Dhundiraj Govind Phalke

Revolves around the noble and righteous king, Harishchandra, who first sacrifices his kingdom, followed by his wife and eventually his children to honor his promise to the sage Vishwamitra.

'How Films Are Made' (1917), a Satish Bahadur's documentary. All of these shots appear to have been taken during the shooting of the 1917 remake.

Lanka Dahan (Lanka Aflame) is a 1917 Indian silent film directed by Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Dadasaheb Phalke). Phalke also wrote the film based on an episode of the Hindu epic Ramayana, credited to Valmiki. A retelling of the familiar 'Ramayana' story of Rama's wife Sita being abducted by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, and Rama's triumph with the aid of men, monkeys and bears. From the trees Hanuman the brave monkey observes Sita held captive in the tulasi garden where Ravana comes to intimidate her. The main part of the film covers Hanuman's rage while in Lanka when he set the whole island afire with his burning tail.

This is a Puranic tale, which, by all accounts, was a grand mythological spectacle full of miracles and fantasy scenes with special effects. Chitnis played the god Shanker, and Suresh played the sage Narada.

The playmates of Krishna are insulted by a female villager who splashes water on them. They take revenge by stealing butter from her house. When they are beaten up by the woman, they again take revenge with the aid of Krishna. He receives a gift of fruit for his help but gives it away. Krishna then enters the room of a wealthy merchant and his wife at night and ties the man's beard to his wife's hair. These exploits lead to a large crowd complaining of Krishna's antics to his foster parents.

The plot of the film revolves around the Hindu mythological story of Mohini and Bhasmasur. At over five hours, it inaugurated the tradition of Indian cinematic epics and was the first Indian film to feature actresses.

This film begins with the invocation of 'almighty god' at a river where several people are gathered. The child god Krishna rises out of the water astride the demon snake Kaliya. Then we see Yashoda as she rocks the sleeping Krishna's crib and imagines the god as Gopala. The next scene shows Kamsa fantasizing about Krishna threateningly duplicated many times around him. Kamsa then imagines himself dead as his severed head rises up and descends again. People of all castes pay obeisance to the deity with the title-card: 'may this humble offering be accepted by the Lord'.

Drawn from the Vishnu Purana, this legend tells of Prahlad, the son of the demon tyrant Hiranyakshapu. Prahlad disobeys his father by worshipping the latter's hated enemy, Vishnu. He undergoes tortures, including being burnt in oil, trampled beneath an elephant and poisoning, until, finally, Vishnu appears from a pillar in his Narasimha guise to overwhelm the demon.

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First Motion short film in india created by Dadasaheb Phalke

The first cinematic portrayal of the Hindu epic Ramayana tale featuring villagers constructing a giant bridge.

Footage of bricklayers shot by film pioneer DB Phalke

Short silent film produced and directed by Dhundiraj Govind Phalke

Princess Savitri marries Satyavan, an exiled prince. However, their blissful married life is threatened when she learns of his prophesied death.

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Fragments of actuality coverage of the great Hindu festival of the Kumbh Mela held in Nasik.

By Dadasaheb Phalke

Two ladies dress to go out and then check over a crop of rice.