Thread by @accountantvarun

Today is the 150th Birth Anniversary of Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as #DadasahebPhalke who is known as the Father of Indian Cinema. He produced the first Indian Movie in the year 1913 titled 'Raja Harishchandra' which was India's first full length feature film.
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He made 95 feature-length films and 27 short films in his career, spanning 19 years, until 1937, including his most noted works: Mohini Bhasmasur, Satyavan Savitri, Lanka Dahan, Shri Krishna Janma and Kaliya Mardan.
Link of First Indian Movie 👇
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He was born in Nashik in a Chittapavan Brahmin Family. Later on, when his father joined as Professor in Wilson College at Mumbai, Phalke family came to Mumbai. Dadasaheb Completed 1 year Drawing Course from J.J. School of Arts. Then, he went o Baroda to learn Oil Painting &..
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... watercolor Painting. He was gifted a Camera in the year 1890. He acquired Photo Developing skills from Ratmal. He opened Photo Studio in Gujarat. But, at that time, there were lot of Superstitions about Photography(eg Photo reduces life of a Person). So, he abandoned it.
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Later on, he used to paint Stage curtains for drama companies which fetched him some minor roles in Plays.
Phalke learned magic tricks from a German magician who was on a tour in Baroda that time. This helped him use trick photography in his filmmaking. At the end of 1901,..
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Phalke began to hold Public Performances of Magic using his Professional name of Professor Kelpha with letters of his last name in reverse order. In 1903, Phalke got a job as Photographer and Surveyor at Archeological Survey of India in Mumbai but he was unsatisfied with it.
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Phalke resigned in 1906 and set up a printing press at Lonavla under the name of "Phalke Engraving and Printing Works" with R. G. Bhandarkar as a partner. With the growing business, the press was shifted to Dadar, Bombay.
Phalke even went to Germany to buy machines for press.
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Phalke had now become famous. After quitting Press, he received offers from multiple financiers to start another press. But now he had no interest in running the press. He wanted to do something new. While searching for new job, on 14th April 1911, Phalke along with his..
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...elder son went to see a film, Amazing Animals, at the America India Picture Palace at Girgaon in Mumbai. Surprised at seeing the animals on the screen, his elder son informed his Mother about his experience. None of his family members belived them. So, Phalke took his..
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..entire family to see the film next day. As it was Easter, the theatre screened a film about Jesus, The Life of Christ by a french director. While watching Jesus on the screen, Phalke envisioned Hindu Deities Rama and Krishna instead and decided to start the business of...
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..moving pictures. For next 1 year, he started reading a lot and collecting various film related Journals, Catalogues, Movie Making Equipments from Europe. He used to watch Movies 4-5 hrs every evening and was deprived of sleep. He developed Cataract. In spite of that, ...
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..he acted against the advice of taking rest by Doctor and lost his sight completely. Opthalmologist Dr. Prabhakar treated Phalke which helped him restore the eyesight. Then, he wished to go to London to get technical knowledge of filmmaking but had difficulties getting...
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...finances for his trip. He borrowed a sum of 10k by mortgaging his insurance policies worth 12k from his friends Nadkarni and Chitnis. He lied to his wife that he has a friend in London to ovarian her permission. On 1st Feb 1912, he boarded a ship for London.
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When he reached london, he went to the office of Piccadilly Circus. He met it's editor Mr. Kepburn and explained the purpose of his visit. Kepburn advised against he idea of filmmaking in India based on unsuccessful attempts in England and suggested that Indian climate...
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...might not be suitable as well. But ,he was impressed with Phalke's dedication and introduced him to Producer, Director and Screenwriter Cecil Hepworth of Walton Studios. Phalke visited all departments of studio and observed their workings along with demonstration...
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..of filming. He bought Williamson Camera for 50 pounds and placed an order for Kodak Raw Film and a perforator. He stayed in London for 2 weeks and returned to India on 1st April 1912. He founded the 'Phalke Films Company' on the same day.
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While producing his first movie 'Raja Harishchandra', he had to struggle a lot. He shifted from Girgaon in South Mumbai to Dadar in Central Mumbai. At that time, Dadar was jungle. Mumbai was restricted to South Mumbai. His neighbors taunted him for staying in Jungle Area.
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He used to face problems due to weather changes. Films used to get damaged due to high temperature. No shooting in Monsoon. He had to bring Ice so that temperature in darkroom will remain cold. He taught all film producing to his family as well and involved them.
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Many people mocked him, taunted him. Some even said he had to get admitted in Mental Asylum in Thane district. But against all the odds, he produced 'Raja Harishchandra' on 21st April 1923 which was premiered across Bombay for next 15 weeks. Phalke Film Company kept growing.
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Entire World got to know about Him. The journal 'Bioscope Cineweekly' which Phalke used to read at the time of learning, published reports on his films and praised his work. Other news papers in Englad also took note of his work. He was the first Indian to get such honour.
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He learnt Drawing in JJ School Mumbai, Painting and Photography at Baroda, Lessons of acting, production and direction while working in Drama Company, Magic tricks from German magician. He knew the skill of impressing people. He travelled to Germany & Englad to buy Machines.
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He always had the enthusiasm to learn something new and was always ready to work hard on his dreams. He combined all this skills and paved the way for Indian Film Industry. Koti Koti Pranam to the Father of Indian Film Industry - Dadasaheb Phalke🙏 🙏🙏
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The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, for lifetime contribution to Cinema, was instituted in his honour by the GOI in 1969. It is the most prestigious award in Indian Cinema and the highest official recognition for film personalities in the country. Filmcity in Mumbai is also named...
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..after him as 'Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari'.
The Following photo was published in 'Bioscope Cineweekly' on 4th June, 1914.
The news below the Photo is the news about Phalke's filmmaking in the newspaper 'The Englishman' on 21st May, 1914.
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