Hiralal Sen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hiralal Sen
|
|
|---|---|
Hiralal Sen, c. 1900
|
|
| Born | 2 August 1868 |
| Died | 26 October 1917 (aged 49) Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Photographer, filmmaker |
| Spouse(s) | Hemangini Devi |
| Parents |
|
Hiralal Sen (born August 2, 1868 – died October 26, 1917) was one of India's very first filmmakers. He made the first full-length Indian film, Alibaba and Forty Thieves, in 1903. He was also a great photographer. He made India's first advertising films and probably even India's first political film. Sadly, a fire in 1917 destroyed all the films he ever made.
Contents
Early Life and First Films
Hiralal Sen grew up in Calcutta (now Kolkata). His family was from a village called Bagjuri in Manikganj, which is now in Bangladesh.
In 1898, Hiralal Sen saw a short film at the Star Theatre in Calcutta. It was shown during a play called The Flower of Persia. This gave him an amazing idea! He borrowed the camera from the film's director. With this camera, he made his very first film, "A Dancing Scene," from the same play.
Soon after, Hiralal and his brother, Motilal Sen, bought a special camera called an Urban Bioscope. They bought it from London. The next year, they started their own film company called Royal Bioscope.
Filmmaking Career
Between 1898 and 1913, Hiralal Sen made over forty short films. Many of these films showed scenes from plays performed at the Classic Theatre in Calcutta. At that time, film rolls had to be brought in from other countries.
From 1901 to 1904, he made many films for the Classic Theatre. These included Bhramar, Hariraj, and Buddhadev. His longest film was Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, made in 1903. This film was also based on a play.
Hiralal Sen also made films for advertising. He made two films to promote products like Jabakusum Hair Oil and Edwards Tonic. This made him the first Indian to use films for advertising! He also made news films, showing real events.
India's First Political Film
In 1905, Hiralal Sen made a special film. He called it a "genuine Swadeshi film of our own make." This film showed a big protest in Calcutta. People were protesting against the division of Bengal and supporting the Swadeshi movement. This movement encouraged people to use Indian-made goods. Many people believe this was India's very first political film.
Last Film Made
The Royal Bioscope company made its last film in 1913.
Filmography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1903 | Alibaba and the Forty Thieves |
| between 1901 and 1904 | Bhramar |
| between 1901 and 1904 | Hariraj |
| between 1901 and 1904 | Buddhadev |
| 1905 | Anti-Partition Demonstration and Swadeshi movement at the Town Hall, Calcutta, on the 22nd September 1905 |
Later Years
Hiralal Sen faced many challenges in his later years. He was also very sick with cancer. Sadly, just a few days before he passed away in 1917, a terrible fire broke out. This fire destroyed every single film he had ever made. It was a great loss to Indian cinema history.
