Raja Harishchandra

Raja Harishchandra ( King Harishchandra) is a 1913 Indian silent film directed and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke. It is often considered the first full-length Indian feature film. Raja Harishchandra features Dattatraya Damodar Dabke, Anna Salunke, Bhalchandra Phalke, and Gajanan Vasudev Sane and is based on the legend of Harishchandra, with Dabke portraying the title character. The film, being silent, had English, Marathi, and Hindi-language intertitles.

Story

                                                        

In his Marathi language magazine Suvarnamala, Phalke had published a story Surabaichi Kahani (A Tale of Sura  ). The story, which depicted the ill effects of alcoholism, was the first he considered for filming. After watching several American films screened in Bombay, he observed that they included mystery and romance, which the audiences liked. His family members suggested that the storyline should appeal to middle-class people and women and it should also highlight Indian              culture.

After considering various stories depicted in Hindu      mythology, Phalke's family shortlisted the legends of Krishna, Savitri and Satyavan, and Harishchandra. At the time, a play based on the legends of Harishchandra was popular on Marathi    and Urdu      stages. Friends and neighbours had often called Phalke "Harishchandra" for having sold all his belongings, except his wife's mangala       sutra, to fulfil his filmmaking dream. Thus, Phalke decided on the legends of Harishchandra and wrote the script for his feature film.

Publicity poster for film show at the Coronation Cinematograph and Variety  Hall, Girgaon.