Updated On: 16 February, 2024 04:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Dadasaheb Phalke death anniversary 2024: The creator of India`s firs feature film `Raja Harishchandra`, he is also responsible for introducing female actresses on screen

L-Dadasaheb Phalke, R- Kamalabai Gokhale (Pic/Film History Pics X)
Dadasaheb Phalke death anniversary 2024: It`s been 80 years since the legendary artist passed away. The multi-talented man is known as the `Father of Indian cinema` and has played a pivotal role in introducing cinema in India. He was a producer-writer-director and released India`s first motion picture named `Raja Harishchandra` in 1913. It was not easy for him to make India`s first cinema and release it in the British Raj when the Europeans were imposing Western cinema in the country.
Not just India`s first cinema, Phalke played a major role in introducing female actors to the screen. When Phalke was making `Raja Harishchandra`, the idea of having women in front of the camera and performing scenes was unheard of and looked down on. Back then, it was men who would dress up as women to play female characters as was the norm for stage dramas as well.