Photo: Palaviprabhu at English Wikipedia / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Phalke is one of those rare figures who didn't just make films, he willed an entire national cinema into existence. Pulling off Raja Harishchandra in 1913, with no industry, no precedent, and a sheer faith that Indian myth belonged on a screen, strikes me as almost reckless ambition in the best sense. What I admire most is the imagination it took to see moving images as a vehicle for the gods his audience already worshipped. Billions of rupees and a century of Bollywood later, it all traces back to one stubborn dreamer from Nashik. The award bearing his name is no accident.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Dadasaheb Phalke
- Name (Japanese)
- ダーダーサーハバ・パールケー
- Reading
- だーだーさーはば・ぱーるけー
- Born
- April 30, 1870 – February 16, 1944
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Horse
- Origin
- Nashik, Nashik district, India
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- film director / film producer / screenwriter / film editor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | How Films Are Made | — | |
| Notable work | Raja Harishchandra | — | |
| Notable work | Lanka Dahan | — | |
| Notable work | Satyavan Savitri | — | |
| Notable work | Mohini Bhasmasur | — | |
| Notable work | Shri Krishna Janma | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Dadasaheb Phalke born?
April 30, 1870 – February 16, 1944.
Where is Dadasaheb Phalke from?
Dadasaheb Phalke is from Nashik, Nashik district, India.
What does Dadasaheb Phalke do?
Dadasaheb Phalke works as film director, film producer, screenwriter, film editor.
What is Dadasaheb Phalke known for?
Notable works include How Films Are Made, Raja Harishchandra, Lanka Dahan.
Film director — see all → · Film producer — see all → · More people from India →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-18
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.