20 Firsts of Indian Cinema: The Stories Behind the Indian Cinema’s Milestones
Indian cinema isn’t just about song-and-dance extravaganzas or melodramatic dialogues—it’s a century-old industry built on innovation, risk-taking, and a relentless drive to entertain. Every era has had its pioneers, those who dared to do something first—whether it was introducing sound, experimenting with color, or breaking taboos with an on-screen kiss.
Let’s rewind and explore 20 groundbreaking firsts that shaped Indian cinema into what it is today.
1. India’s First Film – Raja Harishchandra (1913)
Before Bollywood, before blockbusters, there was Raja Harishchandra, India’s first movie. Dadasaheb Phalke, often called the father of Indian cinema, was mesmerized after watching a silent film on Christ. Determined to create something Indian, he sold his wife’s jewelry to finance what would become India’s first full-length feature film. The mythological drama about a righteous king who loses everything to keep his word was a massive success.
Fun fact? Since women weren’t allowed to act in films then, the role of Queen Taramati was played by a male actor named Salunke!
2. First Indian Talkie – Alam Ara (1931)
For nearly two decades, Indian audiences watched movies in silence, reading intertitles to understand the story. Then came Alam Ara, India’s first “talkie,” and it changed everything.
Directed by Ardeshir Irani, this film wasn’t just about synchronized sound—it introduced dialogues, songs, and drama you could hear! The first spoken line? “De de khuda ke naam pe,” uttered by actor Wazir Mohammed Khan. Overnight, silent films became obsolete, and India’s obsession with song-and-dance began.
3. First Color Movie in India – Kisan Kanya (1937)
Color in cinema was revolutionary, and while Hollywood was already embracing it, India got its first color feature with Kisan Kanya. Produced by Ardeshir Irani (yes, the same man behind Alam Ara), the film was a social drama about the plight of farmers.
While the color process wasn’t as vivid as modern standards, it paved the way for the eye-popping vibrancy we now associate with Bollywood. However, the film didn’t create as much buzz as expected, mainly because audiences were still adjusting to this new visual experience.
4. First On-Screen Kiss – Karma (1933)
Ah, the kiss that shook India. Long before kissing scenes became mainstream, Karma featured a scandalous four-minute-long lip-lock between real-life couple Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai. The audience? Shocked.
The British press, on the other hand, praised the scene for its naturalism. Devika Rani, known as “the first lady of Indian cinema,” didn’t just break barriers with this moment—she also set the stage for women to take control in an industry dominated by men.
5. First Indian Film to Win International Recognition – Neecha Nagar (1946)
Before Satyajit Ray put India on the global cinema map, Chetan Anand’s Neecha Nagar became the first Indian film to win the prestigious Grand Prix (now Palme d’Or) at the Cannes Film Festival. The film, a sharp critique of class struggle, was way ahead of its time and barely received attention in India. But globally, it announced that Indian cinema had arrived.
6. First Indian Film to Be Submitted for the Oscars – Mother India (1957)
Mehboob Khan’s Mother India was an epic, and Hollywood noticed. The film, starring Nargis as the ever-suffering, resilient mother figure, became India’s first submission for the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film—and it almost won!
It lost by just one vote but set a precedent for future Indian films aiming for global recognition.
7. First Indian Film to Win an Oscar – Gandhi (1982)
Yes, Gandhi was a British-Indian co-production, but it brought India its first Oscar recognition when Bhanu Athaiya won Best Costume Design. Directed by Richard Attenborough, the film’s authentic portrayal of India’s struggle for independence was widely appreciated.
Athaiya’s win was monumental—before her, no Indian had ever taken home the golden statuette.
8. First 3D Indian Film – My Dear Kuttichathan (1984)
3D movies weren’t just a Hollywood thing—India jumped into the game with the Malayalam film My Dear Kuttichathan. This fantasy adventure, filled with magic and illusions, became a sensation, especially among kids.
To this day, it remains one of the most successful 3D films in India and was even re-released multiple times in different languages.
9. First Indian Film Shot Abroad – Sangam (1964)
Before Bollywood stars were dancing in Switzerland and London, Raj Kapoor took his Sangam crew to shoot in Europe, making it the first Indian film with foreign locations. Audiences were fascinated by the grand, exotic visuals, and the film set a trend for future Bollywood productions.
Now, an international shoot is almost a must for big-budget Bollywood films.
10. First Indian Science Fiction Film – Kalai Arasi (1963)
Tamil cinema took the lead in sci-fi with Kalai Arasi, where an alien race kidnaps an Earthling to learn about art and culture. Sounds familiar? Decades later, Bollywood would give us Koi Mil Gaya (2003), but this Tamil film did it first!
11. First Film with an Item Song – Howrah Bridge (1958)
Madhubala’s sultry performance in Aaiye Meherbaan made Howrah Bridge the first Indian film to feature an item song—setting the stage for what would later become a Bollywood staple.
12. First Indian Animation Film – The Banyan Deer (1957)
Years before Hanuman or Roadside Romeo, The Banyan Deer became India’s first animated film, produced by Films Division of India. The animation style was simple but effective in storytelling.
13. First Indian Film to Cross ₹100 Crore – Ghajini (2008)
Aamir Khan’s Ghajini was a game-changer. It was the first Bollywood film to touch the ₹100 crore club, proving that Indian cinema was ready for blockbuster-level business models. It was the remake of the Tamil film by the same name.
14. First Indian Film on Netflix – Love Per Square Foot (2018)
Before Netflix became a major player in India’s film distribution, Love Per Square Foot made history as the first Indian movie to be released directly on Netflix. Starring Vicky Kaushal and Angira Dhar, this rom-com explored the struggles of finding both love and affordable housing in Mumbai. Unlike big-screen blockbusters, this film proved that digital platforms could be a game-changer for Indian cinema, opening the doors for many more direct-to-streaming releases.
15. First Indian Horror Film – Mahal (1949)
Mahal introduced Indian audiences to the world of supernatural horror. Starring the stunning Madhubala and Ashok Kumar, this eerie tale of reincarnation and haunted mansions was way ahead of its time. The haunting song “Aayega Aanewala” (sung by Lata Mangeshkar) became legendary.
16. First Indian Film to Cross ₹1000 Crore – Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)
This epic blockbuster became India’s first film to gross ₹1000 crore worldwide. It proved that regional films could dominate the box office just as much as Bollywood.
17. First Indian Film With a Woman Director – Bulbul-e-Paristan (1926)
Fatma Begum became India’s first female filmmaker when she directed Bulbul-e-Paristan, a fantasy film featuring flying horses and magical realms—way ahead of its time.
18. First Indian LGBTQ+ Film – Fire (1996)
Deepa Mehta’s Fire was the first mainstream Indian film to depict a lesbian relationship, starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das. The film sparked massive controversy and was even banned in some parts of India.
19. First Indian Biopic – Raja Harishchandra (1913)
Surprisingly, India’s first-ever film, Raja Harishchandra, was also its first biopic, as it was based on the mythological story of King Harishchandra. Biopics have since become a Bollywood favorite.
20. First Indian Film to Be Remade in Hollywood – Kaun? (1999) → Unknown (2011)
Ram Gopal Varma’s psychological thriller Kaun? was unofficially remade as the Hollywood film Unknown, starring Jim Caviezel. Though India has remade several Hollywood films, this was a rare case of the reverse happening!
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