Phalke

Phalke is a surname of Indian origin. The most notable bearer is Dadasaheb Phalke (1870–1944), an Indian filmmaker often regarded as the father of Indian cinema. Born in Trimbak, Bombay Presidency (present-day Maharashtra), Phalke directed and produced India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra, released in 1913. He founded his own production company and produced several early silent films, helping to establish the foundations of the Indian film industry in Bombay, now Mumbai.

Phalke's work contributed to the development of Indian cinema's narrative and technical norms, and it inspired generations of filmmakers to pursue feature filmmaking in India. His pioneering efforts are widely cited in discussions of the history of Indian film as marking the transition from short subjects to feature-length storytelling.

In recognition of his contributions, the Government of India established the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969. This award is India's highest honor for lifetime achievement in cinema and is named in his honor. The Phalke name remains closely associated with the origins of Indian cinema and its early artistic and industrial development.