The first feature film (talkie) to be produced in India was:
UPSC CSE Pre. 1999
A. Hatimtai
B. Alam Ara
C. Pundalik
D. Raja Harishchandra
Answer: Alam Ara
Option b is the correct answer.
Alam Ara was the first feature film (talkie) to be produced in India in 1931. It was a historical fantasy film that told the story of a royal romance between Alam Ara, the daughter of a king, and Adil Shah, the son of a rival king. It was directed by Ardeshir Irani and produced by Imperial Film Company. It had seven songs and introduced playback singing to Indian cinema. The film was a huge success and marked the beginning of the talkie era in India.
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Hatimtai was a feature film (talkie) produced in India. It was based on the Arabian Nights stories and starred Jahanara Kajjan as Hatimtai's beloved princess. It was directed by Homi Master and produced by Imperial Film Company.
Pundalik was a feature film (silent) produced in 1912. It was based on a Marathi legend about a saint who devoted his life to serving his parents. It was directed by N.G. Chitre and R.G. Torney and produced by Nataraj Film Company. Some historians do not consider it as an Indian film because it was processed and printed in London.
Raja Harishchandra was the first feature film (silent) to be produced in India in 1913. It was based on a Hindu mythological story about a king who sacrificed his kingdom, family, and himself to uphold truth and justice. It was directed by Dadasaheb Phalke and produced by Phalke Films Company. It is regarded as the first full-length Indian feature film and Dadasahab Falke is regarded as the father of Indian cinema.