112 years ago, on this day, the first Indian film Raja Harishchandra, was engaged in making so much money

The first feature film of the Indian cinema ‘Raja Harishchandra’ was released on this day i.e. 3 May 1913, 112 years ago. The film Raja Harishchandra was produced by Dadasaheb Phalke under the banner of Phalke Film Company. He was helped in making the film by Yashwant Nadkarni, dealer of photography equipment.

It took about 15 thousand rupees to make the film ‘Raja Harishchandra’. According to that time it was a huge amount of money. In such a situation, if the film is released for only three or four days, then how will they withdraw their expenses? The film was screened in front of some prominent people at the Olympia Theater on 21 April 1913. Nanasaheb Chitre then expressed his desire to showcase the film.

In 1911, Dadasaheb along with his son came to see the film called ‘Amazing Animals’ at the US-India Picture Palace. Seeing the animals on the screen, Phalke’s son is surprised and comes home and tells all the things to his mother. Because for the time then all this was like imagination, so no one believes in the child’s talk. So the next day Dadasaheb arrives there to watch the film with the entire family.

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But a twist comes here and this twist changes the whole life of Dada Saheb Phalke. Actually it happens that the day the Phalke family arrives to see the film, Easter was on that day. Therefore, the film with an animal film in the theater is shown a film ‘The Life of Christ’ based on the life of Jesus Christ. The film was produced by a French director.

When Dadasaheb Phalke saw The Life of Christ while sitting in the theater, he woke up in his mind about films. Phalke thought that such a film could be made on the Indian scenario, so he started research on ways to make a film.

After this the film Raja Harishchandra script was ready and advertisements were given in newspapers for casting. Male actors were found for acting but not a single woman was ready for the film. It is said that Dadasaheb Phalke also went to Mumbai’s Red Light Area for this but no woman was ready to work in the film. Later, a tawaif agreed but on one occasion his owner cheated.

Desperate and troubled Phalke arrived at an Iranian restaurant to drink tea, he looked at a white and thin cook. His name was Anna Hari Salunke. Anna used to get five rupees a month. Dadasaheb Phalke promised him to give five rupees a day. Dadasaheb Phalke talked to him and convinced him to work in the film. Salunke’s beard-mustache was cut and thus Indian cinema got her first actress.

In the film, Raja Harishchandra’s character Dattatreya Damodar Dabke, son Rohitshva’s son Dada Phalke’s son Bhalchandra Phalke and Rani Taramati’s character played Anna Salunke, who worked as a manner in the restaurant. During the production of the film, Dada Phalke’s wife assisted him a lot. During this time she used to cook and wash her clothes for about 500 people working in the film. The film was screened on 3 May 1913 at Kornetan Cinema, Mumbai.

An advertisement of ‘Raja Harishchandra’ was published on May 3, 1913 in the then ‘Bombay Kranical’ for the promotion of the film. In which the show was given time and at the end of the advertisement there was a note that the rates would double from normal rates. Nevertheless, the theater complex was filled with audience. Most of them were Parsis and non -Hindus like Bohra. The lack of Marathi audience was clearly visible. The Phalke couple was very happy to see the crowd.

The film remained houseful for a week. Because of this, the period of depicting it was extended for one week. Another advertisement was published on the 12th day i.e. 15 May. The editor of the English newspaper was European, but he praised this first Indian film openly. Because of this, ‘Raja Harishchandra’ was well propagated and then the Marathi audience felt that it would be a good film.

The advertisement published on 17 May said that there will be a special show at half rates only for women and children and it was also said that Sunday will be the last show. However, the crowd of spectators continued to throng the theater and hence ‘Raja Harishchandra’ lasted another week. It set records due to running for 23 consecutive days. Earlier, no film had run for more than four days. Thus the success of the first Indian film ‘Raja Harishchandra’ was unprecedented. With this, the date of May 3 and Dadasaheb Phalke’s name was recorded in the pages of history.