‘Harishchandrachi Factory’, a Marathi film based on the making of the country’s first film, was on Sunday chosen India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language film at the Oscar Awards next year.

Directed by theatre veteran Paresh Mokashi, it is only the second Marathi film after ‘Shwaas’ in 2004 to be chosen for Oscars. The film is based on the experiences of Dadasaheb Phalke during the making of ‘Raja Harishchandra’ in 1913. No Indian film has won a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. ‘Lagaan’ received a nomination in 2002, but lost to ‘No Man’s Land’ from Bosnia.

‘‘‘Harishchandrachi Factory’ has been selected as India’s official entry for Oscars in 2010. The announcement was made in Mumbai on Sunday,’’ Sushama Shiromanee, honorary general secretary of Film Federation of India, told TOI.

The film, the first by its director, beat competition from 15 other movies, including ‘New York’ and ‘Delhi 6’, to make the grade.

The film has Nandu Mahadev and Vibhavari Deshpande playing Phalke and his wife. The other members of the cast include Mohit Gokhale, Atharva Karve, Dilip Joglekar and Pravin Tarde.

It has already won several awards, including best director, best film and best art direction at the 46th Maharashtra State Film Awards, and also for best director at Pune International Film Festival early this year.

The Mumbai-based Paresh Mokashi said, ‘‘The news is a bolt from the blue, but a pleasant one. The inspiration was Phalke himself. Learning about how he made the film and what he went through prompted me to base the movie on the subject,’’ he said.

Mokashi said it unsettled him that people knew just two things about Phalke — he made India’s first feature film, second an award instituted in his name is handed out every year for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.

Movie On Making Of A Movie


‘Harishchandrachi Factory’, Mumbai-based theatre actor-director Paresh Mokashi’s debut movie, is on the making of ‘Raja Harishchandra’, India’s first full-length feature film in 1913 by the pioneer of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke
Given the ignominy attached to films then, Phalke told his actors to tell others that they were working in the factory of a man called Harishchandra, hence the name Second Marathi film after ‘Shwaas’ in 2004 (yet another debut, by director Sandeep Sawant) to be nominated by India for an Oscar The Original Film revolved around the story of the noble and righteous Raja Harishchandra, who sacrifices his kingdom, his wife and children to keep his word to Vishwamitra.

No women would act then, so men played all the roles in the silent film First shown on May 3, 1913, at Bombay’s Coronation Cinema, Girgaum.

Other entries:
Paheli (2005) Rang De Basanti (2006) Eklavya (2007) Taare Zameen Par (2008) India has had only 3 nominees so far Mother India (1957) Salaam Bombay (1988) Lagaan (2001.

‘The film is totally based on ‘facts. It is the first ever attempt to bring the making of the first feature film in India on celluloid Paresh Mokashi.