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Raja Harishchandra

January 20, 2023

This article is about a feature film made by Dadasaheb Phalke in 1913. For a short film made by Phalke in 1917, see Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra. For the feature film made in Calcutta in 1917, see Satyawadi Raja Harishchandra.

Raja Harishchandra (transl. King Harishchandra) is a 1913 Indian silent film directed and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke. It is often considered the first full-length Indian feature film. Raja Harishchandra features Dattatraya Damodar Dabke, Anna Salunke, Bhalchandra Phalke, and Gajanan Vasudev Sane and is based on the legend of Harishchandra, with Dabke portraying the title character. The film, being silent, had English, Marathi, and Hindi-language intertitles.

Raja Harischandra
Publicity poster for film show at the Coronation Cinematograph and Variety Hall, Girgaon
Directed byDadasaheb Phalke
Screenplay byDadasaheb Phalke
Produced byDadasaheb Phalke
Starring
CinematographyTrymbak B. Telang
Edited byDadasaheb Phalke
Production
company
Phalke Films Company
Release date
  • 3 May 1913 (1913-05-03)
Running time
40 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageSilent

Phalke decided to make a feature film after watching The Life of Christ (1906) at a theatre in Bombay in April 1911. In February 1912, he went to London for two weeks to learn filmmaking techniques and upon return founded Phalke Films Company. He imported the hardware required for filmmaking and exhibition from England, France, Germany, and the United States. Phalke shot a short film Ankurachi Wadh (Growth of a Pea Plant) to attract investors for his venture. He published advertisements in various newspapers calling for the cast and crew. As no women were available to play female roles, male actors performed the female roles. Phalke was in charge of scriptment, direction, production design, make-up, film editing, along with film processing. Trymbak B. Telang handled the camera. Phalke completed filming in six months and 27 days producing a film of 3,700 feet (1,100 m), about four reels.

The film premiered at the Olympia Theatre, Bombay, on 21 April 1913, and had its theatrical release on 3 May 1913 at the Coronation Cinematograph and Variety Hall, Girgaon. It was a commercial success and laid the foundation for the film industry in the country. The film is partially lost; only the first and last reels of the film are preserved at the National Film Archive of India. Some film historians believe these belong to a 1917 remake of the film by Phalke titled Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra.

The status of Raja Harishchandra as the first full-length Indian feature film has been debated. Some film historians consider Dadasaheb Torne's silent film Shree Pundalik, released on 18 May 1912, the maiden Indian film. The Government of India, however, recognises Raja Harishchandra as the first Indian feature film.

Plot

Raja Harishchandra

King Harishchandra (D. D. Dabke) is shown teaching his son, Rohitashva (Bhalchandra Phalke), how to shoot with a bow and arrow in the presence of Queen Taramati (Anna Salunke). His citizens ask him to go on a hunting expedition. While on the hunt, Harishchandra hears the cries of some women. He reaches a place where the sage Vishvamitra (Gajanan Sane) is performing a yajna to get help from Triguna Shakti (three powers) against their will.[a] Harishchandra unwittingly interrupts Vishvamitra in the midst of his yajna by releasing the three powers. To appease Vishvamitra's wrath, Harishchandra offers his kingdom. Returning to the royal palace, he informs Taramati of the happenings. Vishvamitra sends Harishchandra, Taramati, and Rohitashva in exile and asks them to arrange for dakshina. While in exile, Rohitashva dies and Harishchandra sends Taramati to ask the Dom king for arranging a free cremation. While Taramati is on her way to meet the Dom king, Vishvamitra frames her for the murder of the prince of Kashi. Taramati faces trial, pleads guilty and is ordered to be beheaded by Harishchandra. When he raises his sword to complete his task, a pleased Lord Shiva appears. Vishvamitra reveals that he was examining Harishchandra's integrity, returns the crown to him and brings Rohitashva back to life.[3][4]

Cast

  • Dattatraya Damodar Dabke as Harishchandra
  • Anna Salunke as Taramati, Harishchandra's wife
  • Bhalchandra Phalke as Rohitashva, son of Harishchandra and Taramati
  • Gajanan Vasudev Sane as Vishvamitra

Other artists in the film were Dattatreya Kshirsagar, Dattatreya Telang, Ganpat G. Shinde, Vishnu Hari Aundhkar, and Nath T. Telang.[5]

Production

Development

"While The Life of Christ was rolling fast before my physical eyes, I was mentally visualising the Gods, Shri Krishna, Shri Ramachandra, their Gokul and their Ayodhya. I was gripped by a strange spell. I bought another ticket and saw the film again. This time I felt my imagination taking shape on the screen. Could this really happen? Could we, the sons of India, ever be able to see the Indian images on the screen?"

 – Phalke on watching Jesus on the screen[6]

On 14 April 1911, Dadasaheb Phalke with his elder son Bhalchandra went to see a film, Amazing Animals, at the America India Picture Palace,[7] Girgaon.[8] Surprised at seeing animals on the screen, Bhalchandra informed his mother, Saraswatibai, about his experience. None of the family members believed them, so Phalke took his family to see the film the next day. As it was Easter, the theatre screened a film about Jesus, The Life of Christ (1906) by the French director Alice Guy-Blaché.[6][8][b] While watching Jesus on the screen, Phalke envisioned Hindu deities Rama and Krishna instead and decided to start in the business of "moving pictures".[8] After completing his two-week trip to London to learn filmmaking techniques, he founded Phalke Films Company on 1 April 1912.[9][10]

During his London trip, Phalke had placed an order for a Williamson camera and Kodak raw films and a perforator which reached Bombay (now Mumbai) in May 1912.[11][12] He set up a processing room and taught his family to perforate and develop the film.[11] Though Phalke was certain of his idea of filmmaking, he could not find any investors. So, he decided to make a short film to demonstrate the techniques. He planted some peas in a pot, placed a camera in front of it, and shot one frame a day for over a month. This resulted in a film, lasting just over a minute, of the seed growing, sprouting, and changing into a climber. Phalke titled this short film Ankurachi Wadh (Growth of a Pea Plant) and showed it to selected individuals. Some of them, including Yashwantrao Nadkarni and Narayanrao Devhare, offered Phalke a loan.[12][13]

Story

 
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma, depicting Harishchandra parting with his wife and son

In his Marathi language magazine Suvarnamala, Phalke had published a story Surabaichi Kahani (A Tale of Sura). The story, which depicted the ill effects of alcoholism, was the first he considered for filming. After watching several American films screened in Bombay, he observed that they included mystery and romance, which the audiences liked. His family members suggested that the storyline should appeal to middle-class people and women and it should also highlight Indian culture.[14]

After considering various stories depicted in Hindu mythology, Phalke's family shortlisted the legends of Krishna, Savitri and Satyavan, and Harishchandra.[11] At the time, a play based on the legends of Harishchandra was popular on Marathi and Urdu stages.[15] Friends and neighbours had often called Phalke "Harishchandra" for having sold all his belongings, except his wife's mangala sutra, to fulfil his filmmaking dream.[13] Thus, Phalke decided on the legends of Harishchandra and wrote the script for his feature film.[15]

Casting

"Wanted actors, carpenters, washermen, barbers and painters. Bipeds who are drunkards, loafers or ugly should not bother to apply for actor. It would do if those who are handsome and without physical defect are dumb. Artistes must be good actors. Those who are given to immoral living or have ungainly looks or manners should not take pains to visit."

 – Casting call published in various newspapers[16]

Phalke published advertisements in various newspapers like Induprakash calling for the cast and crew required for the film. It was well-received and huge number of applicants came in for the auditions.[c] Despite a growing response to the advertisement, he was not satisfied with the performers' skills. He discontinued the advertisements and decided to scout for the artists through theatre companies.[16]

Padurang Gadhadhar Sane and Gajanan Vasudev Sane were among the first artists to join Phalke Films Company.[17] The former was playing female roles in the Natyakala theatre company; the latter was performing in Urdu plays.[16] Both joined for a salary of ₹40 per month. Gajanan Sane introduced his acquaintance Dattatraya Damodar Dabke. Phalke was impressed with his physique and personality and offered him the lead role of Harishchandra.[17]

In response to the advertisement, four prostitutes auditioned for the role of Taramati. Phalke rejected them for not having satisfactory looks and revised the advertisement to read: "Only good-looking women should come for interview."[17] Two more prostitutes auditioned but left after two days. A young lady, who was a mistress, auditioned and Phalke selected her for the female lead. She rehearsed for four days. However, on the fifth day, her master objected to her working in the film and took her away.[17] In despair, Phalke also visited Bombay's red-light area on Grant Road in Kamathipura. He was asked either to pay a high salary or to marry the woman.[18] One day, while having tea at a restaurant on Grant Road,[18] Phalke noticed Krishna Hari alias Anna Salunke, an effeminate young man with slender features and hands.[19] Salunke was working as a cook or waiter at the restaurant on a monthly salary of ₹10.[19][20] He agreed to work in films when Phalke offered him a raise of five rupees.[21][d]

Phalke auditioned many boys for the role of Rohitashva, son of Harishchandra and Taramati, but none of the parents would allow their children to work in the film as the character would have to live in the forests and was to die. Finally, Phalke's elder son Bhalchandra was assigned the role, becoming the first child actor in Indian cinema.[17][23]

Pre-production

 
Phalke seated on a chair with a small roll of film in his hands

Phalke hired around forty people for his film studio known as a factory in those days.[18][24] Since working in films was a taboo, Phalke advised his artists to tell others they were working in a factory for a man named Harishchandra.[25] Phalke watched several foreign films to learn about screenplay writing and then completed the script for Raja Harishchandra.[26] The film had an all-male cast as no women were available to play female leads.[27] After coming to the studio, male actors playing female roles were asked to wear saris and do women's chores like sifting rice, and making flour to help Saraswatibai.[28] Though some actors were associated with theatres, most of the cast did not have any prior acting experience. Phalke ran several rehearsals with the actors. Often, he had to wear a sari himself and act out the scene.[13] A number of photographs from English periodicals showing various facial expressions were hung up in the rehearsal studio. All the actors had to go through a mandatory exercise where they were asked to make similar faces.[26]

About the same time, the Rajapurkar Natak Mandali drama company visited Bombay. Many of the company's shows were based on Hindu mythology. Phalke met the company's proprietor, Babajirao Rane, and explained his idea of indigenous film production. Rane was impressed by the idea and offered his support by lending his actors and their costumes. Phalke decided to use material like Harishchandra's crown, wig, swords, shields, and bows and arrows in the film.[29] Phalke's brother-in-law owned two drama companies, Belgaokar Natak Mandali and Saraswati Natak Mandali. He offered similar help, but Phalke politely declined as the majority of the cast and crew were finalised.[28] Phalke designed the costumes and stage scenes based on the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and M. V. Dhurandhar. He painted the scenes for the palace, jungle, mountains, fields and caves himself on curtains. After the sets were erected for the indoor shooting, painter Rangnekar was hired for the monthly salary of ₹60.[30]

Phalke imported the hardware required for the filmmaking and exhibition from England, France, Germany, and the United States from manufacturers including Houghton Butcher, Zeiss Tessar, and Pathé. This included negative and positive film stocks, cameras, lights, Film laboratory equipment, printing and editing machines, negative cutting tools, and film projectors.[31] He decided to take on the responsibility for the scriptment, direction, production design, make-up, Film editing, and film processing. He asked Trymbak B. Telang, his childhood friend from Nashik, to come to Bombay. Telang was working as a priest at the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple. Phalke had taught him still photography as a childhood hobby.[29] After his arrival, Phalke trained Telang in the operation of the Williamson camera and made him the film's cinematographer.[32]

Filming

 
Anna Salunke as Sita in Lanka Dahan (1917)

Production design for the film started after the monsoon season of 1912. While the sets were being erected at Phalke's bungalow at Dadar, an outdoor shooting was scheduled at Vangani, a village outside Bombay.[30] Some of the male actors playing female roles, including Anna Salunke who was playing the female lead, were not ready to shave off their moustaches because it is part of one of the Hindu rituals to be performed after the death of one's father.[13][33] Phalke persuaded the actors and their fathers to have the moustaches shaved and the unit left for Vangani.[26][30]

The unit was lodged at the village temple and continued their rehearsals until Phalke arrived from Bombay. The villagers were frightened to see the troupe of people wearing costumes, wielding swords, shields, and spears while practising the scenes. They informed the Patil (village headman) that dacoits (robbers) had entered the village. He immediately reported to the Faujdar (commander) who visited the temple.[30] The unit explained film-making to them, but the Faujdar did not believe their story and arrested everyone. When Phalke reached the village, he immediately met the Patil and the Faujdar explaining to them again about cinema and filming by showing them the equipment. Without loading film into the camera, he asked his unit to enact one of the film's scenes and went through the motions of filming a scene. After viewing the scene, the Faujdar understood Phalke's new venture and released everyone.[34]

While playing with other children, Bhalchandra fell on a rock and his head started bleeding. Phalke treated him with a first aid kit, but he remained unconscious. Various unit members suggested that Bhalchandra should be taken to Bombay for further treatment and once he was completely recovered, shooting could be resumed. The scene that was to be filmed showed Rohitashva, Bhalchandra's character, dead on a funeral pyre. Resuming the outdoor shoot after Bhalchandra's recovery would have delayed the production and incurred costs. To avoid both, Phalke stoically decided to shoot the scene with the unconscious Bhalchandra.[13][34] As in the legends of Harishchandra, the King along with Taramati and Rohitashva visit Kashi.[35] It was financially challenging for Phalke to go to Kashi and shoot scenes there. So, he took his unit to Trimbakeshwar, where they camped for about a month and filmed the required scenes. Phalke used to develop the film at night for the scenes that were shot throughout the day. He would re-shoot the scenes next day if they were not of the desired quality. Filming was completed in six months and twenty-seven days to produce a film of 3,700 feet (1,100 m); about four reels.[34]

Phalke used trick photography to shoot one of the scenes where the god appears and disappears from behind the smoke of sage Vishvamitra's Yajna-kund. The film negative stocks used were of limited spectral sensitivity with low sensitivity to the red band of the spectrum; thus, sets, costumes, and artists' make-up artists avoided the colour red.[31] During the early nineteenth century, plays had an introductory episode, a compere or a person who introduces the performers in a show.[36][37] Unit members suggested the film should also have similar introductory episode with Phalke and his wife playing the roles of Sutradhar and Nati. Phalke agreed to the idea but could not convince Saraswatibai to act in front of a camera. Finally, Padurang Gadhadhar Sane played the role of Nati.[38]

Release

Film premiere

Phalke had difficulties arranging a theatre for screening as criticism of his work had already started. He decided to show the film to a select audience and arranged for a premiere at the Olympia Theatre, Bombay on 21 April 1913 at 9:00 pm.[39] The invitees included doctor and public worker Sir Bhalchandra Bhatavdekar,[40] scholar R. G. Bhandarkar,[41] a judge of Small Cause Court Justice Donald,[42] newspaper editors and representatives along with some intellectuals and prominent personalities from Bombay.[43] As Phalke's infant daughter, Mandakini, was ill with pneumonia, his elder brother, Shivrampant, advised him to postpone the premiere to another day.[39] But, as the invitations had already been sent and the theatre was available only on 21 April, Phalke could not change his decision.[43]

Bhatavdekar introduced the premiere acknowledging Phalke for his "daring". Justice Donald noted that the film would help Europeans learn more about Hindu mythology. Anant Narayan Kowlgekar of Kesari in his review mentioned that "Phalke has grandly brought his skill to the notice of the world."[44] The Times of India in their review noted the scenes depicted in the film are "simply marvellous" and "[I]t is really a pleasure to see this piece of Indian workmanship".[45] With the favourable reviews generated, Nanasaheb Chitre, Manager of the Coronation Cinematograph and Variety Hall, Girgaon, expressed his desire to screen the film.[46]

Theatrical release

The film had its theatrical release on 3 May 1913 at the Coronation Cinematograph and Variety Hall. The show included a dance by Irene Delmar, a comic act by McClements, foot-juggling by Alexandroff, and Tip-Top comic items followed by the film.[23] The show's duration was one-and-half hours with four shows scheduled a day at 6:00 pm, 8:00 pm, 10:00 pm, and 11:45 pm. An advertisement for the film published in The Bombay Chronicle had a note added at the end that the ticket rates would be double the usual rates.[46] The film had a houseful run for a week, and it was extended for twelve more days. A special show was scheduled on 17 May for women and children only at half rates. Initially, 18 May was advertised as the last show, but the film continued its screening due to popular demand.[47] It screened continuously for twenty-three days until 25 May and was screened at the Alexandra Theatre on 28 June.[7][23][47] The Bombay Chronicle in its issue of 5 May 1913 mentioned that "this wonderful drama is splendidly represented by the company of actors" and praised the "beauty and ingenuity" with which Phalke succeeded in presenting the film scenes.[45]

News of the film's success in Bombay spread across India and there were demands to screen the film in various locations. As there were no film distributors in those days, Phalke had to move the film, the projector, an operator, and some assistants from place to place. When the film was screened for a week at the Nawabi Theatre in Surat, Phalke signed a temporary agreement for 50% partnership with the theatre owner. Despite advertising the film, at its first showing the film met with a lukewarm response. Disappointed by the earnings of only ₹3, the owner asked Phalke either to cancel the show, increase its length, or reduce ticket prices. Phalke politely rejected these suggestions.[47] He issued an advertisement in the Gujarati language calling on people to see "57,000 photographs of three-quarters of an inch width and two miles length", for just one Indian anna. He also had his actors enact some of the film's scenes at the town's crossroads. The promotion had the desired effect and earnings increased to ₹300.[24][48] Later, the film was also screened at Pune, Colombo, London, and Rangoon with Marathi and Hindi-language intertitles.[24][46][49]

Legacy

Film historian Firoze Rangoonwalla feels that the film made "a wide impression and appealed to a large audience in different places" and its box office success provided "the seal of acceptance and laid the foundation of the film industry" in the country.[23] Director and cinematographer Govind Nihalani explains that the film was shot partly outdoors in direct sunlight and partly in outdoor studios with sunlight blocked by white muslin producing soft and diffused light. He appreciates the tonal gradation, lighting, and camera movements. He also notes the scene where the god appears and disappears from behind the smoke of sage Vishvamitra's Yajna-kund gives an impression that the scene was filmed in a single shot.[31] Film critic Satish Bahadur points out that though the title cards in the film were in English and Hindi, "there was something unmistakably Maharashtrian" in the film. He also mentions that the interior architecture and dresses of countries in the film are more of a Deccan Peshwai style than North Indian.[12] Ashish Rajadhyaksha in his The Phalke Era: Conflict of Traditional Form and Modern Technology (1993) mentions that the film's narrative style was borrowed from painting, theatre and traditional arts to attract the audience into cinema.[50] Dilip Rajput of the National Film Archive of India notes that the film's scenes appear to run faster because of the current projector speed of 24-frames-per-second as compared to 16 to 18-frames-per-second speed of the projector that was used for the film.[3]

Directed by Paresh Mokashi, the 2009 Marathi film Harishchandrachi Factory (Harishchandra's Factory) depicts the making of Raja Harishchandra. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi at the 56th National Film Awards.[51] It was selected as India's official entry to the 82nd Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category along with the 62nd British Academy Film Awards and the 66th Golden Globe Awards but was not listed among the final five nominations.[52][53][54]

Extant prints

The original length of a film was 3,700 feet (1,100 m), about four reels.[34] In 1917, the film's last print caught fire due to the constant friction and the exposure to high temperatures while it was being transported from one theatre to another, by a bullock cart. Phalke readily re-shot the film to produce the version that exists today.[55][56] However, only the first and last reels of the original film are preserved at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) making it a partially lost film. Some film historians believe they actually belong to a 1917 remake of the film, titled Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra.[57][58] NFAI duplicated the film, but around twenty percent of the left side of the screen was lost in the transfer.[59] It was believed the film's remaining reels were destroyed along with 1,700 nitrate-based films in the fire at the Film and Television Institute of India on 8 January 2002.[60] The prints were later retrieved from the private collection of Phalke's children.[61][62] The NFAI has restored and digitised the film.[63]

Classification as first full-length Indian film

The status of Raja Harischandra as the first full-length Indian feature film has been argued over. Some film historians consider Dadasaheb Torne's silent film Shree Pundalik as the maiden Indian film.[64][65] Torne's film was released at the same theatre as Raja Harischandra on 18 May 1912, almost a year before.[5][66] An argument has been made in favour of Raja Harischandra that Shree Pundalik is a cinematographic recording of a play, using a single, fixed camera and it was filmed by a British cameraman with the film stock processed in London.[67][68][69][70] The Government of India recognises Raja Harischandra as the first Indian feature film.[71] In 1969, it introduced the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the country's highest award in cinema,[72] to commemorate Phalke's contribution to Indian cinema.[73]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ As per the Samkhya hindu philosophy, Prakṛti is one of two eternal principles. It is composed of three gunas (prime qualities): sattva, rajas, and tamas.[1][2]
  2. ^ In one of the interviews, Phalke mentioned the day as Christmas of 1910. But, the issue of The Times of India of 14 April 1911 contains an advertisement of The Life of Christ.[8]
  3. ^ Since Phalke was making a silent film, he also allowed mute artists to audition.
  4. ^ Salunke later reprised the same role in Phalke's 1917 film Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra.[5] Later, he also became the first actor to play the double role in Indian cinema by portraying the male lead Rama and his wife Sita, in Phalke's 1917 film Lanka Dahan.[22]

References

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  2. ^ Frawley, David; Ranade, Subhash (August 2004). Ayurveda, Nature's Medicine. M. Banarsidass Publ. p. 28. ISBN 978-81-208-2040-1. from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b Raheja & Kothari 2004, p. 17.
  4. ^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish (1993). "The Phalke Era: Conflict of Traditional Form and Modern Technology" (PDF). In Niranjana, Tejaswini; Dhareshwar, Vivek; Sudhir, P. (eds.). Interrogating Modernity: Culture and Colonialism in India. Seagull Books. pp. 76–80. ISBN 978-81-7046-109-8. from the original on 19 January 2017.
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  9. ^ Watve 2012, p. 33.
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  11. ^ a b c Watve 2012, p. 35.
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  28. ^ a b "मुलाखत: सरस्वतीबाई धुंडिराज फाळके" [Interview: Saraswatibai Dhundiraj Phalke]. Dhanurdhari (in Marathi). Nashik. 16 February 1946.
  29. ^ a b Watve 2012, p. 41.
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Bibliography

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January 20, 2023
raja, harishchandra, this, article, about, feature, film, made, dadasaheb, phalke, 1913, short, film, made, phalke, 1917, satyavadi, feature, film, made, calcutta, 1917, satyawadi, transl, king, harishchandra, 1913, indian, silent, film, directed, produced, da. This article is about a feature film made by Dadasaheb Phalke in 1913 For a short film made by Phalke in 1917 see Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra For the feature film made in Calcutta in 1917 see Satyawadi Raja Harishchandra Raja Harishchandra transl King Harishchandra is a 1913 Indian silent film directed and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke It is often considered the first full length Indian feature film Raja Harishchandra features Dattatraya Damodar Dabke Anna Salunke Bhalchandra Phalke and Gajanan Vasudev Sane and is based on the legend of Harishchandra with Dabke portraying the title character The film being silent had English Marathi and Hindi language intertitles Raja HarischandraPublicity poster for film show at the Coronation Cinematograph and Variety Hall GirgaonDirected byDadasaheb PhalkeScreenplay byDadasaheb PhalkeProduced byDadasaheb PhalkeStarringDattatraya Dabke Anna Salunke Bhalchandra Phalke Gajanan SaneCinematographyTrymbak B TelangEdited byDadasaheb PhalkeProductioncompanyPhalke Films CompanyRelease date3 May 1913 1913 05 03 Running time40 minutesCountryIndiaLanguageSilentPhalke decided to make a feature film after watching The Life of Christ 1906 at a theatre in Bombay in April 1911 In February 1912 he went to London for two weeks to learn filmmaking techniques and upon return founded Phalke Films Company He imported the hardware required for filmmaking and exhibition from England France Germany and the United States Phalke shot a short film Ankurachi Wadh Growth of a Pea Plant to attract investors for his venture He published advertisements in various newspapers calling for the cast and crew As no women were available to play female roles male actors performed the female roles Phalke was in charge of scriptment direction production design make up film editing along with film processing Trymbak B Telang handled the camera Phalke completed filming in six months and 27 days producing a film of 3 700 feet 1 100 m about four reels The film premiered at the Olympia Theatre Bombay on 21 April 1913 and had its theatrical release on 3 May 1913 at the Coronation Cinematograph and Variety Hall Girgaon It was a commercial success and laid the foundation for the film industry in the country The film is partially lost only the first and last reels of the film are preserved at the National Film Archive of India Some film historians believe these belong to a 1917 remake of the film by Phalke titled Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra The status of Raja Harishchandra as the first full length Indian feature film has been debated Some film historians consider Dadasaheb Torne s silent film Shree Pundalik released on 18 May 1912 the maiden Indian film The Government of India however recognises Raja Harishchandra as the first Indian feature film Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 3 1 Development 3 2 Story 3 3 Casting 3 4 Pre production 3 5 Filming 4 Release 4 1 Film premiere 4 2 Theatrical release 5 Legacy 5 1 Extant prints 5 2 Classification as first full length Indian film 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 Bibliography 10 External linksPlot Edit source source source source source source Raja Harishchandra King Harishchandra D D Dabke is shown teaching his son Rohitashva Bhalchandra Phalke how to shoot with a bow and arrow in the presence of Queen Taramati Anna Salunke His citizens ask him to go on a hunting expedition While on the hunt Harishchandra hears the cries of some women He reaches a place where the sage Vishvamitra Gajanan Sane is performing a yajna to get help from Triguna Shakti three powers against their will a Harishchandra unwittingly interrupts Vishvamitra in the midst of his yajna by releasing the three powers To appease Vishvamitra s wrath Harishchandra offers his kingdom Returning to the royal palace he informs Taramati of the happenings Vishvamitra sends Harishchandra Taramati and Rohitashva in exile and asks them to arrange for dakshina While in exile Rohitashva dies and Harishchandra sends Taramati to ask the Dom king for arranging a free cremation While Taramati is on her way to meet the Dom king Vishvamitra frames her for the murder of the prince of Kashi Taramati faces trial pleads guilty and is ordered to be beheaded by Harishchandra When he raises his sword to complete his task a pleased Lord Shiva appears Vishvamitra reveals that he was examining Harishchandra s integrity returns the crown to him and brings Rohitashva back to life 3 4 Cast EditDattatraya Damodar Dabke as Harishchandra Anna Salunke as Taramati Harishchandra s wife Bhalchandra Phalke as Rohitashva son of Harishchandra and Taramati Gajanan Vasudev Sane as VishvamitraOther artists in the film were Dattatreya Kshirsagar Dattatreya Telang Ganpat G Shinde Vishnu Hari Aundhkar and Nath T Telang 5 Production EditDevelopment Edit While The Life of Christ was rolling fast before my physical eyes I was mentally visualising the Gods Shri Krishna Shri Ramachandra their Gokul and their Ayodhya I was gripped by a strange spell I bought another ticket and saw the film again This time I felt my imagination taking shape on the screen Could this really happen Could we the sons of India ever be able to see the Indian images on the screen Phalke on watching Jesus on the screen 6 On 14 April 1911 Dadasaheb Phalke with his elder son Bhalchandra went to see a film Amazing Animals at the America India Picture Palace 7 Girgaon 8 Surprised at seeing animals on the screen Bhalchandra informed his mother Saraswatibai about his experience None of the family members believed them so Phalke took his family to see the film the next day As it was Easter the theatre screened a film about Jesus The Life of Christ 1906 by the French director Alice Guy Blache 6 8 b While watching Jesus on the screen Phalke envisioned Hindu deities Rama and Krishna instead and decided to start in the business of moving pictures 8 After completing his two week trip to London to learn filmmaking techniques he founded Phalke Films Company on 1 April 1912 9 10 During his London trip Phalke had placed an order for a Williamson camera and Kodak raw films and a perforator which reached Bombay now Mumbai in May 1912 11 12 He set up a processing room and taught his family to perforate and develop the film 11 Though Phalke was certain of his idea of filmmaking he could not find any investors So he decided to make a short film to demonstrate the techniques He planted some peas in a pot placed a camera in front of it and shot one frame a day for over a month This resulted in a film lasting just over a minute of the seed growing sprouting and changing into a climber Phalke titled this short film Ankurachi Wadh Growth of a Pea Plant and showed it to selected individuals Some of them including Yashwantrao Nadkarni and Narayanrao Devhare offered Phalke a loan 12 13 Story Edit Painting by Raja Ravi Varma depicting Harishchandra parting with his wife and son In his Marathi language magazine Suvarnamala Phalke had published a story Surabaichi Kahani A Tale of Sura The story which depicted the ill effects of alcoholism was the first he considered for filming After watching several American films screened in Bombay he observed that they included mystery and romance which the audiences liked His family members suggested that the storyline should appeal to middle class people and women and it should also highlight Indian culture 14 After considering various stories depicted in Hindu mythology Phalke s family shortlisted the legends of Krishna Savitri and Satyavan and Harishchandra 11 At the time a play based on the legends of Harishchandra was popular on Marathi and Urdu stages 15 Friends and neighbours had often called Phalke Harishchandra for having sold all his belongings except his wife s mangala sutra to fulfil his filmmaking dream 13 Thus Phalke decided on the legends of Harishchandra and wrote the script for his feature film 15 Casting Edit Wanted actors carpenters washermen barbers and painters Bipeds who are drunkards loafers or ugly should not bother to apply for actor It would do if those who are handsome and without physical defect are dumb Artistes must be good actors Those who are given to immoral living or have ungainly looks or manners should not take pains to visit Casting call published in various newspapers 16 Phalke published advertisements in various newspapers like Induprakash calling for the cast and crew required for the film It was well received and huge number of applicants came in for the auditions c Despite a growing response to the advertisement he was not satisfied with the performers skills He discontinued the advertisements and decided to scout for the artists through theatre companies 16 Padurang Gadhadhar Sane and Gajanan Vasudev Sane were among the first artists to join Phalke Films Company 17 The former was playing female roles in the Natyakala theatre company the latter was performing in Urdu plays 16 Both joined for a salary of 40 per month Gajanan Sane introduced his acquaintance Dattatraya Damodar Dabke Phalke was impressed with his physique and personality and offered him the lead role of Harishchandra 17 In response to the advertisement four prostitutes auditioned for the role of Taramati Phalke rejected them for not having satisfactory looks and revised the advertisement to read Only good looking women should come for interview 17 Two more prostitutes auditioned but left after two days A young lady who was a mistress auditioned and Phalke selected her for the female lead She rehearsed for four days However on the fifth day her master objected to her working in the film and took her away 17 In despair Phalke also visited Bombay s red light area on Grant Road in Kamathipura He was asked either to pay a high salary or to marry the woman 18 One day while having tea at a restaurant on Grant Road 18 Phalke noticed Krishna Hari alias Anna Salunke an effeminate young man with slender features and hands 19 Salunke was working as a cook or waiter at the restaurant on a monthly salary of 10 19 20 He agreed to work in films when Phalke offered him a raise of five rupees 21 d Phalke auditioned many boys for the role of Rohitashva son of Harishchandra and Taramati but none of the parents would allow their children to work in the film as the character would have to live in the forests and was to die Finally Phalke s elder son Bhalchandra was assigned the role becoming the first child actor in Indian cinema 17 23 Pre production Edit Phalke seated on a chair with a small roll of film in his hands Phalke hired around forty people for his film studio known as a factory in those days 18 24 Since working in films was a taboo Phalke advised his artists to tell others they were working in a factory for a man named Harishchandra 25 Phalke watched several foreign films to learn about screenplay writing and then completed the script for Raja Harishchandra 26 The film had an all male cast as no women were available to play female leads 27 After coming to the studio male actors playing female roles were asked to wear saris and do women s chores like sifting rice and making flour to help Saraswatibai 28 Though some actors were associated with theatres most of the cast did not have any prior acting experience Phalke ran several rehearsals with the actors Often he had to wear a sari himself and act out the scene 13 A number of photographs from English periodicals showing various facial expressions were hung up in the rehearsal studio All the actors had to go through a mandatory exercise where they were asked to make similar faces 26 About the same time the Rajapurkar Natak Mandali drama company visited Bombay Many of the company s shows were based on Hindu mythology Phalke met the company s proprietor Babajirao Rane and explained his idea of indigenous film production Rane was impressed by the idea and offered his support by lending his actors and their costumes Phalke decided to use material like Harishchandra s crown wig swords shields and bows and arrows in the film 29 Phalke s brother in law owned two drama companies Belgaokar Natak Mandali and Saraswati Natak Mandali He offered similar help but Phalke politely declined as the majority of the cast and crew were finalised 28 Phalke designed the costumes and stage scenes based on the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and M V Dhurandhar He painted the scenes for the palace jungle mountains fields and caves himself on curtains After the sets were erected for the indoor shooting painter Rangnekar was hired for the monthly salary of 60 30 Phalke imported the hardware required for the filmmaking and exhibition from England France Germany and the United States from manufacturers including Houghton Butcher Zeiss Tessar and Pathe This included negative and positive film stocks cameras lights Film laboratory equipment printing and editing machines negative cutting tools and film projectors 31 He decided to take on the responsibility for the scriptment direction production design make up Film editing and film processing He asked Trymbak B Telang his childhood friend from Nashik to come to Bombay Telang was working as a priest at the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple Phalke had taught him still photography as a childhood hobby 29 After his arrival Phalke trained Telang in the operation of the Williamson camera and made him the film s cinematographer 32 Filming Edit Anna Salunke as Sita in Lanka Dahan 1917 Production design for the film started after the monsoon season of 1912 While the sets were being erected at Phalke s bungalow at Dadar an outdoor shooting was scheduled at Vangani a village outside Bombay 30 Some of the male actors playing female roles including Anna Salunke who was playing the female lead were not ready to shave off their moustaches because it is part of one of the Hindu rituals to be performed after the death of one s father 13 33 Phalke persuaded the actors and their fathers to have the moustaches shaved and the unit left for Vangani 26 30 The unit was lodged at the village temple and continued their rehearsals until Phalke arrived from Bombay The villagers were frightened to see the troupe of people wearing costumes wielding swords shields and spears while practising the scenes They informed the Patil village headman that dacoits robbers had entered the village He immediately reported to the Faujdar commander who visited the temple 30 The unit explained film making to them but the Faujdar did not believe their story and arrested everyone When Phalke reached the village he immediately met the Patil and the Faujdar explaining to them again about cinema and filming by showing them the equipment Without loading film into the camera he asked his unit to enact one of the film s scenes and went through the motions of filming a scene After viewing the scene the Faujdar understood Phalke s new venture and released everyone 34 While playing with other children Bhalchandra fell on a rock and his head started bleeding Phalke treated him with a first aid kit but he remained unconscious Various unit members suggested that Bhalchandra should be taken to Bombay for further treatment and once he was completely recovered shooting could be resumed The scene that was to be filmed showed Rohitashva Bhalchandra s character dead on a funeral pyre Resuming the outdoor shoot after Bhalchandra s recovery would have delayed the production and incurred costs To avoid both Phalke stoically decided to shoot the scene with the unconscious Bhalchandra 13 34 As in the legends of Harishchandra the King along with Taramati and Rohitashva visit Kashi 35 It was financially challenging for Phalke to go to Kashi and shoot scenes there So he took his unit to Trimbakeshwar where they camped for about a month and filmed the required scenes Phalke used to develop the film at night for the scenes that were shot throughout the day He would re shoot the scenes next day if they were not of the desired quality Filming was completed in six months and twenty seven days to produce a film of 3 700 feet 1 100 m about four reels 34 Phalke used trick photography to shoot one of the scenes where the god appears and disappears from behind the smoke of sage Vishvamitra s Yajna kund The film negative stocks used were of limited spectral sensitivity with low sensitivity to the red band of the spectrum thus sets costumes and artists make up artists avoided the colour red 31 During the early nineteenth century plays had an introductory episode a compere or a person who introduces the performers in a show 36 37 Unit members suggested the film should also have similar introductory episode with Phalke and his wife playing the roles of Sutradhar and Nati Phalke agreed to the idea but could not convince Saraswatibai to act in front of a camera Finally Padurang Gadhadhar Sane played the role of Nati 38 Release EditFilm premiere Edit Phalke had difficulties arranging a theatre for screening as criticism of his work had already started He decided to show the film to a select audience and arranged for a premiere at the Olympia Theatre Bombay on 21 April 1913 at 9 00 pm 39 The invitees included doctor and public worker Sir Bhalchandra Bhatavdekar 40 scholar R G Bhandarkar 41 a judge of Small Cause Court Justice Donald 42 newspaper editors and representatives along with some intellectuals and prominent personalities from Bombay 43 As Phalke s infant daughter Mandakini was ill with pneumonia his elder brother Shivrampant advised him to postpone the premiere to another day 39 But as the invitations had already been sent and the theatre was available only on 21 April Phalke could not change his decision 43 Bhatavdekar introduced the premiere acknowledging Phalke for his daring Justice Donald noted that the film would help Europeans learn more about Hindu mythology Anant Narayan Kowlgekar of Kesari in his review mentioned that Phalke has grandly brought his skill to the notice of the world 44 The Times of India in their review noted the scenes depicted in the film are simply marvellous and I t is really a pleasure to see this piece of Indian workmanship 45 With the favourable reviews generated Nanasaheb Chitre Manager of the Coronation Cinematograph and Variety Hall Girgaon expressed his desire to screen the film 46 Theatrical release Edit The film had its theatrical release on 3 May 1913 at the Coronation Cinematograph and Variety Hall The show included a dance by Irene Delmar a comic act by McClements foot juggling by Alexandroff and Tip Top comic items followed by the film 23 The show s duration was one and half hours with four shows scheduled a day at 6 00 pm 8 00 pm 10 00 pm and 11 45 pm An advertisement for the film published in The Bombay Chronicle had a note added at the end that the ticket rates would be double the usual rates 46 The film had a houseful run for a week and it was extended for twelve more days A special show was scheduled on 17 May for women and children only at half rates Initially 18 May was advertised as the last show but the film continued its screening due to popular demand 47 It screened continuously for twenty three days until 25 May and was screened at the Alexandra Theatre on 28 June 7 23 47 The Bombay Chronicle in its issue of 5 May 1913 mentioned that this wonderful drama is splendidly represented by the company of actors and praised the beauty and ingenuity with which Phalke succeeded in presenting the film scenes 45 News of the film s success in Bombay spread across India and there were demands to screen the film in various locations As there were no film distributors in those days Phalke had to move the film the projector an operator and some assistants from place to place When the film was screened for a week at the Nawabi Theatre in Surat Phalke signed a temporary agreement for 50 partnership with the theatre owner Despite advertising the film at its first showing the film met with a lukewarm response Disappointed by the earnings of only 3 the owner asked Phalke either to cancel the show increase its length or reduce ticket prices Phalke politely rejected these suggestions 47 He issued an advertisement in the Gujarati language calling on people to see 57 000 photographs of three quarters of an inch width and two miles length for just one Indian anna He also had his actors enact some of the film s scenes at the town s crossroads The promotion had the desired effect and earnings increased to 300 24 48 Later the film was also screened at Pune Colombo London and Rangoon with Marathi and Hindi language intertitles 24 46 49 Legacy EditFilm historian Firoze Rangoonwalla feels that the film made a wide impression and appealed to a large audience in different places and its box office success provided the seal of acceptance and laid the foundation of the film industry in the country 23 Director and cinematographer Govind Nihalani explains that the film was shot partly outdoors in direct sunlight and partly in outdoor studios with sunlight blocked by white muslin producing soft and diffused light He appreciates the tonal gradation lighting and camera movements He also notes the scene where the god appears and disappears from behind the smoke of sage Vishvamitra s Yajna kund gives an impression that the scene was filmed in a single shot 31 Film critic Satish Bahadur points out that though the title cards in the film were in English and Hindi there was something unmistakably Maharashtrian in the film He also mentions that the interior architecture and dresses of countries in the film are more of a Deccan Peshwai style than North Indian 12 Ashish Rajadhyaksha in his The Phalke Era Conflict of Traditional Form and Modern Technology 1993 mentions that the film s narrative style was borrowed from painting theatre and traditional arts to attract the audience into cinema 50 Dilip Rajput of the National Film Archive of India notes that the film s scenes appear to run faster because of the current projector speed of 24 frames per second as compared to 16 to 18 frames per second speed of the projector that was used for the film 3 Directed by Paresh Mokashi the 2009 Marathi film Harishchandrachi Factory Harishchandra s Factory depicts the making of Raja Harishchandra The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi at the 56th National Film Awards 51 It was selected as India s official entry to the 82nd Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category along with the 62nd British Academy Film Awards and the 66th Golden Globe Awards but was not listed among the final five nominations 52 53 54 Extant prints Edit The original length of a film was 3 700 feet 1 100 m about four reels 34 In 1917 the film s last print caught fire due to the constant friction and the exposure to high temperatures while it was being transported from one theatre to another by a bullock cart Phalke readily re shot the film to produce the version that exists today 55 56 However only the first and last reels of the original film are preserved at the National Film Archive of India NFAI making it a partially lost film Some film historians believe they actually belong to a 1917 remake of the film titled Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra 57 58 NFAI duplicated the film but around twenty percent of the left side of the screen was lost in the transfer 59 It was believed the film s remaining reels were destroyed along with 1 700 nitrate based films in the fire at the Film and Television Institute of India on 8 January 2002 60 The prints were later retrieved from the private collection of Phalke s children 61 62 The NFAI has restored and digitised the film 63 Classification as first full length Indian film Edit The status of Raja Harischandra as the first full length Indian feature film has been argued over Some film historians consider Dadasaheb Torne s silent film Shree Pundalik as the maiden Indian film 64 65 Torne s film was released at the same theatre as Raja Harischandra on 18 May 1912 almost a year before 5 66 An argument has been made in favour of Raja Harischandra that Shree Pundalik is a cinematographic recording of a play using a single fixed camera and it was filmed by a British cameraman with the film stock processed in London 67 68 69 70 The Government of India recognises Raja Harischandra as the first Indian feature film 71 In 1969 it introduced the Dadasaheb Phalke Award the country s highest award in cinema 72 to commemorate Phalke s contribution to Indian cinema 73 See also EditAlam Ara The first Indian sound film List of incomplete or partially lost filmsNotes Edit As per the Samkhya hindu philosophy Prakṛti is one of two eternal principles It is composed of three gunas prime qualities sattva rajas and tamas 1 2 In one of the interviews Phalke mentioned the day as Christmas of 1910 But the issue of The Times of India of 14 April 1911 contains an advertisement of The Life of Christ 8 Since Phalke was making a silent film he also allowed mute artists to audition Salunke later reprised the same role in Phalke s 1917 film Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra 5 Later he also became the first actor to play the double role in Indian cinema by portraying the male lead Rama and his wife Sita in Phalke s 1917 film Lanka Dahan 22 References Edit Frawley David 7 October 2014 Vedic Yoga The Path of the Rishi Lotus Press p 172 ISBN 978 0 940676 25 1 Archived from the original on 8 September 2020 Retrieved 17 March 2019 Frawley David Ranade Subhash August 2004 Ayurveda Nature s Medicine M Banarsidass Publ p 28 ISBN 978 81 208 2040 1 Archived from the original on 8 September 2020 Retrieved 17 March 2019 a b Raheja amp Kothari 2004 p 17 Rajadhyaksha Ashish 1993 The Phalke Era Conflict of Traditional Form and Modern Technology PDF In Niranjana Tejaswini Dhareshwar Vivek Sudhir P eds Interrogating Modernity Culture and Colonialism in India Seagull Books pp 76 80 ISBN 978 81 7046 109 8 Archived from the original on 19 January 2017 a b c Rajadhyaksha amp 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Marathi Theatre and Cinema before Independence Taylor amp Francis ISBN 978 1 351 56590 5 Archived from the original on 8 September 2020 Retrieved 25 June 2018 Raheja Dinesh Kothari Jitendra 2004 Indian Cinema The Bollywood Saga Aurum Press ISBN 978 1 84513 016 9 Rajadhyaksha Ashish Willemen Paul eds 1998 1994 Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema PDF Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 563579 9 Archived from the original PDF on 21 August 2016 Retrieved 9 June 2018 Watve Bapu 2012 2004 Dadasaheb Phalke The Father of Indian Cinema Translated by Virkar S A National Book Trust ISBN 978 81 237 4319 6 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Raja Harishchandra Raja Harishchandra at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Raja Harishchandra amp oldid 1117128823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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