H. S. Bhatavdekar

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Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatavdekar (born March 15, 1868), also known as Save dada IPA: /sɑːveɪ ðɑːðɑː/, was the first Indian to make a film (motion picture) in India.[1][2]

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[edit] Biography

H. S. Bhatavdekar was a resident of Mumbai (Bombay). A portrait photographer by occupation, Bhatavdekar was one of the first witnesses to the Lumiere Brothers film show in 1896 in Mumbai.[3][4] He soon acquired a movie camera from London and a projector and went on to make some films on day-to-day life of the city as also some important events.

[edit] First film to be shot by an Indian

"The Wrestlers" was shot during a real wrestling match in Mumbai and thereby became not only the first film to be shot by an Indian, but also the first "Reality (Documentary) Film" of India.

H. S. Bhatavdekar's later films also were all reality films, with (See Filmography below for full titles-) "Local Scenes...", "Sir Wrangler..." and "Delhi Darbar..." being of historical significance; since important personalities like R. P. Paranjpe[5] can be seen landing in India from a ship; and the actual proceedings of the Delhi Durbar (Delhi Royal Court). Bhatavdekar also filmed Lord Curzon at the coronation of King Edward VII in Kolkata (Calcutta) in 1903.[1] Therefore, he can be called as the First Documentary Filmmaker of India,[1][2], it is also considered India's first Newsreel [6].

[edit] Filmography

(as a director)

  • The Wrestlers (1899),
  • A man and his monkeys (1899),
  • Local Scenes: Landing of M. M. Bhownuggree (1901),
  • Atash Behram (1901),[7]
  • Sir Wrangler Mr. R. P. Paranjpe (1902),
  • Delhi Durbar of Lord Curzon (1903), and
  • Delhi Durbar (1903/I).

H. S. Bhatavdekar is not known to have made any long duration "feature films".

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Subir Ghosh. The firsts in Indian cinema. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
  2. ^ a b A choronology of indian cinema (1896 -1905). Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
  3. ^ History of Indian Cinema. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
  4. ^ Hundred Years of Indian Cinema. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
  5. ^ R.P. Paranjpe was the first Indian Senior Wrangler from Cambridge University who sacrificed high salary and worked as the Principal of Fergusson College, Pune for over twenty years. Chronomedia: 1901 - December 7. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
  6. ^ Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) Foreword, 4th Mumbai International Film Festival, 1996.
  7. ^ Indian Cinema Database: Silent films. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.

[edit] External links

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