Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, also called as Dadasaheb Phalke was an Indian producer-director-screenwriter, who received the title of the Father of Indian Cinema. His debut film, Raja Harishchandra, was the first Indian movie in 1913, which is known as India’s first full-length feature film
Dadasaheb Phalke (1870-1944), known as the Father of Indian Cinema, is an Indian producer, director and screenwriter who made a total of 95 movies and 26 short films during his career.
Shri Krishna Janma (1918) is one of his most appreciated works.
Government of India instituted Dadasaheb Phalke Award in his honor for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
Starting his career as a small town photographer in Godhra, he worked for the Archeological Survey of India as a draftsman and later became a printer.
He turned to motion picture after facing a fallout with his partner and made his first film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1912 becoming the first Indian to make a film.
With no fullstops, Phalke then formed a film company, Hindustan Films and set up a model studio to train technicians and actors, but the idea failed miserably.
In 1932, his last silent movie Setubandhan was released and later released with dubbing.
During 1936-38, he produced his last film Gangavataran (1937), and then retired and settled in Nashik.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for contribution to cinema, was instituted in his honour in 1969 by the Government of India which is one of the most prestigious awards in Indian cinema and is the highest official recognition for film personalities in the country.