema, which interested him, technically because it was a new, creative audio visual medium. On May 13, 1913 his first film, Raja Harishchandra, was released and his second film, Mohini Bhasmasur, was released in 1914. During World War I he produced a string of documentaries. Phalke Films was incorporated into Hindustan Film Company in1917 and its first picture was Shree Krishna Jana.
In 1923 Phlke made Mahananda, and his last silent film was Setu Bardav, which topped his 20 year film career. Gangavataran was his last film and Iqbal Masud comments: “Phalke is important because he was the first Indian director with a body of work. He gave a mythological subject like Raja Harishchandra a relevance that holds good even today. He knew his audience and could influence audiences even in silent films at a subconscious level. ” Phalke died and February 16, 1944, after having done half a dozen jobs and directed 97 films. A true creative genius, Phalke’s talent will be remembered.
After winning a silver medal in a Bombay exhibition in 1903, Phalke once again switched careers: he joined the Archaeological Department as a draughtsman and photographer. Phalke’s early working life was a never ending search for what the really wanted out of life. Soon he set up an engraving and printing business, which took him to Germany in 1909 to buy three-color printing machinery. In 1912 he went to London to get know how and machinery with money loaned by a friend. During this decade, Phalke even tried his hand at writing: he penned Rangbhoomi, a satire on theatre.
It was then that he drifted towards cinema, which interested him, technically because it was a new, creative audio visual medium. On May 13, 1913 his first film, Raja Harishchandra, was released and his second film, Mohini Bhasmasur, was released in 1914. During World War I he produced a string of documentaries. Phalke Films was incorporated into Hindustan Film Company in1917 and its first picture was Shree Krishna Jana.
In 1923 Phlke made Mahananda, and his last silent film was Setu Bardav, which topped his 20 year film career. Gangavataran was his last film and Iqbal Masud comments: “Phalke is important because he was the first Indian director with a body of work. He gave a mythological subject like Raja Harishchandra a relevance that holds good even today. He knew his audience and could influence audiences even in silent films at a subconscious level. ” Phalke died and February 16, 1944, after having done half a dozen jobs and directed 97 films. A true creative genius, Phalke’s talent will be remembered.
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