early indian cinema
TRANSCRIPT
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Lesson 2Early Indian cinema
Subject:understanding cinemafilm studies
Faculty Name:Amol Jadhav
Deviprasad Goenka Management College of Media Studies (dgmcms.org.in)
Batch(BA FTNP class of
2017)
Year (FY)
India’s premier M-school
India’s premier M-school
+Introduction
H.S. Bhatavdekar- a then well known still photographer was present for a maiden movie screening at Mumbai. (1896-97)
He ordered a movie camera from UK and started shooting motion pictures until 1901. This marks as the earliest attempts of filmmaking in India by Indians.
Picture palaces- small tents for movie shows, based on nickelodeons of USA were then popular in India.
One of the shows were The Life of Christ and Mr. Dhundiraj Govind Phalke was in the audience.
India’s premier M-school
+Dadasaheb Phalke
Dadasaheb Phalke, moved by films andits effect dedicated his life for cinema.
He strongly believed that films had animmensely strong social connect and hadpower to narrate.
He bought camera from UK and afterrelentless attempts, made a full lengthfilm Raja Harishchandra (1913) (dur. 40 mins)
This was the first ever feature length narrative film made in India by an Indian, specially about Indian character.
He envisioned films with a strong social and cultural context, which was a need of an hour in those times and made them successful.
India’s premier M-school
+Raja Harishchandra
Raja Harishchandra (1913) was a filmabout a mythological character.
This film was rich in costumes, make-up,well rehearsed performances anddefinitive set design.
This film had repetitive audience andwas a grand success. Audiences lovedthe experience of seeing their owncultural treasures in visual format.
This became the key for Phalke’s nextventures which defined Indian films.
India’s premier M-school
+Technique
Phalke produced number of movies which had visual sense and narrative value.
His stories were skillfully weaved around sets, costumes, make up and performances- majorly developed from folk theatre.
After Raja Harishchandra, Phalke made Mohini Bhasmasur and Satyavan Savitri (both1914) and yet
another hit Lankadahan (1917).
He had influence of special visualeffects of that of Melies.
He estblished Hindustan Film Co. in1918.
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+Contribution
Dadasaheb Phalke is not only responsible for the first Indian film but also to establish a ‘studio’ culture that brought about discipline in film business.
His films made actresses regard this medium with respect and gentility.
He closely observed the audience who watched his films and made his stories based on common man’s psyche- keeping Indian culture, mythology and values at prime levels.
His regard for society was timely reflected in his films and stories.
He is thus rightly known as a father of Indian Films as he made films for audiences.
India’s premier M-school
+Influences
Phalke has number of dedicated assistants and apprentices who were responsible for shaping the Indian film industry.
Baburao Painter, Fattelal Modi and V. Shantaram became the names who were responsible for successful feature films in India.
Dhiren Ganguly in Calcutta was responsible to introduce different genres to films.
His films were exceptional take on society as well as proved to be highly successful.
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Dhiren Ganguly’s England Returened (1921) is considered one of the earliest satires. He temaed up with Debaki Bose made Flames of Flesh which was financed by British Dominian Co.
Chandulal Shah’s Gunsundari (1925) marked one of the rare and initial films which spoke about a married woman’s sorrows and mindsets. This film was initially banned but was highly regarded later on.
This is how Dadasaheb Phalke paved way for a matured art form that was rooted deep within Indian Setting.
India’s premier M-school
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Further Reading:
Oxford History of World Cinema
(Ed. Geoffery Nowell- Smith)
Tales of Cinema (Ganesh Matkari)