Raja Harishchandra
Encyclopedia
Raja Harishchandra is a 1913
silent Indian film directed and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke
, and is the first full-length Indian feature film. The film was based on the legend of King Harishchandra
, recounted in the Ramayana
and the Mahabharata
.
, who first sacrifices his kingdom, followed by his wife and eventually his children to honour his promise to the sage Vishwamitra. Though, in the end, pleased by his high morals, the Gods are pleased and restore his former glory, and further bestow him with divine blessings.
Raja Ravi Verma in the making of this film. The film had an all-male cast; no woman was available for playing female leads, so the men played all the roles. The film reel was 3700 feet long, roughly 40 minutes.
In 2008, Harishchandrachi Factory
, a film based on the making of Raja Harishchandra was announced. The title is based on the fact that, when the film was made, working in films was taboo, so Dada Saheb advised his artists to tell others that they were working in the factory of one 'Harishchandra'.
, Narayan Choyal, Girgaon
, where crowds thronged the roads outside the hall, as it marked the beginning of the Indian film industry. The film was so successful that Dada Saheb had to make more prints to show the film in rural areas as well. The film was a grand success and soon established Phalke as a producer and paved the way for the Indian film industry. Dada Saheb's wife cooked food alone, without any help, for the whole cast and crew, which were more than 500 people. She also washed the clothes and costumes, helped in the posters and production of the film, and co-operated with the cast, satisfying them with food and water.
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has only the first and last reels, though some film historians believe that they belong to a 1917 remake of the film, by the same name.
1913 in film
The year 1913 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* The Squaw Man, the first Hollywood feature film, is made.* December 29, Charlie Chaplin signs a contract with Mack Sennett to begin making films at Keystone Studios.* D. W...
silent Indian film directed and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke
Dadasaheb Phalke
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke was an Indian producer-director-screenwriter, known as the father of Indian cinema...
, and is the first full-length Indian feature film. The film was based on the legend of King Harishchandra
Harishchandra
Harishchandra, in Hindu religious texts is the 36th king of the Solar Dynasty, Surya Maharishi Gothram . His legend is very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life. He was renowned for his piety and justice. His name is Sanskrit for "having golden splendour".Harishchandra had two...
, recounted in the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
and the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
.
Plot
The film revolves around the noble and righteous king, HarishchandraHarishchandra
Harishchandra, in Hindu religious texts is the 36th king of the Solar Dynasty, Surya Maharishi Gothram . His legend is very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life. He was renowned for his piety and justice. His name is Sanskrit for "having golden splendour".Harishchandra had two...
, who first sacrifices his kingdom, followed by his wife and eventually his children to honour his promise to the sage Vishwamitra. Though, in the end, pleased by his high morals, the Gods are pleased and restore his former glory, and further bestow him with divine blessings.
Production
Phalke was greatly influenced by the style of painterPainting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
Raja Ravi Verma in the making of this film. The film had an all-male cast; no woman was available for playing female leads, so the men played all the roles. The film reel was 3700 feet long, roughly 40 minutes.
In 2008, Harishchandrachi Factory
Harishchandrachi Factory
Harishchandrachi Factory is a 2009 Marathi film, directed by Paresh Mokashi, depicting the struggle of Dadasaheb Phalke in making Raja Harishchandra in 1913: India's first feature film, the birth of Indian cinema.Harishchandrachi Factory is the directorial debut of Paresh Mokashi who won the Best...
, a film based on the making of Raja Harishchandra was announced. The title is based on the fact that, when the film was made, working in films was taboo, so Dada Saheb advised his artists to tell others that they were working in the factory of one 'Harishchandra'.
Performance
The film was first shown in public on 3 May 1913 at Mumbai's Coronation CinemaCoronation Cinema
Coronation Cinema was in Girgaon area of south Mumbai. On 3 May 1913 Raja Harishchandra , a silent Indian film directed and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke, which was also the first full-length Indian feature film and also the first India's first fully indigenous...
, Narayan Choyal, Girgaon
Girgaon
Girgaon, also spelt Girgaum, is an area in southern Mumbai in Maharashtra, India.Girgaon gets its name from being located at the foot of Malabar Hill in South Mumbai. The culture in Girgaon is diverse and varied. Like most areas of cosmopolitan Mumbai, residents span diverse languages, religions,...
, where crowds thronged the roads outside the hall, as it marked the beginning of the Indian film industry. The film was so successful that Dada Saheb had to make more prints to show the film in rural areas as well. The film was a grand success and soon established Phalke as a producer and paved the way for the Indian film industry. Dada Saheb's wife cooked food alone, without any help, for the whole cast and crew, which were more than 500 people. She also washed the clothes and costumes, helped in the posters and production of the film, and co-operated with the cast, satisfying them with food and water.
Extant Prints
The original film was in four reels, and the National Film Archive of IndiaNational Film Archive of India
The National Film Archive of India was established as a media unit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in February 1964. Its three principal objectives are* To trace, acquire and preserve for posterity the heritage of Indian cinema;...
has only the first and last reels, though some film historians believe that they belong to a 1917 remake of the film, by the same name.
Cast
- D.D. Dabke - Raja HarishchandraHarishchandraHarishchandra, in Hindu religious texts is the 36th king of the Solar Dynasty, Surya Maharishi Gothram . His legend is very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life. He was renowned for his piety and justice. His name is Sanskrit for "having golden splendour".Harishchandra had two...
- P.G. Salunke - Taramati
- Bhalachandra D. Phalke
- G.V. Sane - Vishwamitra