Flashback

Key Milestones in Indian Film Sound History


Alam Ara

1931
“Alam Ara”, the successful effort of Sri Ardesir M-Irani of making 1st talkie film of India in Imperial Studio by meeting series of obstruction and complications in shooting and thus set a record and helped get Indian film industry worldwide recognition.

Date of release of 1st talkie film (in Majetic Cinema)

14th March 1931

The film fans (the inquisitive crowd to see first sound film) had made a big gathering nearby the Majestic cinema. It was a tough job to take the film reels to cinema hall. Police force had been called to control the mob. It’s an ever-remembering day for Indian cinema.

1932

Minoo Katrak

1st Professional Sound Recordist

He was an employee (Sound Technician) to All India Radio and had come to join films on optional choice. He stared with ‘Sant Tukaram’ and gradually proved himself the First professional Sound Recordist of the Indian film Industry. He died due to cancer.

Shikari

1932

1st talkie film on Fidelytone sound system

‘Alam Ara’ was recorded on Tenar system, The Eastern Film Ltd. company’s 35mm B&W sound film “Shikari” has the credit of being first film to be recorded on Fidelytone sound system.

Meenakshi Anant Narayanan

1934

1st Lady Sound Recordist

The credit of being the first Lady Sound Recordist of India goes to Mrs. Meenakshi Anant Narayanan at the time, when the talkie films were in infancy. Her husband had a recording studio in Chennai.

Bhagya Chakra (Dhoop Chhaon)

1935

1st Playback Recording

“Dhoop Chhaon” (1935), a film of New Theatre, Kolkata, Directed by Nitin Bose is the first film in which playback Recording was introduced. It’s music director were R.C. Boral and Pankaj Mallik. The Bengali version of this film is known as “Bhagya Chakra”

Amar Bhoopali

1952

1st film bagging best sound award

“Amar Bhoopali”, a film in Marathi and made under the Banner of Rajkamal Kalamandir had bagged Cannes Festival Best Sound film Award in 1952.

Sri Ishan Ghosh

1954

1st Film Fare Award winner sound Recordist - (for film ‘Jeevanjyoti’ 1954)

Ishan Ghosh was the leading sound Engineer of Indian film Industry, who got the First Film Fare Sound Recordist Award for film “Jeevanjyoti” in 1954. It was released in 1953 starring Shammi Kapoor & Chand Usmani and directed by Mahesh Kaul.

Nagra’s

1967

Nagra’s entry in film industry

Filmmaker Paachhi (Brother of famous comedian Omprakash) had brought Nagra in the year 1966-67, when he had gone to Switzerland for shooting of the film “Around the world’. Nagra has depicted its own glorious history in the Indian film-Industry.

1967

Around the world

6-track stereophonic sound film

“Around the world” (1967) was the film of P. S. Picture Co. and directed by Paachhi. It was a 70mm color social film featuring Raj Kapoor and Rajashree.
6-track stereophonic sound system was first time adopted in this film in India.

1976

S. P. Ramanathan

1st National Award winner film Recordist (24th National Film Award 1976)

S. P. Ramanathan, a South India based sound engineer got the first National Award for film recording in 1976 for the film “Bhakt Kannappa” (Telugu)

1994

1942: A Love Story

1st Dolby spectral recording film

A Vidhu Vinod Chopra film “1942: A Love Story” is the film in which spectral recording (Dolby) was introduced first time in India. This multi-starrer film is known for its specialized sound recording, melodious music and lyrics.

1994

Hum Aapke Hain Kaun

4-track optical stereo Indian movie

The Rajashree Production social film “Hum Aapke Hain Kaun” was released in 1994, which was urban version of “Nadiya Ke Paar” (1982). It is first 4-track optical stereo Indian movie and still its popularity is alive.

Rangeela

1995

1st Dolby digital film

“Rangeela”, a Ram Gopal Verma film released in 1995 and starring Aamir Khan, Urmila Matondkar, Jackie Shroff is the 1st Dolby digital film of India. Still this film is remembered for it’s distinguished features.

2007

Shivaji

1st Dolby Atmos (film)

A Rajanikant starrer film (made in South Indian film Industry) “Shivaji” is known as the first Indian film recorded on Dolby Atmos system.

Resul Pookutty

2009

1st Oscar Award winner sound Recordist

Resul Pookutty, a FTII Alumni is the first Indian sound Recordist to win OSCAR Award in the year 2009 for the Danny Boyle block buster film “Slumdog Millionaire”.
Later, he got Padma Shri, Doctorate etc. for his work in the field of sound.

2016

The Sound Man Mangesh Desai

1st film made on a sound legend - The Sound Man Mangesh Desai

A 112.05 minutes documentary film ‘The Sound Man Mangesh Desai” was produced jointly by WIMPTSEA & GRAAS Entertainment and directed by Sri Subash Sahoo in the year 2016 and participated in all major film-festivals throughout the world and gathered overwhelming response.