FIRST IN INDIAN MOVIE CINEMA

First flashback was in a movie 'Rooplekha'

First dream sequence song was in a movie 'Aawara'

First Color movie - Kisan Kanya 1937 speciality made in India by using
color technics developed in India only

First 3D movie - Malayalam Film My dear kuttichthan in 1984 and first hindi
3D movie Shiva ka Insaaf

'Sivaji: The Boss', is the first Indian film to incorporate the latest 4K
resolution technology that is used only on big-budget Hollywood films

first time an actor/actress is working in a film after a gap of 50 years

begum para (dilip kumar's brother nasir khan's wife) in saawariya she had
quit films after getting married in the 50s.

Anupam Chitra produces pyar ki pyass, the first cinemascope in color.

First Indian cinemascope film - " Kagaz ke Phool " in 1959 by Gurudutt
Cameraman C.V.K. Murti, it was in black and white

First Film Certified

Orphans Of The Storm (1920), starring the Gish sisters, underwent censor
cuts due to Indian Censorship Act 1918.

First Talkie Film

Ardeshir Irani's Alam Aara was released on 4th February 1931. It has
seven songs.

First Film Banned

Kohinoor's Bhakta Vidur was banned in Sind & Chennai in 1921 due to
censorship controversy.

First Women On Screen

Durgabai and her daughter Kamlabai Ghokhle acted in Phalke's second
film Mohini Bhasmasur (1913).

First Talkie Actress

Rani Zubeida, who acted in 36 silent films, acted in first talkie Alam Aara,
released in 1931.

First Cinemascope Films

Guru Dutt made Kagaz Ke Phool in 1959 in Black and White cinemascope.
Mahesh Kaul made Pyar Ki Pyaas in cinemascope color in 1961.

First 70-mm Films

Pachhi's Around The World (1967) was the first 70-mm film using the blow-
up method with stereophonic sounds. G P Sippy's Sholay (1975) was shot
in 70-mm format along with four-track stereophone.

First Color Film

Ardeshir Irani's Kisan Kanya (1937) was the first color film followed by
Mother India (1938). Sohrab Modi's Jhansi Ki Rani (1953) was the first
Technicolor film shot.

Debut Jubilee Hat Tricks

Amol Palekar's first three film releases - Rajnigandha (1974), Chhoti Si
Baat (1975), Chitchor (1976) - directed by Basu Chatterji, became silver
jubilee hits at Mumbai.

First Golden Jubilee Film

Prabhat's Sant Tukaram (Marathi-1936), directed by Damle and Fatehlal,
ran for over a year.

First Box Office Hit

Phalke's Lanka Dehan (1917) ran for 23 weeks in Bombay. It is on record
that the money collected at the counters had to be transported in bullock
carts with armed guards!

First 'A' Film

Social Evil, a docu drama, was made in 1929 to give guidance to ignorant
youth about sexual problems. It was the first film given the "For Adults
Only" A certificate.

First English Song

"Now The Moon Her Light Has Shed" sung by Devika Rani for the film
Karma (1933) under the baton of music director Earnest Broadhurst.

First Music Directors

Pirojshah Mistry and B Irani composed music for seven songs of first talkie
film Alam Aara (1931).

First Film Song

"De De Khuda Ke Naam Par Pyare" was sung by W M Khan for Alam Ara
(1931).

First Double Roles

A. Salunke played both Rama & Sita in Phalke's Lanka Dahan ('17). Sahu
Modak played both prince & pauper in Vitthal's Awara Shehzada ('33)
First One-Actor One-Set Film
Sunil Dutt made Yaadein (1964) with just himself emoting only on one set.

First Playback
Maestro R C Boral introduced playback singing for the first time in the film
Dhoop Chhaaon (1935). The song 'Main Khush Hona Chahun..' had an all
women chorus led by Parul Ghosh with Suprova Sarkar and Harimati.

First Women Composer

Jaddan Bai, mother of Nargis, produced, directed and composed the music
for Talash-e-Haq (1935). In the same year, Saraswati Devi scored the
music for Bombay Talkies' film Jawani Ki Hawa.

First Film Insured

Producer director Subhash Ghai's banner Mukta Arts took a Rs.11 crore
policy for Taal ('99) with United India Insurance against possible shooting
schedule disturbances or accidents on sets during shooting.

First Songless Film

J B H Wadia's Naujawan (1937) did not have any songs as it was a fast
paced thriller.

First Film Poster

Baburao Painter made a publicity poster for his film Maya Baazar, also
known as Vatsala Haran, in 1923.

First Horror Film

Ramsay Brothers' Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neechey established the horror
genre in Hindi films in 1972.

First Documentary
In 1901, H S Bhatwadekar filmed a reception given in honour of Dr. R P
Paranjape in Mumbai when he returned as the first Indian Wrangler of
Cambridge University.

First Digital Film

Maya - The Reality (2001), directed by Vishal Bhandari is the first digitally
made film.

Most Roles As Police Inspector

Actor Jagdish Raj holds the world record of wearing the Police uniform in
144 films. He donned the inspecter's uniform for the first time in CID
(1952).

Most Music Directors in a Film

Film Pathaan (1962) had nine music directors: Fakir Ahmad, Jimmy, Asar,
Shambhu, Satta Raj, Raj Bhushan, David, BrijBhushan and Shyam Babu -
to complie just seven songs!!

Most Extras in a Film

Attenborough's Gandhi (1982) used 3,00,000 extras for the funeral scenes.
The sequence shot in a single morning, had 11 camera crew shooting
20,000 ft. of film - more than the total fottage of the 188 min release print of
the movie! The edited version of the funeral scene ran only for 125
seconds!

First Advertisement
The first advertisement appeared in The Times of India, on July 1, 1896 for
the Lumiere brothers' films screened the same day.

First & Only Actor To Win Best Actress Award

Nirmal Pandey won the best actress award at the Valenciennes Film
Festival, France 1997 for his protrayal of a transvestite in Amol Palekar's
Daayra. Nirmal shared the award with the female lead of the film Sonali
Kulkarni.

first DBS sound film is judwaa

*which is India's first 70 mm film ?

Ans : Around the world ( 1967 ) with Raj Kapoor and Rajashree in the lead.

*which was the first Indian film to be shot with artificial lights
Ans : Apradhi ( 1931 ), directed by Debaki Bose starring P C Barua is the
first film made which was totally shot with artificial lights. Baburao Painters
film 'Sinhagad' shot in early twenties was however the first to use artificial
lights for a few shots to capture the moods of fog and moonlight.

*The Firsts of Indian Cinema

Milestones from 1896-2000
*Though film production commenced in India in 1913, it is necessary to
record the progress of the film business from 1896, the historical year
when Lumiere Bros' films were exhibited at Watson Hotel in Mumbai. This
was the forerunner of the film industry in India; as it held many future
technicians spellbound, and went on to encourage the making of the
motion picture in India.

*1896
First Cinema Show
The first Cinema show in India was arranged by the agents of two French
brothers, Louis and August Lumiere, pioneers of the Cinematography in
France, at the Watson Hotel in Bombay on July 7, 1896 and the show was
Marvel of the Century.

*First Cinema Advertisement

The first cinema advertisement in India appeared in the Times of India,
Bombay on July 7, 1896, which carried details of the “Living Photographic
pictures in life-size reproductions by Messrs Lumiere Brotheres.

*1897
First Indian to handle a cine camera
Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatvadekar alias Save Dada was the first
Indian to import a Cine-camera from London at a price of 21 guineas and
made a topical in 1897. He filmed a wrestling bout between Pundalik and
Krishna Nhavi, which was specially arranged at the Hanging Gardens in
Bombay.

*1898
First Bioscope
Prof. Stevenson brings “first Bioscope” to Calcutta at the Star Theatre.
“Panorama of Calcutta”- an early Indian coverage by foreign cameramen.

*1899
Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatvadekar ( Save Dada), a photo goods
dealer, turns exhibitor and film maker.

*1901
First Indian Film
“Return of Wrangler Paranjapee”- first Indian Actually Film shot by
Bhatvadekar. Haralal Sen stars working in Bengal by filming extracts from
stage-plays.

*1902
J.F. Madan (1856-1926) launches his bioscope show in a tent at Calcutta
Maidan.

*1904
First Cinema show on regular basis
Manek D Sethna, who owned a cinema project, started a touring cinema
with the screening of the first film “ Life of Christ” on a regular basis in
Bombay in 1904. Abdulally Essofally, enterprising showman, makes the
masses movie-conscious, takes up exhibition as a regular business
proposition.
________________________________________

*1907
First Cinema
The First Cinema hall in India as built by J.F. Madan in Calcutta in 1907
and it was named Elphinstone Picture Palace.

*1911
First Mini Feature Film
After filming the Imperial Darbar of 1911, three business partners S.N.
Patankar Anantram Parshuram Karandikar and V.P. Divekar who had
earlier purchased the cine camera from Save Dada, produced the first
mini-feature film (about 1,000 feet) “Savitri” in 1912. Narmada Mande, a
young lady from Ahmedabad, K G Gokhale and divekar himself featured in
the leading roles of the film, which could not see the screen due to several
technical reasons and flaws.

*First Theatrical film

Shreepad Sangit Mandali, a professional theatre group of Bombay, was
performing a theatre play “pundalik” during 1911 in Bombay. Narayan
Govind Chitre alias Nana Bhai Chita of India Press, Bombay sought help
from R.P. Tipnis, Manager of Corontion Cinematograph, and decided to
picturise the stageplay Pundalik. They took R.G. Torney alias Dada Saheb
Torney, along with them to direct the proposed film. M/s Bourne and
Shepherd, a British concern, took keen interest in the venture and joined
hands with the promoters by providing them a cameraman, Johnson to
shoot the film at Mangaldas Wadi in Bombay. The film also named
“PUNDALIK” was exhibited on May 18, 1912 at Coronation
Cinematography, Bombay.

*1912
First Foreign-Returned Indian Cine-Technician
Dadasaheb Phalke was the first foreign returned Indian cine- technician
who learned filmcraft from Cecil Hepworth, a prominent producer at Walton
in England, for about a week in February 1912, March 1912.

*First City of Film Production

Bombay was the first city in India where film production started in 1912

*1913
First Indian feature film
RAJA HARISHCHANDRA was the first Indian feature film produced by an
Indian, with out any foreign collaboration, Dadasaheb Phalke in 1912. The
film was however released on May 3, 1913 at Coronation Cinematograph,
Bombay.

First Producer
Dadasaheb Phalke, who released his first film RAJA HARISHCHANDRA
ON May 3, 1913, was the first film producer of India.

First “Heroine” of Indian Film

The first heroine for Indian film was not a female but a young boy. Salunke,
who acted as Taramati in India's first feature film “Raja Harishchandra”.

First Female Heroine

Kamala, a Maharashtrian lady, was the first female heroine in an Indian
film with her lead role in Dadasaheb Phalke's second film “Bhasmasur
Mohini” produced in 1913. Kamala's mother Durgabai also featured in the
film.

First Hero
Dattatraya Damodar Dabke was the first hero of an Indian film. He acted
as Harishchandra in “Raja Harishchandra” in 1913.

First Artiste playing as both hero & heroine

Salunke, acted as both Ram and Seeta, In Phalke's fifth film” Lanka
Dahan” produced in 1917.

First Technician
Dadasaheb Phalke was not only the film producer but also the first
director, writer, cameraman, make-up man, editor, art director and cine-
laboratorian, with his first film “Raja Harishchandra”.

*1914
First Indian feature film shown Abroad
“Raja Harishcnadra” was the first Indian Film which was shown on
percentage basis in London in 1914.

*1917
First feature film from Bengal
J.F. Madan produced Bengal first, feature film “Nal Damyanti” in 1917. This
film had two Italians, namely, Signor and Signora Manelli in the leading
roles. A new actress Patience Cooper was also introduced in the film. The
film was photographed by cameraman Jyotish Sarkar.

*1918
First Act to regulate cinema
The first Act which regulated and controlled the Indian film industry was
enacted in 1918 and it was known as Indian Cinematograph Act 1918.

First Indian Serial

S. N. Patankar's “Exile of Shri Rama” was the first Indian Serial.

First Hollywood-trained Indian

Suchet Singh was the first Hollywood-trained Indian who had taken training
in cinema technique in America and had worked as an associated under
Charlie Chaplin in 1918. He returned by the end of 1918 and formed the
Oriental Film Manufacturing Company Ltd. which produced its maiden film
“shakuntala” in 1920.

*1919
First silent feature film from South India
R. Nataraja Mudaliar of Madras made “ Keechaka Vadham” the first silent
feature film from South India.
First Female Child Star
Manadakini, daughter of Dadasaheb Phalke, was the first female child star,
who featured as the child Krishna in Phalke's “Kaliya Mardan” produced by
Hindustan cinema Film Company in 1919.

First Indian Made Cine-Camera

Anandrao Painter of Kolhapur was the first Indian to make a cine-camera
with the help of an old cine-projector and he shot a comic film around
1918. After his death, his brother Baburao Painter produced his first film
“Sairandhiri” under the banner of Maharashtra Film Company in 1919 with
the help of this Indian camera.

First Film Distributor

Dadasaheb Phalke was distributing his films himself. But this business was
first handled in a proper manner by R. G. Torney in 1919 under the name
and style of M/s Western Movies.

First title bestowed upon any film personality

Baburao Painter was the first film personality who was bestowed with the
title of Cinema Kesari by Lokmanya Tilak in 1919 after seeing his silent film
“Sairandhri” produced by Maharashtra Film Company.

*1920
First Cinema Poster
Baburao Painter was the first man to advertise his film “Vatsala Haran”
through cinema posters as a publicity campaign in 1920.

First Film Censor Board

For the first time Boards of Film Censors were set up in Bombay, Calcutta,
Madras and Rangoon in 1920 and later on at Lahore in 1927.

1921
First feature film from South
The first feature film produced in South India was “Bhishma Pratigna”
produced by R. Venkiah and R. Prakash of Stars of the East Film
Company, Madras in 1921.

First Social Satire

Dhiren Ganguly made “ England Returned”, the first social satire on an
Indian obsessed with Western ideas, “Vali Thirumanam” made in Madras
by Whittakar, is critically ac claimed and is also a box-office success.

First Artificial Lights

Baburao Painter was the first man in India to use artifical lights while
making his film “Sinhagad” in 1921.
*1922
First Levy of Entertainment Tax
The first levy of Entertainment Tax was o,[psed om Nemga; om 1922 and
later on in Bombay in 1923 at 12 -1/2 percent.

*1926
First Lady Director
The first lady director in India was Begum Fatima Sultana (wife of the
Nawab of Sachien State), mother of Princess, Zubeida, star of “Alam Ara”.
Begum Fatima not only acted but produced and directed several silent
films including “Bulbule Paristan” “Goddess of Luck”, “Chandravati” and
Milan Dinar”

First Cinema Trade Organisation

The Bombay Cinema and Theatres Trade Association, formed around
1926, was the first cinema trade organization in India. After sometime the
Indian Motion Picture Association was also formed in Bombay. The
Madras Cinema and Theatre League was formed in Madras in 1929.
However, actual trade activities started only after the formation of the
Motion Picture Society of India in Bombay in June 1932

*1927
First Independent Film Processing Laboratory
The first Independent Film Processing laboratory was setup by Narayanrao
Alias Dhanjibhai K. Desai in Bombay in October 1927. It was known as
Atmanand Labortory.

First Indian Cinematograph Enquiry Committee

The Govt. of India appointed the first Indian Cinematograph Enquiry
Committee on 6 th October 1927. The Indian Cinematograph Committee,
set up under the Chairmanship of Dewan Bahudar T. Rangachariar; J.C.
Daniel makes first Malayalam film “Vigada Kumaran” “Exceptional Young
Man”.

First Double Role

Master Vithal was the first actor who portrayed a double role in a feature
film “Prisoner of Love” produced by Sharda Film Company in 1927. The
company owned by Nanubhai Desai and Bhogilal K.M. Dave, was founded
in 1925.

*1929
First Talkies Short Production in India
J.F. Madan and J.J. Madan of Madan Theates Ltd., Calcutta had received
their sound equipment from America and they started producing as well as
exhibiting sound films in India. They released a two reeler sound film in
their talkies cinema, Elphinstone Picture Palace, Calcutta, in 1929.

First Talkie Feature Film Shown in India

The first Talkie Feature film shown in India was Universal's “Melody of
Love” in English, which celebrated its premiere at Elphinstone Picture
Palace in Calcutta in 1929.

*1931
First Talkie Shorts released in Bombay
Some talkie shorts produced by Madan Theatres Ltd. , Calcutta and
Krishan Film Company, Bombay; were released for the first time in the
Lamingrone and Empress Cinemas in Bombay on February 4, 1931.

First Indian Talkie feature film

The first full length talkie feature film produced in India was “ ALAMARA ”
Light of the World in Hindustani, produced by Ardeshir M. Irani of Imperial
Film Company, Bombay. It was released at the Majestic Cinema, Bombay,
on March 14, 1931.

First Talkie from Bengal

The first talkie film from Bengal was “ JAMAI SASTHI ” in Bengali
produced by Madan Theatres Ltd. in 1931.

First Tamil Talkie

Sagar Movietone's “ KALIDASS ” was the first Tamil feature film starring
T.P. Rajalakshmi and directed by H.M. Reddi. The film with Tamil dialogue
and Telugu songs was released in Madras on October 31, 1931.

First Talkie Film Distributor

Talkie film distribution came into existence with the advent of talkie film in
1931. Sagar Movietone, founded by Chimanlal Desai, stated the business
of distribution by taking the distribution of India's first Talkies “ALAM ARA ”
in 1931.

First Song
“De de khuda ke naam par” was the first song recorded for “Alam Ara” in
1931. it was sung by W.M. Khan under the music direction of Phiroz Shah.

First Music Director

Phiroz Shah Mistry was the first music director of the talkie film “Alam Ara”.

First Advertising Film Company

Niranjan Pal of Publicity/Drammatic Film Co. (1931) was the first Indian to
introduce the advertising film production and business in India in 1931.

*1932
First Talkie film from Punjab
“ HEER RANJAH ” in Hindi was the first talkie feature film from Punjab. It
was produced by Hakim Ram Prasad on Play Art Photophone Company in
1932. This talkie film was censored by the Punjab Board.
First Marathi Film
Prabhat Film Company's “AYODHECHA RAJA” Directed by V.Shantaram
in 1932 was the first Marathi film which starred Durga Khote.

First Double Version talkie

“AYODHYECHA RAJA” in Marathi and “Ayodhya Ka Raja” in Hindi were
the first double version talkie films produced by Prabhat Film Company in
1932.

First Talkie which celebrated Silver Jubliee

“SHYAMSUNDER” in Marathi, produced by Dadasaheb Torne of
Saraswati Cinetone and directed by Bhal G. Pendarkar was the first Indian
talkie which celebrated silver jubilee by running for 27 weeks at the West
End Cinema in Bombay in 1932.

First Talkie Film on Fidelytone Sound System

Eastern Film's “Shikari” in Hindi was the first talkie film with sound
recorded on the Fidelytone Sound System brought into India by a foreign
film unit in1932.

First Film With Maximum Songs

Madan Theatres “Indra Sabha” in 1932 is the only film produced so far with
a record number of 71 songs. Madan's other three films “
CHATRABAKAVALI ”, “Guru Zarina” and “Bilwamangal” Produced in 1932
had 41, 37 songs respectively, Meenakshi Cinetone's “Pavalakkodi”,
produced in 1934, had 50 songs while Angle Film's Tamil hit “Sri Hrishna
Leela” in 1934 had 62 songs.

First Film With Background Music

New Theatre's “Chandidas” in Bengali was the first talkie film in which
“Background” music was scored by music director R.C. Boral in 1932.
Prabhat Film Company's “Amrit Manthan” released at almost the same
time also had imaginative background music scored by music director
Keshavrao Bhole.

*1933
First Air-Conditioned Cinema
First air-conditioned cinema Regal started in Bombay.

First Colour Film

Prabhat Film Company's “Sairandhri” was the first talkie film produced in
Multicolour in 1933. However, as the colour quality was not satisfactory
Imperial Film Company's “KISAN KANYA ” produced in 1937 is considered
as the first colour film. Minerva Movietone's “Jhansi Ki Rani” was the first
technically perfect Technicolour film directly shot on 35mm in 1953.
First Film shot in Ellora Caves
Gandharva Cinetone was, the first film company to utilize the famous
Ellora Caves in their talkie film “Sati Mahananda” in 1933, written and
directed by Baburao Patel.

First Talkie released in England

“Karma” (Fate) in which Devika Rani co-starred with Himansu Rai was an
Anglo-Indian co-production and had a premiere of its English version in
London in May 1933. The Hindi version of the film was premiered at
Bombay on January 27, 1934.

*1934
First Talkie shown at Venice Film Festival
The Bengali talkie film “Seeta”, directed by Debaki Bose, was the first
Indian talkie film shown at the Venice Film Festival in 1934

First Talkie Produced in South

“Srinivas Kalyanam” in Tamil was the first talkie produced in the South by
Srinivas Cinetone and directed by A.Narayanan in Madras in 1934. It
featured R.B. Lakshmi Devi in the main role.

First Telugu Film from South

The first Telugu talkie produced by South Indian Technicians entirely in the
South, in Madras, was “Seetha Kalyanam” produced by P.V. Das at the
Vel Pictures Studio. Starring Rama Tilakam in the main role in 1934.

First Cartoon Film

For the first time a cartoon short was made by Messrs. Ketkar and
Raosaheb Oak in 1933. Prabhat Film Company also announced a cartoon
film “Jambu Kaka” but on hearing this news R.C. Boral of New Theatres
started his own Cartoon film “ON A MOONLIGHT NIGHT” and completed it
within one month and released it even before the completion of “Jambu
Kaka”. However, “Jambu Kaka” was released at the Majestic Cinema,
Bombay, on November 15, 1934 along with “Amrit Manthan”.

First Hindi Talkie to celebrate Silver Jubilee

Prabhat Film company's “Amirt Manthan” was the first talkie in Hindi which
celebrated Silver Jubilee at Krishna Talkies, Bombay, by running for 29
weeks at a stretch in 1934.

*1935
First Playback
Playback's was introduced in the talkie “ Bhagya Chakra” (Dhoop Chaon)
produced by New Theatres in 1935 and Bombay talkie ‘Milan' B/W. Music
Director R.C. Boralhad composed the music for the film.

First All India Motion Picture Convention

The first All India Motion Picture convention was held in Bombay on
February 20, 1935 under the auspices of the Motion Picture Society of
India headed by Mr. B.V. Jadhav.
The Parsi Panchayat took strong objection to Parsi Music Director
Saraswati Devi and Chandraprabha (known as Homi Sisters) who acted in
JAWANI KI HAWA . Morchas were taken out to prevent the release of the
film which finally opened at Imperial Cinema under Police Protection. Parsi
members of Bombay Talkies, Board of Directors including Sir Phirozshah
Mehta, Sir Cavasji Jehangir & F.E. Dinshaw refused to resign. Thereafter
the agitation died down. Bombay Talkies arranged a special show for Pt.
Jawaharlal Nehru to see their film ACHHUT KANYA .

*1937
First Kannada-Tamil Double Version Film
The first talkie film produced simultaneously in two versions, in Kannada
and Tamil, was “PURANDARDAS” by Devi Films in 1937.

First Film without Any Song

Wadia Movietone's “ Naujawan” was the first talkie without any song
produced in 1937.

First Colour Film Laboratory

K.B. Ardeshir M Irani of Imperial Film Company established a colour film
laboratory for the first time in India in 1937. Imperia's “Kisan Kanya” was
the first cine colour film from this laboratory.
IMPPA Formed
Formation of Indian Motion Picture Producers” Association in Bombay
“CHITAMANI” (Tamil), directed by Y.V. Rao and starring M.K. Thilagaraja
Bhagavathar and K. Aswathama (13 th March), creates a record for
continuous run for more than one year in one cinema house alone.
Debaki Bose gives lyrical and philosophical treatment to the life of a
Vaishnative poet in New Theatres ‘ VIDYAPATI'.

1938
First Malayalam Talkie
The first talkie film in Malayalee was “Balan” produced by Modern Theatres
Ltd. Salem in 1938. It was directed by Notani.
Formation of South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce in Madras and
Indian Motion Picture Distributor's Association in Bombay.

First Camera Crane

Wadia Movietone used the camera crane for the first time in India while
producing their films in 1938. The crane was built in their own workshop
under the expert care of B.M. Tara.
________________________________________
*1939
Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Indian Cinema in Bombay (in May)
First Hindi Talkie from South
“Prem Sagar” produced and directed by K. Subramanyam in 1939 was the
first Hindi Talkie produced in the south.

*1942
First Film Society
Bombay Film Society was the first film society in India formed in Bombay in
1942.
First Govt. Control over length & Distribution of Raw Film
The Govt. of India restricted the footage of the feature films to 11,000 feet
and that of trailers to 400 feet, from May 16, 1942. Further, distribution of
raw film was also controlled for the first time from 17 th July 1943 to 15 th
Dec. 1945.

*1944
First Talkie Produced in English Language
Wadia Movietone's “The Court Dancer” was the first Indian Talkie which
had English dialogue. It was released in USA in 1944. Dadasaheb Phalke,
father of Indian Cinema, passes away on 16 th Feb. 1944.

*1947
Bombay Talkies ‘KISMAT', made in 1943, creates an all time record for the
longest continuous run of more than three and a half years at a single
cinema ROXY in Calcutta.

*1948
First Ballet Film
Screen and Stage Production Madras “Kalpana” directed by Uday Shankar
in 1948 was the first ballet film in India. It had dialogue by Amrit Lal Nagar
and Lyrics by Sumitra Nandan Pant.

*1949
First 16mm colour feature film
Bhavnani Productions ‘Rangeen Zamana” produced and directed by M.
Bhavnani in 1948 (released as “Ajit” in 1949) was the first colour feature
film produced on Kodachrome and blown up to 35mm.

First Time “A” and “U” Classification

The Indian Cinematograph Act 1918 was amended in December 1949 by
which time censorship was made a Central subject for the first time and
two types of categories “A” and “U” were prescribed for certification of
films.
________________________________________
*1950
First Film With “A” certificate
Akash Chitra's “Hanste Aansu” was the first Hindi feature film in 1950
which was is sued an “A” Certificate (Film suitable for exhibition to Adults
only) in India.
*1951
• Formation of Central Board of Film Censors with B.N. Sircar on the
Board.
• Launching of Film Federation of India under the presidentship of
Chandulal J Shah.
• Formation of SIMPSA in Madras and CCCA in Bhusaval.
• “Aan” produced by Mehboob in colour 16mm and blown up to 35mm.
• Weekly Magazine SCREEN started by Indian Express.
________________________________________
*1952
First International Film Festival
The Films Division of the Government of India sponsored and organized
the First International Film Festival of India in Bombay on January 24,
1952, which continued for a fortnight.
________________________________________
*1953
First President's Gold Medal
P.K. Atre's “SHYAMCHI AYEE” in Marathi was the first film to get the
President's Gold Medal, considered as the best film of 1953.
India's first Technicolour film ‘ JHANSI KI RANI' was produced by Sohrab
Modi for Minerva Movietone with foreign technicians.
The film magazine Filmfare introduced Awards, the Award for the best film
going to ‘ DO BIGHA ZAMIN'
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*1954
Film Producers Guild is formed
First National Awards
The annual State Awards for film were introduced for the first time by
Government in 1954.
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*1955
First film seminar
The first film seminar was convened by Sangeet Nataka Akademi and
inaugurated by Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.
1956
First Film Exempted from Entertainment Tax
Rajkamal Kalamandir's JHANAK JHANAK PAYAL BAJE was the first film
to be exempted from entertainment tax in 1956. Dr V Shantaram was a
founder member of the Film Producers Guild
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1957
K. A. Abbas made the first Indo-Russian Co-production “PARDESI” in
Hindi and Russian.
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1960
First Excise Duty on release prints
Excise Duty was levied by the Government on release prints for the first
time in India on April 1, 1960.
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1961
First Cinemascope film
Guru Dutt's “Kagaz Ke Phool” in 1959 was the first Cinemascope film shot
in black and white. Later in 1961 Anupam Chitra produced “Pyar Ki Pyas'
in Cinemascope and colour. Guru Dutt was a member of the Guild.

First Talkie film without Dialogue

Taru Mukerji Production, Calcutta's “Ingeet” in 1961 was the first film of the
talkie era which had no dialogue at all.
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1964
First Film with only one actor
Sunil Dutt's “Yaadein” in 1964 was the first film in India which had only one
actor in the fim.
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1967
First 70mm Technicolour film
Pachhis “ Around The World” was the first Indian Film in 70mm and
Technicolour with Stereophonic Sound in 1967.
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Other Important Milestones
Bhim Singh's “ SUBH-O-SHAAM ” (Sanjeev Kumar, Waheeda Rehman)
was the first Indian, feature film shot entirely in Iran with combined Indian
and Iranian cast in 1970.

For the first time in the talkie era, a silent film ‘PUSHPAK' was successfully
produced in 1987.

4-track stereophonic sound introduced in ‘ MAINE PYAR KIYA' in 1989. Its

producers Rajshri is a member of the Film & Television Producers Guild of
India

1st Dolby sound film- ‘ 1942-A LOVE STORY' in 1994. Again, the
producer/ director is a Guild member, Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

HEY! RAM was first ever film produced in India with Sync Sound
Technology-2000
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