Discover Devika Rani, the trailblazing ‘First Lady. Of Indian Cinema,’ whose talent, determination shaped the early years of Bollywood. Indian cinema witnessed the arrival of ladies in films with Durgabai and Kamlabai Kamat working in lead roles in Dadasaheb Phalke‘s second film, Mohini Bhasmasur (1913). Later many ladies made names in Indian cinema, like Sulochana, who was termed the First Lady Superstar Star of the Silent Era or Fatma Begum, the first female filmmaker of Indian cinema. Other ladies who made names were Zubeida—the first actress of India’s first talkie film! However, the lady to don the distinction of being called the First Lady of Indian cinema was Devika Rani!!
Devika’s Debut Film ‘Karma’
Though Devika Rani debuted in Indian cinema with Karma in 1933, people credit her as the First Lady of Indian Cinema because she was not only a top actress and film producer but also the first woman in India to run a film studio.
Bold, brilliant, and beautiful, Devika Rani did formal training in cinema in London before taking films as her career. It is reported she learned acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Music and at Royal Academy of Music, both in London. She also learned architecture, textile and decor design, and even did an apprentice job under Elizabeth Arden.
A New Chapter In Devika’s Life
Later she met Himanshu Rai and joined his production house and did the film A Throw Of Dice (1929). During the filmmaking, Himanshu and Devika came close, and the duo married. Later the couple went to Germany and acquired professional training in the art of filmmaking from famous UFA Studios in Berlin.
The couple came to Bombay and set up Bombay Talkies, India’s most modern and state-of-the-art studio. They made many hit films like Achhut Kanya, Izzat, Jeevan Naiya, Janma Bhoomi, Hamari Baat, Vachan, Kangan, Bandhan, Jhoola, Kismet, and many more!
However, after the untimely death of Himanshu Rai, Devika Rani had to act tough! Unlike traditional women, she defied absurd Hindu customs after her husband’s death, such as shaving her head and abandoning society. Instead, Devika tool charge of Bombay Talkies, managing her staff like a taskmaster to extract their best work.
Under her regime, she faced many hurdles, like the British kicking out the German technicians from Bombay Talkies. Secondly, she faced the rebel from Bombay Talkies film directors Gyan Mukherjee and S. Mukherji, who got separated from Bombay Talkies and made their independent film studio Filmistan in 1942. Nevertheless, Devika Rani stood against all odds. But when she saw Bombay Talkies sinking, she sold her shares and quit films.
The Indian government saluted her wide contribution to Indian cinema and honored her with the Padmashri in 1958 and gave her the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Interestingly, she is the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, started in 1970 by India.
Devika Rani died on March 9, 1994, at the ripe age of 85 years.
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