While Google is commemorating the first Indian talkie, Alam Ara, unfortunately, there is not a single print of the movie available today

Moneylife Digital Team

Internet search giant Google has created a doodle (design weaved in the Google name) on its search page dedicated to India's first talkie (a movie with sound), Alam Ara. About 80 years ago, on 14 March 1931, Alam Ara ('The light of the world'), was released at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai. The movie directed by Ardeshir Irani became an instant hit and went on to become so popular that the theatre had to call the police to control the crowd!

However, while Google is celebrating 80 years of India's first talkie, according to media reports, there is not a single print of the movie available. In 2003, Alam Ara's last print was destroyed in a fire at the National Film Archive of India in Pune along with several classics like Raja Harishchandra and Achhut Kanya.

According to Wikipedia, both the movie and its music were widely successful, including the hit song 'De de khuda ke naam per', which was also the first song of Indian cinema, and was sung by actor Wazir Mohammed Khan who played the role of a fakir in the film. As playback singing had yet to start in Indian cinema, it was recorded live with musical accompaniment of a harmonium and a tabla.

The film also marked the beginning of film music in Indian cinema as noted film director Shyam Benegal said, "It was not just a talkie. It was a talking and singing film with more singing and less talking. It had a number of songs and that actually set the template for the kind of films that were made later."

During the production of Alam Ara, Mr Irani handled the sound-recording department, using the 'Taran Sound System'. It was shot with the Tanar single-system camera, which recorded sound directly on to the film. Since there were no soundproof studios available at that time, the shooting was done mainly at night, to avoid daytime noises, with microphones hidden near the actors.

Alam Ara is a story between a prince and a gypsy girl. It is a period fantasy that tells the story of the ageing king of Kamarpur, and his two rival queens, Navbahar and Dilbahar, and their rivalry when a fakir predicts that Navbahar will bear the king's heir. Dilbahar, in revenge, attempts to have an affair with the kingdom's chief minister Adil. The affair goes sour and a vengeful Dilbahar imprisons him and exiles his daughter, Alam Ara (Zubeida). In exile, Alam Ara is brought up by gypsies.

Upon returning to the palace at Kumarpur, Alam Ara meets and falls in love with the charming young prince (Master Vithal). In the end, Adil is released, Dilbahar is punished and the lovers marry.