Archive for the ‘Bollywood’ Category
Hiralal Sen (1866 – 1917)
Bengali film pioneer born in Bakjuri village, Manikganj (now Bangladesh). India’s first film-maker with Bhatavdekar. The son of a lawyer, he started as photographer and achieved considerable renown. Almost definitely saw first-ever film show, at Star Theatres, featuring Prof. Stevenson’s shorts on double-bill with Star’s stage hit, The Flower of Persia (1898). His first film, ...
H.S. Bhatavdekar
Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatavdekar Aka Save Dada. Almost certainly the first Indian film-maker. Professional still photographer often portrayed as an amateur, but, in fact, a businessman trading in cameras and film equipment on a nationwide basis. Made several shorts, including one on a wrestling match and one on the antics of monkeys. Best-known footage shows the ...
Dada Saheb Phalke (1870 – 1944)
May 13th, 1913. The first Indian made silent film,`Raja Harishchandra’ is about to be released at the Coronation Theatre in Girgaum,Bombay. The stage show has finished its act. The live band has struck up a tune and now the screen flickers alive. For the next half hour; cinemagic envelops the audience. The tale of the ...
Kishore Sahu (1915 – 1980)
Hindi actor, writer, director and producer born in Durg, MP. Son of the Raja of Raigarh’s chief minister. Degree in literature from the University of Nagpur (1937). Wrote many short stories. Started as actor in Bombay Talkies playing ineffectual lover opposite Devika Rani in Jeevan Prabhat (1937) . Prominent early instance of a total author: ...
Sitara Devi (B. 1919)
Actress born in Calcutta. One of the foremost exponents of classical Kathak dance, with notable appearances as a dancer in early Mehboob films. Daughter of Sukhdev Maharaj of Benares, former court musician at Nepal, she was trained by her father and by Achan Maharaj at the palace of the Rajah of Mymensingh and later by ...
Master Vithal (d. 1969)
Master Vithal was an actor who happened to be on the path of the juggernaut of Hindi cinema history. As the hero of the first Indian talkie, Alam Ara, Vithal witnessed the same force that elevated him to a permanent place in film annals, also becoming the cause for the annihilation of his career. Before ...
Ardeshir Irani (1886 – 1969)
At the height of the silent era, one man dared to think of bringing sound into Hindi films. Talkies had already been introduced in Hollywood and Ardeshir Irani realized that films were perched on the lip of change. It was not an easy task to incorporate sound equipment into cinema halls. But Irani, the kingpin ...
Chandulal Shah (1898 – 1975)
Along with New Theatres, Prabhat and Bombay Talkies, Chandulal Shah’s Ranjit Studios was one of the four great institutions of the studio era. With stars like Gohar, E Billimoria, Madhuri, Motilal, Khurshid and Saigal on its payroll, the studio’s boast was: ‘There are more stars in Ranjit than in the heavens’. Shah first won attention ...
Himanshu Rai (1896 – 1940)
If Phalke is credited with pioneering the production of films in India, Himanshu Rai is generally lauded for lending sophistication to the nascent craft. The founder of Bombay Talkies was indeed a true visionary with ideas forever fermenting in his head. The westward-leaning Rai became one of the first Indians to collaborate with European filmmakers. ...
Gope (1914 – 1957)
Beginning his career in the early 1930s, Gope Kamlani went on to become one of Hindi cinemas most popular comedians. Such was his appeal that at the height of his career, he shared credits with the films lead actors. One of nine children, Gope completed his education in Karachi (now in Pakistan). His interest in ...
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Bollywood - Year by Year - 1943: Important Events
Government imposes control on the supply of raw film.
India's first certified b...
Bollywood - Year by Year - 1912: Important Events
Feature film production in India begins with Dada Saheb R.G. Torney's - Punda...
John Garfield (1913 - 1952):
John Garfield was a fighter all his life, taking on the Hollywood establish- ment, the House Un-...- Bollywood - Year by Year - 1970: Important Events
Devika Rani, the 'first lady' of the Indian Screen and co-owner of Bombay Talkies,...
Marlon Brando (1924 - 2004):
Brando was one of the key figures to introduce a new, more personal approach to acting in the fi...
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