Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke, was an Indian producer-director-screenwriter, known as the Father of Indian cinema. His debut film, Raja Harishchandra, was the first Indian movie in 1913, and is now known as India’s first full-length feature film
He made a total of 95 movies and 26 short films during his career. One of his most appreciated works includes Shri Krishna Janma (1918). Government of India instituted Dadasaheb Phalke Award in his honor for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
He began his career as a small town photographer in Godhra. He then worked for the Archeological Survey of India as a draftsman. He later became a printer and became quite successful in it. However, after a fallout with his partner, he turned to motion picture. Phalke made his first film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1912 thereby becoming the first Indian to make a film.

Phalke formed a film company, Hindustan Films and set up a model studio and trained technicians, actors, but unfortunately the idea failed miserably. His last silent movie Setubandhan was released in 1932 and later released with dubbing. During 1936-38, he produced his last film Gangavataran (1937), before retiring and settling down in Nashik.
Phalke was significantly influenced by a series of Varma’s paintings