Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke
(pronunciation (help·info)) (30 April 1870 â€" 16 February 1944), was
an Indian producer-director-screenwriter, known as the Father of
Indian cinema. His debut film, Raja Harishchandra, was the first
Indian movie in 1913, and is now known as India's first full-length
feature film. He made 95 feature-length films and 27 short films in
his career, spanning 19 years, until 1937, including his most noted
works: Mohini Bhasmasur (1913), Satyavan Savitri (1914), Lanka Dahan
(1917), Shri Krishna Janma (1918) and Kaliya Mardan (1919).The
Dadasaheb Phalke Award, for lifetime contribution to cinema, was
instituted in his honour by the Government of India in 1969. The award
is one of the most prestigious awards in Indian cinema and is the
highest official recognition for film personalities in the country. A
postage stamp bearing his likeness was released by India Post to
honour him in 1971. An honorary award from the Dadasaheb Phalke
Academy Mumbai was introduced in the year 2001, for lifetime
achievement in Indian cinema.Dhundiraj Phalke was born on 30 April
1870 at Trimbak, Bombay Presidency into a Marathi-speaking Chitpavan
Brahmin family. His father, Govind Sadashiv Phalke alias Dajishastri,
was a Sanskrit scholar and worked as a Hindu priest conducting
religious ceremonies and his mother, Dwarkabai, was a housewife. The
couple had seven children, three sons and four daughters. Shivrampant,
the eldest, was twelve years elder than Phalke and worked in Baroda.
He briefly worked as the Dewan (Chief Administrator) of the princely
state of Jawhar and died in 1921, at the age of 63. Phalke's second
brother, Raghunathrao, also worked as a priest and died at a young age
of 21. Dajishastri taught Phalke to conduct religious rituals like
yajna and dispensing of medicines. When he was appointed as a
professor of Sanskrit in the Wilson College, Bombay, the family
shifted its base to Bombay. Phalke completed his primary education in
Trimbakeshwar and matriculation was done in Bombay.
(pronunciation (help·info)) (30 April 1870 â€" 16 February 1944), was
an Indian producer-director-screenwriter, known as the Father of
Indian cinema. His debut film, Raja Harishchandra, was the first
Indian movie in 1913, and is now known as India's first full-length
feature film. He made 95 feature-length films and 27 short films in
his career, spanning 19 years, until 1937, including his most noted
works: Mohini Bhasmasur (1913), Satyavan Savitri (1914), Lanka Dahan
(1917), Shri Krishna Janma (1918) and Kaliya Mardan (1919).The
Dadasaheb Phalke Award, for lifetime contribution to cinema, was
instituted in his honour by the Government of India in 1969. The award
is one of the most prestigious awards in Indian cinema and is the
highest official recognition for film personalities in the country. A
postage stamp bearing his likeness was released by India Post to
honour him in 1971. An honorary award from the Dadasaheb Phalke
Academy Mumbai was introduced in the year 2001, for lifetime
achievement in Indian cinema.Dhundiraj Phalke was born on 30 April
1870 at Trimbak, Bombay Presidency into a Marathi-speaking Chitpavan
Brahmin family. His father, Govind Sadashiv Phalke alias Dajishastri,
was a Sanskrit scholar and worked as a Hindu priest conducting
religious ceremonies and his mother, Dwarkabai, was a housewife. The
couple had seven children, three sons and four daughters. Shivrampant,
the eldest, was twelve years elder than Phalke and worked in Baroda.
He briefly worked as the Dewan (Chief Administrator) of the princely
state of Jawhar and died in 1921, at the age of 63. Phalke's second
brother, Raghunathrao, also worked as a priest and died at a young age
of 21. Dajishastri taught Phalke to conduct religious rituals like
yajna and dispensing of medicines. When he was appointed as a
professor of Sanskrit in the Wilson College, Bombay, the family
shifted its base to Bombay. Phalke completed his primary education in
Trimbakeshwar and matriculation was done in Bombay.
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