Who is often considered the "Father of Indian Cinema"?

Question

Who is often considered the "Father of Indian Cinema"?

1. A. Satyajit Ray
2. B. Raj Kapoor
3. C. Dadasaheb Phalke (Correct answer)
4. D. Bimal Roy

Correct Answer

Option C — Dadasaheb Phalke

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Dadasaheb Phalke.

Key Points

• Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, known as Dadasaheb Phalke, is regarded as the Father of Indian Cinema.
• He made Raja Harishchandra (1913), India's first full-length feature film.
• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, instituted in 1969, is India's highest honour in cinema; Devika Rani was its first recipient.
• Satyajit Ray and Raj Kapoor came much later and are celebrated for their own bodies of work rather than for founding the industry.

Additional Information

• Raja Harishchandra (1913) was silent, and Phalke went on to make around 95 films and 25 short films in a career of roughly two decades.
• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest honour in cinema, was instituted in 1969; its first recipient was the actress Devika Rani.
• India's first talkie was Alam Ara (1931), directed by Ardeshir Irani — frequently paired with this question.