Dada Saheb Phalke, known as the father of Indian Film Industry, was born in 1870. His real name was Dhundiraj Govind Phalke. Producing about 175 films, he laid the foundation for the start of a regular feature film industry in the country. He belonged to
Nasik, was born in
Trimbakeshwar, about 30 km away from Nasik, on 30th April 1870.
Starting with the famous movie on the mythological character Raja Harishchandra in 1913, he made 95 movies and 26 short films in the span of 19 years, till 1932. 'Satyavan Savitri', 'Mohini Bhasmasur' and 'Raja Harichandra' are some among his famous films. The outbreak of World War I plunged him into extreme financial crisis, but in 1917, he made a reappearance with the revised version of 'Raja Harischandra' and India’s first big box office hit ‘Lanka Dahan’.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award, named after him, is the most prestigious award in the field of Cinema in India. Instituted in the year 1969, the Award carries a cash prize, a shawl and a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus).
He passed away in 1944.
