There are two important dates
April 13, 1913 and May 3, 1913 in the
Indian Film History. On 13 April, 1913, Dada
Saheb Falke produced his movie Raja Harish Chandra in Olympia Theatre with
the presence of some known people. That day was Saturday. For that reason, that
day created a history.
But for some reason, Dada Saheb Falke released the same
movie in Caronation Theatre of Mumbai at May 3, 1913. A great response of audience of that time proved that
this was the birth of a revolution of Indian Cinema.
As Firoze Rangonwala wrote in his book A Pictorial History of Indian Cinema
"
As
historical base, 21 April and 3 May both are important dates but Indian Cinema
has completed his journey of 100 years this year. There are many ups and downs
in this long journey. But this medium is the most important as art side for
inspiring Indian conscious.”
This line of Firoze Rangoonwala is quite positive.
How is increasing the Influence of Cinema on the Indian audience. The answer of
this question can be got from this fact that economic condition of Bollywood is
getting better and better every year. For example in 2010, the total business
of Indian movies was 87.7 billion.
Some economist believes that this business will achieve 136.6 billion in the year
2015.
But now we want only to see that
how Indian audience is effected by cinema? There is no doubt that the main
motive of cinema is to take us to imaginative world. But it makes social,
political & economic conditions as its base. Audience of different casts,
religion & ages watch movies in the cinema hall. But there is still a need
to understand the magical attraction of greatness of Cinema. This can be done
by dividing its history in few Periods.
In the period of 1913-1930, Indian cinema was totally
based on religious and historical movies. There was a great respect to those
movies. As Ashish Rajadhaksh and Paul William writes in his book Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema
“Audience
of that period was so devotees to the religious movies that they welcomed their
angels with throwing coins on the screen.”
So Lanka Dahan (1917) & Kalia
Mardaan (1919) got a huge success.
In the period of 1931-1950, Producer Aardeshir Irani started talkative movie Aalam Aara. Now social medium based movies took the place of
religious movies. Barua's Devdas (1935)
presented the sadness of young generation with the help of K. L. Saigal. Saigal was still there as a play back singer but play
back singing started with Nitin Bose's
Dhoop Chhaun. Then songs became the important part of the movies. And Music started to get its grip on movies.
The success of Achhoot Kanya (1935),
Kismat (1943), Ratan (1943) was totolly based on Music.
This was the starting of combination
of Social, Romantic, Historical movies. And the actors who play different roles
were seen in different color. For example the triplet of Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj
Kapoor presented the realities of life in the period of 1957 to 1960.
Dilip
Kumar as griever, Dev Anand as Romantic and Raj Kapoor as Comedian
got success. The classical movies like Mughal-e-Aazam,
Awaara & Guide were released on this base. And no one can forget Guru Dutt’s contribution to Indian film
Industry also.
As the time went on, the effect
of this Cinema was started accepting by everybody. Shammi Kapoor (Junglee), Rajendra Kumar (Sangam) and Rajesh Khanna (Aradhana) are the few
example of this point.
In the period of 1961-1970, all the movies represented
the modern India. Mrinal Sen's Bhuwan
was one of its examples. By getting inspiration from Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal
(Ankur), M. S. Mathiu (Garam Hawa) released emotional movies. Super Star Amitabh Bacchan presented Zanjeer and Sholay as an angry young man in the same period.
But in the period of 1981-1990, the entrance of videos made
some effect on the Indian Cinema. To get rid of this, social-romantic movies
and family movies were seen in the period of 1991-2000. Hum Aapke Hain
Kaun & Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge
were the few examples.
Then the world of Multiplex
Theatres came. From 2000 to 2012, the importance was given to civil audience
based movies. Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan,
Salman Khan presented many successful movies in front of audience this
period.
It is clear that Indian Cinema
is still continuous. Accepting its greatness and for completing 100 years,
Indian Government is doing some efforts for Indian cinema. Government decides
to present National Awards on 3 May. Government also decides to make a Museum in Gulshan Mehal of Mumbai. And it was inaugurated on May 3.But Indian Cinema got praise and
tribute from the audience every time. Audience is still attached after
completing the Journey of 100 years. There is no doubt that Cinema is an
important part of the Indian Culture.