Starting my Blog with 'Alam Ara'

Ardeshir Irani’s ‘Alam Ara’ is not just a movie-it is a legend. Movie history records it as the first Indian talkie.

The first Indian talkie, ‘Alam Ara’ was released on March 14, 1931, at the Majestic Cinema in Bombay. It was advertised as “All Living, Breathing 100% Talking Peak Drama, Essence of Romance, Brains and Talents Unheard of, under One Banner”.

The film had the first ever film singer W.M.Khan, the first hit number “De de khuda ke naam pe” among its 10 songs, a real-life princess Zubeida as heroine, the handsome Master Vithal as hero and young Prithviraj Kapoor as villain.

There were huge crowds outside the theatre. Tickets were sold ‘in black’. According to reports, “Police aid had to be summoned to control the crowds.