A film about films and filmmaking is a genre that film buffs are huge fans of. But when they heard that two upcoming films will focus on Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, they were left confused, partly because a Marathi film about his life already exists.
Back in September 2023, S.S. Rajamouli announced that he would be producing a biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke, titled Made in India.
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Recently, reports also revealed that Aamir Khan will be teaming up with Rajkumar Hirani for a biopic on the same subject. This will mark the duo’s third collaboration after 3 Idiots and PK.
Interestingly, this news surfaced just a day after media reports claimed that Jr. NTR would be starring in Rajamouli’s Made in India.
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With two powerhouse actors and directors working on films based on the same man, it’ll certainly be fascinating to see how each of them tells the story, if both projects move forward.
However, it’s important to remember that a Marathi film on Dadasaheb Phalke’s life already exists.
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Released in 2009, Harishchandrachi Factory narrated his journey and was selected as India’s official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2009 Oscars.
Though not a mainstream film, Harishchandrachi Factory was widely loved by those who saw it. It was humorous, informative, and beautifully depicted the making of India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913).
If both Aamir Khan and Jr. NTR go ahead with their respective projects, they will not only need to ensure that their films differ from each other, but also that they bring something fresh and compelling to the table, enough to stand apart from the Marathi original.
To truly stand out, they’ll need to explore Dadasaheb Phalke’s life beyond just Raja Harishchandra. His struggles, vision, and impact on Indian cinema offer much more depth than a simple origin story.
Even if they manage to present a unique narrative, the real question remains: can they evoke the same warmth, charm, and emotion that Harishchandrachi Factory did? Many fans aren’t very sure.
