Dada Saheb Torane, the first filmmaker in India
On May 18, 1912, the first Indian film, "Shree Pundalik," was released at Coronation Cinema in Mumbai, creating history.
However, this fact is not recorded anywhere in the history of Indian cinema because the film's shooting was done by a foreigner and the negative reel was sent abroad for processing.
The film was made by Dadasaheb Torne, who was also the first Indian to undertake film distribution, film editing, film direction, and film production. However, even today, these credits are given to Dadasaheb Phalke, whose film was released a year later in 1913.
Torne used to repair machines but, influenced by foreign films, he made films in India itself. The passion for cameras and films was such that when his camera was stolen, he suffered a heart attack.
Dadasaheb Torne purchased a camera for 1,000 rupees from a foreign company. Since no one in India knew how to operate the camera, he also called an operator.
The film "Shree Pundalik" was based on a play. Due to a lack of technology and facilities, in 1912, video recording could only be done by keeping the camera in one place. Dadasaheb did the same.
In a theater on Grant Road, Mumbai, he set up the camera and prepared the script. A foreigner named Johnson operated the camera because no one in India knew how to use it.
