75 Years of Indian Cinema India is among the earliest countries in the world to have adopted the cinema. Within 6 months of public showing of "Cinematographe" of Lumiere Brothers to British, Russian and Americam audiences, the people of Bombay saw this new wonder show at Watson's Hotel, Bombay. Very soon, the great Indian enterpreneur Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (popularly known as dadasaheb Phalke) successfully produced the first Indian Story film "RAJA HARISHCHANDRA" in 1913- overcoming enormous obstacles and successfully screened this short film (3,700 feet-4 reels) at Coronation Cinema, Bombay on May 13, 1913. The first Indian Cinema "RAJA HARISHCHANDRA" was widely praised by the press and ran initially for a record 23 days- or six times the normal run of silent films of those days. The success of "RAJA HARISHCHANDRA" took the contry by storm. Madras became the second important film production centre, where R. Natraj Mudaliar made "KEECHAKA VADHAM" in1919 followed by J.F. Madan of Calcutta who made "NAL DAMAYANTI" in 1920.

From this humble beginning, Cinema in India became a great industry with glorious traditions and accomplishments. It proved a big force fo national unity and national integration and during the period of the Indian freedom struggle, cinema inspired thousands of its audience with sentiments of natinalism. In the 75 years of its existence, Indian cinema has produced the largets number of feature films in the world (about 850 to 900 every year. More than 2.5 crore Indian see Indian films every day.

The cinema is the single largest desseminator of popular culture and plays a significant role as a medium of entertainment, information, education and as a catalyst of social change.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India