India has a rich and vibrant film industry, but it all started with the establishment of the first movie theatre in the country.
The Lumiere Brothers, who invented the Cinematograph in France, are credited with organizing the first public screening of moving pictures in India. It happened on July 7, 1896, at the Watson Hotel in Bombay (now Mumbai), where they showcased six short films and the ticket was priced at Re.1. The Times of India referred to this event as the “miracle of the century”. The event created a stir among the city's residents, and it marked the beginning of a new era in Indian entertainment. The Motion pictures were soon introduced to India, in Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras).
However, it wasn't until 1912 that the first
permanent movie theatre was established in India. The Elphinstone Picture
Palace, named after Lord Elphinstone, who was the Governor of Bombay from
1887-1890, opened its doors to the public on April 7, 1912. Located in the
bustling area of Parel in Bombay, the theatre was owned by J.F. Madan, a film
exhibitor and distributor.
The Elphinstone Picture Palace had a seating capacity of 700 and
showed mostly English films. It was an instant success, and soon other theatres
followed suit. By the 1930s, Bombay had become the hub of Indian cinema, with
the industry producing nearly 200 films every year.
Today, the Elphinstone Picture Palace is no longer operational, but its legacy lives on. It is considered a landmark in the history of Indian cinema and is remembered as the birthplace of the country's film industry.
In conclusion, the establishment of the first movie theatre in India marked a significant moment in the country's cultural history. It laid the foundation for what would later become one of the largest film industries in the world. The Elphinstone Picture Palace will always be remembered as the birthplace of Indian cinema.
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