Harishchandrachi Factory is a charming take on the pioneer of Indian cinema Dadasaheb Phalke. Instead of presenting a hagiography of Phalke as the grand pioneer, director Paresh Mokashi has chosen to depict Phalke as a good humoured chap with a passion for the moving image, as Phalke borrows heavily from Charlie Chaplin and Dilip Prabhavalkar school of acting. Vibhavri Deshpande as his wife gives able support. (Review continues below the film poster)
What stands out in the film Harishchandrachi Factory is the screenplay which manages in a mere 76 minutes to span the journey of a man chasing a dream of making India’s first silent film Raja Harischandra and how he pulls it off overcoming economic constraints and social censure. The scenes of children play acting and the manner in which the male actor playing Harishchandra’s queen and the first clip of a growing plant are some of the outstanding scenes. The best is saved for the last: Phalke playing with a toy named after him is a master stroke.
All in all a film that warms the cockles of your heart and reminds you of why cinema in India is a national obsession. We owe it to Phalke.
(As and when Harishchandrachi Factory comes out on DVD, you must certainly buy it!)
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