Dadasaheb Phalke and the Cinematic Construction of Hindu Identity

Author(s): Tanima Kumari

Abstract:

Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (1870-1944), known as Dadasaheb Phalke, is called as the ‘Father of Indian Cinema’ whose pioneering works established the foundations of Indian filmmaking. His films incline and engage with Hindu myths defining and shaping the early trajectory of Indian cinema. This paper explores the intersections between Phalke’s films and Hinduism, exploring how cinema became a tool for cultural revival, reframing the religious imagination, and nationalist fervour during the British era. This article argues how Phalke is an epitome of transforming cinema into a medium of darśan, cultural preservation, and nationalist assertion by the analysis of his early films, through theoretical frameworks of religion and visual culture, and historical context.

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Pages: 153-155     |    3 View     |    0 Download