Alam Ara (The Light of the World; 1931), directed by Ardeshir Irani, was the first Indian sound film. Irani recognized the importance that sound would have on the cinema, and raced to complete Alam Ara before several other contemporary sound films. Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai (then Bombay) on March 14, 1931. The first Indian talkie was so popular that “police aid had to be summoned to control the crowds.”
Significance
Both the movie and its music were widely successful, including the hit song, De de khuda ke naam per, which was also first song of the Indian cinema, and was sung by actor, Wazir Mohammed Khan, who played a fakir in the film. As playback singing had yet to start in Indian cinema, it was recorded live with musical accompaniment of a harmonium and a tabla .
The film also marked the beginning of filmi music in Cinema of India, as noted 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,”
Production
Ardeshir Irani handled the sound recording department, using Taran Sound System. It was shot with the Tanar single-system camera, which recorded sound directly onto the film. Since there were no soundproof studios available at the time, the shooting was done mostly in the night, to avoid daytime noises, with microphone hidden near the actors.
Cast
- Master Vithal … Adil
- Zubeida … Alam Ara, this made her the First Talkie Actress of India
- Jillo
- J. Sushila (as Sushila)
- Prithviraj Kapoor
- Elizer
- Wazir Mohammed Khan
- Jagdish Sethi
- L.V. Prasad
