Alam Ara Bollywoods First Movie: Blog Nine

On March 14th 1931 the Bollywood movie Alam Ara, which means the light of the world, was the first Indian sound film to be produced. Ardeshir Irani directed it and he recognized the importance that sound would have on the cinema. Irani wanted to finish his movie as quickly as possible because had realized how important sound was to a film and wanted to finish it before several other contemporary sounds films were completed. This movie was so popular and brought such amusement to the crowd that, "police aid had to be summoned to control the crowds." This movie was extremely important because that is when music started impacting Bollywood movies. Both the movie and its music were extremely successful. The hit song was De de khuda ke naam per, which was also the first song in the Indian cinema. Something different about this movie then modern Bollywood movies is this song was sung by actor, Wazir Mohammed Khan, who played Fakier in the film and the song was recorded live with musical accompaniment of a harmonium and a tabla. The film director, Shyam Benegal said, "It was not just a talkie. It was a talking and singing film with more singing and less talking. It had a number of songs and that actually set the template for the kind of films that were made later." The movie was actually based on a love story between a prince and a gypsy girl. It focuses on an imaginary, historical royal family in the kingdom of Kumarpur. There is a whole bunch of problems that goes on between the characters and love but in the end Adil is released, Dilbahar is punished and the lovers marry. I think this movie definitely can relate to the movie we are watching in class, Bride and Prestige, because that movie was filled with musicals and singing and Alam Ara is the movie that started the whole template for these kinds of movies. Both movies all had the same kind of plot and ended with two lovers getting married.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alam_Ara

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021594/