Ardeshir Irani was a writer, director, producer, actor, film distributer, film showman and cinematograer in the silent and sound eras of early Indian Cinema.

He was one of the greatest legend of today’s Indian Cinema. He was the director of India’s first sound film “Alam Ara”. He was the producer of India’s first colour film “Kisan Kanya”.

In partnership with Abdulally Esoofally, he began showing films in “Tent Cinemas”. By 1905, Irani was Universal Studio’s Indian representative, and by 1914, Irani and Essoofally had acquired the city’s Alexander Theater. In 1917, Irani entered the field of film production.

In 1920, Irani established his first production company, Star Films Limited, was in collaboration with Bogilal Dave. Dave was a graduate of the New York School of Photography. The Company produced Irani’s directorial debut, first silent film “Veer Abhimanyu” was released in 1922. Dave shot the film.

In 1925, Irani founded Imperial Films where he made sixty two films. A viewing of Universal Pictures’ “Show Boat”, a 40 per cent talkie, at Bombay’s Excelsior Cinema in 1930, led Ardeshir Irani to reinvent Indian Cinema. Until 1930, silent pictures dominated the market and the only Talkies available were those made by the Americans.

Irani was inspired to make Alam Ara after watching “Show Boat”. The story was adapted from the Bombay based dramatist Joseph David’s play of the same name. Film budget was Rs.40,000/- and made within four months. The first Indian sound film Alam Ara, was released on 14 March 1931.

The film was a tremendous success. The theater was mobbed and tickets were not available for weeks. The black marketeers made a bonanza. Black marketing of movie tickets started with Alam Ara movie. Responsible for the first sound film or talkie in Indian Cinema, Ardeshir Irani’s name has been immortized for his contribution to the world of Cinema with Alam Ara.

Irani’s contribution towards Cinema was not limited to bringing the first talkie to India, but also to Iran. Irani produced and directed the first Persion sound talkie “The Lor Girl”.

He produced “Kalidas” in Telgu and Tamil as a billingul talkie.

He made the first colour feature film of India, “Kisan Kanya” in 1937.

Irani’s Imperial Films introduced a number of new actors to Indian Cinema, including Prithviraj Kapoor and Mehboob Khan. He is also made the first Indian English feature film “Noor Jahan” (1931). In his career of 25 years Irani made one hundred, fifty eight films between the first and second World War. He made his last film, “Pujari” in 1945.

His contribution does not end only with giving voice to the silent cinema and colour to block and white films. He gave a new outlook to filmmaking in India. He provided such a wide range of choice for stories in films.

Acknowledging his significant contribution to cinema the British Government of India bestowed upon Ardeshir Irani the title of “Khan Bahadur”.

Photo courtesy Google. Excerpts taken from Google.