Alam Ara, released on 14 March 1931, established Ardeshir Irani as the producer and director behind India's first sound feature film. His technical adaptation included a trip to London to study sound recording, which resulted in him pioneering the practice of shooting sequences under artificial studio lights to eliminate undesirable outdoor noise.
Early Career and Business Ventures
Born in 1886 in Pune, Irani attended the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art before entering the film industry. In 1905, he became the Indian representative for Universal Studios. He operated the Alexander Cinema in Mumbai alongside Abdulally Esoofally for over four decades. His entrepreneurial interests extended beyond cinema to include a car agency and a gramophone business.
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Irani began producing silent films in 1917, releasing Nala Damayanti in 1920. He partnered with Bhogilal Dave to form Star Films in 1922, producing seventeen silent features including Veer Abhimanyu. Following this, he established the Majestic Film Company and Royal Art Studios, before launching Imperial Films in 1925. Throughout his career, he produced 158 films.
Expanding Technical Horizons
Irani diversified his output across numerous languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Urdu, and Persian. In 1933, he directed the first Persian-language talkie, Lor Girl, scripted by Abdolhossein Sepanta. He also produced India's first colour feature film, Kisan Kanya, in 1937. His studio served as a training ground for figures such as Prithviraj Kapoor and Mehboob Khan.
Leadership and Final Years
As a prominent figure in the industry, Irani served as the inaugural president of the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association from 1937 to 1939. He suspended his film business during the period of the Second World War, viewing the economic climate as unsuitable. His final film, Pujari, was released in 1945. He died in Mumbai on 14 October 1969.
Fast facts
- Born: 1886, Pune
- Died: 14 October 1969, Mumbai
- Education: Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art
- Notable First: Directed India's first sound film, Alam Ara
- Notable First: Produced India's first colour film, Kisan Kanya
- Industry Role: First president of the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association
- Career Span: 1917 to 1945
- Total filmography: 158 films
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of Alam Ara?
Alam Ara, released in 1931, was the first Indian sound feature film, marking the transition from the silent era to talkies.
Did Ardeshir Irani produce films in languages other than Hindi?
Yes, he produced and directed films in several languages including Telugu, Tamil, Urdu, and Persian, such as the Persian talkie Lor Girl.
Achievements
- Notable work: cinema of India
- Worked as film director, film producer and screenwriter
