On this day in the year 1931, the first Indian talkie film, Alam Ara, was released marking the end of the silent era in India. The movie was also the first to introduce playback singing with the song De De Khuda Ke Naam Par. The movie had become such a hit among the general public that police had to be called to control the crowd that had gathered outside Mumbai's Majestic Cinema.

Do you know that the film was advertised with the punchline 'All living. Breathing. 100 percent talking.' and the Hindi punchline was '78 murde insaan zinda ho gaye. Unko bolte dekho'?

Before this movie became a hit, the silent era gave us some brilliantly executed films, which cannot be replaced by talking movies. Let's know some of the top Indian movies from the silent era:

The first film in the Indian cinema wasby Dadasaheb Torne, in 1912, but it was considered a British production. The first full length feature film made by an Indian that was shown to the public was, produced and directed by Dadasaheb Phalke. Men would play the female characters then because it was considered inappropriate for women to work in movies

Image source: Bollyspice

After, Dadasaheb Phalke went on to make several films including(1913),(1914) and(1917).was the one that went on to become India's first major box office hit. The movie is based on the narrative of Sita's abduction by Ravan

Image source: Wikimedia

Based on Kalidas' famous novel, 'Abhijnana Shakuntalam', the movie is more of aversion, which had more mass appeal. It got a big release but a cold response. But with time, it became the most memorable film of Suchet Singh

Image source: Webmail India

Starring Patience Cooper, the biggest star of that time, the film was directed by J.J. Madan. Cooper portrayed the character of Leelavati, who propounded the idea that women should be completely devoted to only their husbands. The film got into a controversy over some censorship issues when the censor board asked an obscene dance number to be cut from the film

Image source: Upperstall

The first film adaptation of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novella,, was directed by Naresh Mitra. The film surrounded the life story of a lover and his plight of an unrequited love affair.

Image source: Apnaorg

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