The 152nd birth anniversary of Dhundiraj Govind Phalke popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke was celebrated on 30 April.
Context
The 152nd birth anniversary of Dhundiraj Govind Phalke popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke was celebrated on 30 April.
- He is popularly known as “Father of Indian Cinema”.
About Dadasaheb Phalke
- Dadasaheb Phalke Born on April 30, 1870, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke came from a small town in Bombay Presidency.
- Dadasaheb Phalke was an Indian director, producer, screenwriter, editor and distributor.
- He is regarded as the Father of Indian cinema for giving the country its first full-length feature film.
- The indigenous silent film was titled, Raja Harishchandra (1913).
- His last film, Gangavataran (1937) was the only film made by Dadasaheb with sound and dialogues.
- After his death in 1944, the Government of India initiated an award in his name titled The Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969.
- It is the highest award for film personalities in the country to recognize valuable contributions in Indian cinema’s development.
- In 1971, India post released a stamp bearing Dadasaheb’s character in his reverence.
Contribution to Indian Cinema
- He is regarded as the Father of Indian cinema for giving the country its first full-length feature film.
- Raja Harischandra was the first Indian movie debuted by him which was released in 1913 and that movie is now known as India's first full length feature film.
- He made 95 feature length films and 27 short films in his career.
- Some of his great works include Mohini Bhasmasur (1913), Satyavan Savitri(1914), Lanka Dahan(1917), Shakuntala(1920) etc.
- The Indian government instituted the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969, an award presented annually by the President of India for lifetime contribution to Indian Cinema.
About Dadasaheb Phalke Awards
- It was presented for the first time in 1969.
- The first recipient of the award was actress Devika Rani.
- It carries a prize money of ten lakh rupees and a Golden Lotus.
- The award is often confused with other awards presented in his name such as Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation awards, Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards.
- However, the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards are the only awards presented by the Indian Government to the achievers in the film industry.
- These awards are presented by the Directorate of Film Festivals that operates under the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
- The Directorate should make sufficient rules to avoid the use of the legend’s name to prevent replications.
