Century

For the last six months the entire entertainment industry has been gearing up to celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema. And yet very few remember the first Indian film.

Dadasaheb Phalke's contribution to the moving arts is, undoubtedly, vast. Yet, it would be unfair to forget those who paved the way in their own significant ways.

Hiralal Sen

To forget Hiralal Sen and his Royal Bioscope in this context would mean to nullify the significance of short films. Sounds contradictory when today released 'Bombay Talkies', a compilation of four short films, to commemorate the birth of Indian cinema. Royal Bioscope Company (co-owned by Hiralal Sen and his brother Motilala Sen, along with two other gentlemen, Debaki Lal Sen and Bholanath Gupta) was established in 1898 and continued operations till 1913.

It would be limiting the man's talents if one were to speak of him only in reference to cinema. He also produced a number of advertising films and news films. He may, very well, have been the first Indian to use film for advertising purpose.

Dadasaheb Torne & the first published ad for the screening of Shree Pundalik

Another name that deserves a mention is that of Dadasaheb Torne. Dadasaheb Torne's Shree Pundalik released in 1912, a full year before Dadasaheb Phalke's Raja Harishchandra hit the cinema halls. 

Many have discarded the man and his efforts with the arguments that Shree Pundalik was the recording of a Marathi play, the cameraman - Johnson - was a British national and the film was processed in London.

For all those in favour of these arguments, I can only think of n number of movies produced today that are adaptations/documentaries, employ the expertise of foreign nationals and are processed partially abroad. It so seems that to downgrade and oppose a pioneer has always been the 'in' thing.

On May 3, 1913 released the historic Raja Harishchandra by Dadasaheb Phalke. Undoubtedly, a landmark in Indian cinema; but not Dadasaheb Phalke's first effort at film-making.

Prior to the acclaimed feature film, Dadasaheb Phalke made the first Indian animation movie, Birth of A Pea Plant, using time lapse photography; stop-motion animation in the modern context.

With all due respect to the man and his genius, it is surprising that no one recalls the fact that Dadasaheb Phalke travelled all the way to London to learn the art of film-making and purchase film-making equipments. Is that not taking help from the west, as in the case of Dadasaheb Torne?

It is an incomplete celebration when it includes only the stars and not the ones who made the stars. It turns into being 100 years of fame, glamour and anonymity. From 1913 to 2013 Indian cinema has come a long way in its stories and techniques. But the star-syndrome remains intact. We continue to be besotted by those who make headlines and forget those who get hidden behind the curtain.

Celebrating 100 years of Indian Cinema; celebrating 100 years of old wine in a new bottle!