Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
Dadasaheb Phalke is considered the ‘Father of Indian Cinema’. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is an honour bestowed by the Government of India for a participant’s lifetime service to Indian Cinema. It was established in 1969 on the birth anniversary of Dadasaheb Phalke and is the earliest award in the cinema industry.
The early life of Dadasaheb Phalke
On April 30, 1870, Phalke was born in Trimbakeshwar, a religious site near Nashik. Dadasaheb was a Brahmin Marathi by the identity of Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, who belonged to the Phalke dynasty. His father was a renowned scholar from the city of Nashik.
Since boyhood, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke has had an interest in painting. In 1885, at the age of 15, he enrolled in the JJ School of Art in Bombay, a prominent art school institution. Phalke studied photography, architecture, and painting at the Kala Bhawan of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda after studying painting at the JJ School of Art in 1890.
After completing his art and photography courses, he worked as a photographer. He abandoned it in the middle of his labour in Godhra since his wife and child had perished in the epidemic. He left his job in Godhra because he could not endure this shock.
Key milestones in Dadasaheb Phalke’s career
Dadasaheb Phalke worked at the Archaeological Survey of India.
After that, he brought a machine from Germany and set up his printing press.
Dadasaheb Phalke also published a monthly magazine.
Unique attributes of the Dadasaheb Phalke Awards
In 1969, the first Dadasaheb Phalke Award was given to actress Devika Rani.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is presented along with the other National Film Awards at the end of the year.
In 2006 Bombay High Court directed the Directorate of Film Festivals to consider only uncensored films for this honour.
This was challenged by the Directorate of Film Festivals inside the Supreme Court.
The decision of the Supreme Court was in favour of the Directorate of Film Festivals.
The 2006 Yearly Award was announced in mid-2008 due to delay in court decisions.
The award consists of One million rupees in cash, Swarna Kamal and a Shawl, awarded by the Government of India.
V.K. Murthy was the first cinematographer to receive this prestigious award in 2008
The legacy of Dadasaheb Phalke
Dadasaheb Phalke died on February 16, 1944. Even today, he is remembered for his profound impact on the whole film world. His contribution to the film world can never be overlooked. He produced 125 films in his time. Here is the list of recipients of the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2022:
Best Film Award: Sher Shah
Best Actor Award: Ranveer Singh for the film 83
Best Actress Award: Kriti Sasson for the film Mimi
Outstanding contribution to Cinema: Asha Parekh
Critics Best Actor Award: Sidharth Malhotra
Critics Best Actress Award: Kiara Advani
Best Actor Award in a Supporting Role: Satish Kaushik for the film Kaagaz
Best Actress Award in a Supporting Role: Lara Dutta for the film Bell-Bottom
Award for Best Actor in an Opposing Role: Aayush Sharma for the film Ultimate: The Final Truth
People’s Choice Best Actor Award: Abhimanyu Dassani
Conclusion
Dadasaheb Phalke is considered the father of the Indian Film Theatre. In his memory, the Government of India introduced the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969. The 51st Dada Phalke Award was presented to the legendary actor Rajinikanth. As a child, Phalke showed a keen interest in creative art. He decided to pursue his dream and joined Sir J.J. art school in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1885. He pursued various interests in photography, lithography, architecture, and amateur theatre and even became a master of magic.
