How did dadasaheb phalke make his first film?
When dadasaheb phalke used to watch English films, he thought that films should be made on indian culture also. But he had no idea how films were made. In those days, Phalke met a German magician who taught him more photography tricks with which he could make films. Still this was not enough to make a film. In the year 1912, Phalke somehow managed to go to London. Here he first met the editor of a weekly magazine, and that editor introduced Phalke to a director-producer who was famous at that time.
After staying there for about 3 months, Phalke returned to india after learning how films are shot, written, and everything else that happens. Phalke's struggle was not over yet as all the money was gone so how to make the film. Therefore, his second wife Saraswati Phalke gave him her jewelery by selling which Phalke made his first film raja Harishchandra (1913).
Making this film was not easy because an actor was found for Harishchandra but no one was found to play the role of queen Taramati. In fact, in that period, women did not even like to watch films leave alone doing them. After much thought, Phalke called a person whom he knew and gave him the role of Rani. This man was a cook in the hotel where Phalke often used to go to eat.
The first film of indian cinema was raja Harishchandra on 21 april 1913. The direction, production, story, cameraman and all the other work of this film was done by dadasaheb phalke alone. This is because no one knew how films were made. It is said that indians were very happy and the film ran in some theaters for about 23 days.
