Indian Film Industry
Late Shri Dadasaheb Phalke - the pioneer of the Indian Film industry hailed from Nashik District. Born in Trimbakeshwar - about 30 kms away from Nashik, he worked and spent his life in Nashik. Dadasaheb’s name is Dhundiraj Govind Phalke. Born on 30th April 1870 in Trimbakeshwar he devoted his life for making silent movies. He had a multifaceted personality. He was the student of Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay and Kalabhavan of Baroda. After passing out from the art school, while in Bombay, he happened to see a movie on the life of Jesus Christ made by a foreigner. It was projected on 7th July 1896 in Watson Hotel by Mr Meris Sestiye - the representative of the pioneer of Cinema Industry - Lumie Brothers. That inspired him to make an experiment of a movie in India. The film making techniques were alien to Indians then. Starting with the famous movie on mythological character “Raja Harishchandra” in 1913, he made 95 movies and 26 short films in the span of 19 years, till 1932. He earned a lot of money, but ploughed it back in the industry. When he stepped in to this venture, no one had anticipated this industry to flourish so much that thousands of people would be able to earn their livelihood from it, nor did anyone foresee the amount of huge money transactions in it.
On the contrary, people were skeptical about the general appreciation of movements of artificial pictures on screen, by the society, in place of live dramas. Because of this moneyed people were hesitant to come forward for