Introduction
Indian cinema is an important part of General Knowledge and Current Affairs for ADRE and other competitive examinations. Questions may come from National Film Awards, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, film festivals, Indian cinema pioneers, Assamese cinema, important films, personalities, institutions and terminology.
1. Indian Cinema – Basic Facts
Topic Important Fact
First Indian feature film Raja Harishchandra
Director of Raja Harishchandra Dadasaheb Phalke
Year 1913
First Indian talkie Alam Ara
Director of Alam Ara Ardeshir Irani
Year of Alam Ara 1931
First Indian colour film Kisan Kanya
Director Moti B. Gidwani
Year 1937
Father of Indian Cinema Dadasaheb Phalke
First Indian film to win an award at Cannes Neecha Nagar
Director of Neecha Nagar Chetan Anand
Year 1946
2. Dadasaheb Phalke
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke, is regarded as the Father of Indian Cinema.
Important Facts
Born: 30 April 1870
Full name: Dhundiraj Govind Phalke
First feature film: Raja Harishchandra
Year: 1913
He directed, produced and worked on several aspects of early Indian filmmaking.
30 April, his birth anniversary, is observed as National Cinema Day? No—do not confuse it with the modern National Cinema Day. His birth anniversary is particularly associated with his contribution to Indian cinema.
3. Dadasaheb Phalke Award
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest official honour in the field of cinema.
Key Facts
Instituted in: 1969
Named after: Dadasaheb Phalke
Presented by: Government of India
Administered under: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Presented at: National Film Awards ceremony
First Recipient
Devika Rani was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969.
Important Exam Point
Dadasaheb Phalke Award = Highest honour in Indian cinema
4. National Film Awards
The National Film Awards are among India's most prestigious awards for cinema.
Important Facts
Established: 1954
Presented by: Government of India
Ministry: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Awards recognise excellence in Indian filmmaking.
Awards are given for both feature films and non-feature films.
Major Categories
Best Feature Film
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Children's Film
Best Film on Environment Conservation
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
Best Cinematography
Best Music Direction
Best Lyrics
Best Playback Singer
5. National Film Award – Best Actor
The Best Actor award is one of the major National Film Award categories.
Some notable recipients include:
Uttam Kumar
Naseeruddin Shah
Amitabh Bachchan
Irrfan Khan
Dhanush
Manoj Bajpayee
Allu Arjun
Exam tip: National Film Award questions may ask about the film, actor, actress or year associated with an award.
6. National Film Award – Best Actress
The Best Actress category recognises outstanding performances in Indian cinema.
Notable recipients include:
Shabana Azmi
Smita Patil
Sridevi
Tabu
Kangana Ranaut
Alia Bhatt
Kriti Sanon
7. International Film Festival of India – IFFI
The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is one of India's most important international film festivals.
Important Facts
Full form: International Film Festival of India
First held: 1952
Present headquarters/major venue: Goa
Organised with the involvement of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
Important Award
Golden Peacock is the prestigious top award associated with the international competition section of IFFI.
8. Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the world's most prestigious international film festivals.
Important Award
Palme d'Or is the festival's highest prize.
Indian Cinema
Indian films and filmmakers have participated in Cannes over the decades.
Neecha Nagar (1946), directed by Chetan Anand, won the Grand Prix, which was the festival's top prize at the time.
9. Oscars and Indian Cinema
The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are among the world's best-known film awards.
Important Indian Connections
Bhanu Athaiya became the first Indian to win an Oscar.
She won the award for Costume Design for Gandhi in 1983.
Satyajit Ray received an Honorary Academy Award in 1992.
A. R. Rahman won two Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire.
Gulzar won an Oscar for Best Original Song for Slumdog Millionaire.
Resul Pookutty won an Oscar for Sound Mixing for Slumdog Millionaire.
10. Indian Cinema and Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was one of India's most internationally acclaimed filmmakers.
Important Facts
Born: 1921
Died: 1992
Profession: Film director, screenwriter, author and illustrator
Famous film: Pather Panchali
First film: Pather Panchali (1955)
Received the Honorary Academy Award in 1992.
Awarded Bharat Ratna in 1992.
Received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1984.
Famous Films
Pather Panchali
Aparajito
Apur Sansar
Charulata
Jalsaghar
Shatranj Ke Khilari
11. Assamese Cinema
Assam has a significant place in the history of Indian regional cinema.
First Assamese Film
Joymoti
Released: 1935
Director: Jyoti Prasad Agarwala
Considered the first Assamese film.
Based on the historical story of Sati Joymoti.
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala is known as the Father of Assamese Cinema.
Important contributions:
Filmmaker
Playwright
Poet
Writer
Composer
Freedom movement participant
12. Indramalati
Indramalati was the second Assamese film.
Director: Jyoti Prasad Agarwala
Released: 1939
It was among the early milestones of Assamese cinema.
13. Bhupen Hazarika and Cinema
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika made major contributions to Assamese and Indian cinema through:
Music
Playback singing
Film direction
Lyrics
Film production
He composed music for several Assamese, Bengali and Hindi films.
Important Honours
Bharat Ratna
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Padma Vibhushan
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
14. Important Assamese Filmmakers
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala
Known as: Father of Assamese Cinema
Jahnu Barua
A major Assamese filmmaker known for critically acclaimed films and contributions to Indian parallel cinema.
Bhabendra Nath Saikia
A prominent Assamese filmmaker, writer and academic.
Important films include:
Sandhya Raag
Anirban
Agnisnan
Sarathi
15. National Film Award and Assamese Cinema
Assamese filmmakers and actors have received several National Film Awards.
Important Name
Jahnu Barua received National Film Awards for his films and is one of the most prominent figures of Assamese parallel cinema.
Bhabendra Nath Saikia was another major Assamese filmmaker whose works received national recognition.
16. Important Film Institutions
Institution Importance
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Central ministry dealing with films and broadcasting
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Certification of films for public exhibition
National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) Promotion and development of Indian cinema
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Film and television education
Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) Film and television education
Children's Film Society of India Historically promoted children's films; functions have been integrated into NFDC
National Film Archive of India (NFAI) Preservation of India's cinematic heritage
17. Central Board of Film Certification – CBFC
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Main Function
CBFC examines films intended for public exhibition and grants certification according to applicable law.
Common Certificate Categories
U – Unrestricted public exhibition
UA – Unrestricted public exhibition subject to parental guidance for children below the specified age under current certification rules
A – Restricted to adults
S – Restricted to members of a specific profession or class
Exam Point:
CBFC is commonly known as the film certification body of India.
18. Film and Television Institute of India – FTII
Location
Pune, Maharashtra
Established
1960
FTII is one of India's leading institutions for education and training in:
Film direction
Cinematography
Editing
Sound
Acting
Screenwriting
19. Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute – SRFTI
Location
Kolkata, West Bengal
Established
1995
It is named after legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
20. Important Film Terminology
Term Meaning
Feature Film -Full-length film
Short Film- Film of relatively short duration
Documentary- Non-fiction film based on real subjects/events
Director Person -responsible for the creative direction of a film
Producer Person/company- responsible for producing and financing the film
Screenplay- Written blueprint of the film
Cinematography- Art and technique of visual photography in filmmaking
Editing -Process of arranging and refining recorded footage
Soundtrack -Recorded music/sound associated with a film
Box Office -Commercial performance/revenue of a film
Remake- New film based on an earlier film
Sequel- Film continuing the story of an earlier film
Prequel -Film showing events occurring before an earlier story
Biopic- Film based on the life of a real person
Animation -Film created using animated images/techniques
Dubbed Film -Film whose dialogue is replaced by another language's dialogue
21. Important Film Awards
National Film Awards
India's major national-level film awards.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
India's highest cinema honour.
Filmfare Awards
Major popular Indian film awards organised by The Times Group.
IIFA Awards
International Indian Film Academy Awards, associated with Hindi/Indian popular cinema.
Cannes Film Festival
Major international film festival; highest prize is Palme d'Or.
Academy Awards
Popularly called the Oscars.
Golden Globe Awards
International entertainment awards historically recognising film and television.
22. Important "Firsts" in Indian Cinema
Question Answer
First Indian feature film- Raja Harishchandra
Director of first Indian feature film- Dadasaheb Phalke
First Indian talkie- Alam Ara
Director of Alam Ara -Ardeshir Irani
First Indian colour film -Kisan Kanya
First Assamese film- Joymoti
Director of Joymoti -Jyoti Prasad Agarwala
Father of Indian Cinema -Dadasaheb Phalke
Father of Assamese Cinema -Jyoti Prasad Agarwala
First recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award- Devika Rani
First Indian Oscar winner -Bhanu Athaiya
First Indian to receive an Honorary Oscar -Satyajit Ray
23. ADRE One-Liner Revision
1. Raja Harishchandra was India's first full-length feature film.
2. Dadasaheb Phalke directed Raja Harishchandra.
3. Raja Harishchandra was released in 1913.
4. Alam Ara was India's first talkie.
5. Alam Ara was directed by Ardeshir Irani.
6. Joymoti was the first Assamese film.
7. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala directed Joymoti.
8. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala is known as the Father of Assamese Cinema.
9. Dadasaheb Phalke is known as the Father of Indian Cinema.
10. Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest cinema honour.
11. Devika Rani was the first Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient.
12. National Film Awards were instituted in 1954.
13. IFFI stands for International Film Festival of India.
14. IFFI was first held in 1952.
15. Golden Peacock is a major IFFI award.
16. Palme d'Or is the highest prize at Cannes.
17. Satyajit Ray received an Honorary Academy Award.
18. Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian Oscar winner.
19. FTII is located in Pune.
20. SRFTI is located in Kolkata.
21. CBFC deals with film certification.
22. CBFC functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
23. Pather Panchali was Satyajit Ray's first feature film.
24. C. Rajagopalachari is not related to cinema—this is a useful elimination point when questions mix historical personalities with film awards.
25. Assamese cinema began with Joymoti in 1935.
ADRE Focus Areas
For the exam, give special attention to Indian cinema firsts, Assamese cinema, National Film Awards, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, IFFI, CBFC, FTII, SRFTI, famous filmmakers, Oscar-winning Indians and important film terminology.
Comments
Post a Comment
Comment