Both for quantitative as well as qualitative reasons, 100 Years of Indian Cinema has expanded the meaning of the greatest sagas of creative forms. India, for whom cross-cultures flow into many mingling streams – the structure of Indian literature, history illuminated immense gifts for the narrators and directors of films. The rich development, bequeathed by the makers of Indian Cinema has presented to millions and millions, almost perennial mirth and entertainment. Among the woe-smitten intellectuals, the inheritances of Indian Cinema have offered to them tumultuous joy, when films have opted to deal with complex social issues.
It is notable to mention that Indian Cinema, today, is recognized on the global level; in many ways, Indian Cinema was sufficiently advanced to gain respect, internationally – thanks to personalities like Indian directors like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak, Shyam Benegal, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Mani Ratnam and many others. Around 1909, Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, who was an Indian artist and a pioneer in the production of silent Indian films and talkies, travelled much to various regions of Asia to promote films. Before Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, the first short films were directed by Hiralal Sen, starting with
The Flower of Persia in 1898.
In 1913, a full-length motion film in India was produced by the scholar, pioneer, Dadasaheb Phalke. The film’s origin came from the epic of
Raja Harishchandra. As we know, the female roles in the earlier years were played by male actors.
At this point, it is important to mention that the advent of the Lumière moving pictures in London Cinema in the year 1895, played an influencing role for Indian Cinema to get started. Lumière was already popular across Europe, and by July 1896, Lumière films had been shown in Bombay (Mumbai).
The first Indian talking film,
Alam Ara was released in 1931 by Ardeshir Israni. This was followed by
Bhakta Prahlada in Telugu, and
Kalidas in Tamil. As the sound technology advanced – music studios, music composers, theatres began to thrive. Certain choiced actors made decent income out of the full time vocation of acting. 100 Years of Indian Cinema has come a long way…
Long live Indian Cinema! Long live the audience!
Geeta Chhabra
