Ardeshir Irani is the man who made the first Indian talkie and the first Indian colour film! Irani began his career as an exhibitor, after that he started to co-own Alexandra Theatre with Abdulally Esoofally in 1914. He was also the Bombay agent for Universal Pictures. His theatre ran both foreign and Indian films - and the success of Phalke`s Kaliya Mardan and Krishna Janam convinced him to make his own. Later on, in a partnership with Bhogilal K. M. Dave, Irani set up Star Films Limited.
Given here is the list of a few films he made:
1922 - Veer Abhimanyu: The film starred Fatima Begum, who later became India`s first woman producer-director.
1923 - Krishna Arjuna Yuddha: Champaraj Hodain which the film`s `beautiful bathing scenes` were advertised!
However after these films Irani and Dave parted ways - the former forming Majestic Films and the latter, Sharda Film Company. Majestic Films continued the journey. Some films are given below:
1924 - Veer Durgadar: This film was based on the Rajput warrior who challenged and defeated Aurangzeb, the despotic Mughal emperor.
Bombay Ki Sethani or Call of Satan: This film was based on the true-life incident, and court-case, of a rich lady exchanging her child with another`s, while travelling by train.
1925 - Naharsingh Dakoo: A film set in a fictitious kingdom, dealing with a good-hearted bandit who `exposes the Minister and his wife..their treacherous doings`.
1927 - Wild Cat of Bombay: This film was extremely successful, and starred Sulochana as the golden-hearted girl who robbed the rich to feed the poor.
After these movies there were also the following movies: Alauddin and his Wonderful Lamp, Alibaba, Anarkali, Madhuri, Heer Ranjha and Magic Flute.
In 1929 the Imperial Film Company was set up in partnership with Abdulally Esoofally. In 1931 - Alam Ara: This was the first full-length feature film with sound, i.e. the first Indian talkie. Wrath (re-released as Khuda Ki Shaan).The film dwelt on the bigoted society and the caste system. The tale tells of a woman from the `untouchable` caste: her rape by a Hindu, induction into prostitution by a Muslim, and the subsequent pariah status accorded to her by all. She is finally rescued and cared for by Baba Garibdas, who holds that caste and religion are man-made divisions invented by the unscrupulous. The actor who portayed Garibdas bore an uncanny resemblance to Mahatma Gandhi. The censors subjected the film to harsh censoring.
1937 - Kisan Kanya: The first Indian film in colour. Ardeshir Irani firmly believed in sending Indians abroad to learn the craft of film-making rather than employing foreign experts.
|
|
|