Released more than a decade before the Independence of India, the 1931 Indian movie Alam Ara was the first Indian sound film. Directed by Ardeshir Irani, the pioneer of the silent and sound eras of the Indian cinema, Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai, erstwhile Bombay but has now been long lost and is no longer available as far back as 1967 according to the National Film Archive of India, Pune.
Plot of Alam Ara
Alam Ara is a period fantasy film which revolves around the love story between a prince and a gypsy girl. The movie was based on a Parsi play written by Joseph David, who later served as a writer at Irani"s film company. The story revolved around a king and his 2 conflicting wives Navbahar and Dilbahar. Problems increase after a fakir predicted that Navbahar will give birth to the king`s next heir. The king`s other wife tries to have an affair with Adil played by Prithiviraj Kapoor, the chief minister, as an act of revenge. After the affair fails to meet Dilbahar`s expectations, she imprisons Adil and banishes Alam Ara, his daughter, played by Zubeida. Alam Ara goes under the care of gypsies who raise her. Later, she returns to the Kumarpur palace, where she encounters the charismatic young prince, played by Master Vithal, and falls in love with him. Finally, the prince and Alam Ara get married and release Adil and in the climax, Dilbahar also pays her dues.
Cast of Alam Ara
Since Alam Ara was the first Indian sound film, the makers needed actors who knew the language. Actress Ruby Myers, better known as Sulochana was considered for the title character but Zubeida was cast instead. And for the male lead they decided to cast a more commercially viable actor and chose actor-stuntman Master Vithal. The screenplay of the movie was written by Joseph David and Munshi Zaheer, and was released in both Hindi and Urdu languages. Alam Ara is recorded to be the first Hindi film of Bollywood and it is said that a total of 78 actors recorded their voices for the first time for the film. The cinematography of the movie was done by Wilford Deming and Adi M. Irani, and Ezra Mir edited the movie into perfection. Alam Ara also starred other actors like Prithviraj Kapoor, Sushila and Jilloo.
Soundtrack of Alam Ara
Both the movie Alam Ara and its music were widely successful including the hit song "De de Khuda ke Naam Par", which was also the first song of the Indian cinema. It was sung by actor Wazir Mohammed Khan who played a fakir in the film. As playback singing had yet to start in Indian cinema, it was recorded live with musical accompaniment of a harmonium and a tabla. Listed below are some of the other songs from the movie Alam Ara:
Badla Dilwayega Ya Rabb by Zubeida
Rutha Hai Asman Gum Ho Gaya Mahatab by Jilloo
Teri Kaatil Nigahon Ne Mara
De Dil Ko Aaram Aye Saki Gulfam
Bhar Bhar Ke Jam Pila Ja Sagar Ke Chalane Bala
Daras Bina Mare Hai Tarse Naina Pyare
Alam Ara celebrated its 80th release anniversary on 14th March, 2011 and in the year 2015; a calendar was released exhibiting posters of some of the first Indian films, including Alam Ara. Thus, even to this day the legacy of Alam Ara holds up as it was the first Indian talkie to be released which paved its way for future film making.
