Raja Harishchandra, released in 1913, holds the historic distinction of being the first full-length Indian feature film. Directed by Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, fondly remembered as the father of Indian cinema, the film was inspired by the legend of the righteous king Harishchandra and was deeply influenced by the visual aesthetic of painter Raja Ravi Verma. Phalke adapted the film from a popular stage production and employed innovative techniques to bring the mythological tale to life on screen.

The film was first screened for a select audience on April 21, 1913, and had its formal theatrical release on May 3, 1913, at the Coronation Theatre in Bombay, where it ran successfully for 23 days. Raja Harishchandra tells the story of a noble king who sacrifices everything, his kingdom, his family, and his freedom, to uphold truth and righteousness. The silent film featured subtitles in Hindi and English and, due to the absence of female performers at the time, male actors played the female roles. A landmark achievement, it laid the foundation for what would become one of the world’s largest film industries.