If you have a high regard for Indian culture, one thing that you will definitely admire is the Indian performing art and the most acclaimed category of performing art is the Indian Cinema. We`ve all heard about the eccentricity of Bollywood film or have at least been exposed to the elaborate song and dance routines, indicative of Indian cinema through modern films. But few of us are actually aware of the progression of the Indian cinema, the largest film industry in the world, which produces about 800 films annually. Indian films are popular in various parts of the world, especially in countries with significant Indian communities.

Indian Cinema has been cherished all through the years right from the time of its introduction in India. The industry is mainly supported by the vast cinema-going Indian public. The major production of Indian movie centres is Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Apart from popular entertainment through commercial cinema, art cinema deals with serious themes particularly relevant to Indian society. There has been widespread recognition of Indian artists and directors at film festivals in different parts of the world.

Introduction of Cinema in India
Cinema was introduced to India on July 7, 1896. It began with the Lumiere Brothers` Cinematography, unveiling six silent short films at the Watson Hotel in Bombay, namely Entry of Cinematographe, the Sea Bath, Arrival of a Train, A Demolition, Ladies & Soldiers on Wheels and Leaving the Factory. The Lumiere brothers thus pioneered the art of film-making in India with the astonishing invention of CINEMA. The first Indian to make a film was Harischandra S. Bhatvadekhar, popularly known as Save Dada. He was a still photographer, a dealer in equipment and an exhibitor of films. His interests led him naturally to the art of cinema.

Silent movies
India began making silent films in early 20th century. The first indigenous Indian silent film was released on May 3 1913 when Bhundiraj Govind Pahlke popularly known as Dada Saheb Phalke, produced Raja Harishchandra. Based on a story from the Mahabharata it was a stirring film concerned with honour, sacrifice and mighty deeds. From then on many "mythological" were made and took India by storm. Phalke`s company alone produced about a hundred films. The trend of silent era continued from 1897 to 1930 and during this period of 34 years, around 1200 films were released, of which very few films print are available now. It`s a shame that even Govt. Departments like National Archives or Film and Television Institute don`t posses these silent films.

Era of talkies
The era of talkies refers to the introduction of sound films. A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. Alam Ara India`s first talking movie, released on March 14, 1931. This movie not only became a runaway success, it also became the template of future. Alam Ara is a very significant movie in Indian Cinema as it gave India its first Singer, W.M. Khan. The introduction of talkies opened door to a new world in Indian Cinema.