Two takes on Dadasaheb Phalke: Aamir Khan-Rajkumar Hirani’s intimate portrait vs. SS Rajamouli-Jr NTR’s cultural epic

Dadasaheb Phalke is the subject of a new film by two acclaimed Indian directors, SS Rajamouli and Rajkumar Hirani. The legendary filmmaker is a pivotal yet underappreciated figure in Indian cinema. Both are working on biopics on the man widely regarded as the "Father of Indian Cinema" but they have different techniques and ideas when it comes to narrative.

Rajkumar Hirani and Aamir Khan’s collaboration on Dadasaheb Phalke’s biopic

The upcoming film by Rajkumar Hirani will be Aamir Khan's and his third joint effort, following 3 Idiots (2009) and PK (2014). Abhijat Joshi, a long-time collaborator of Hirani's, and two others are co-writing the project. Khan made his participation in the biopic, which has supposedly been in development for more than three years, official last week.

The superstar-starring film analyses the life of the mythical man, revealing his aspirations, hardships, and unwavering faith in movies. The insider close to the production indicated to Mid Day that it is deeply character-driven, emotionally raw, and incredibly human. The same source also states that the Phalke family backs Khan's version of the filmmaker's life.

SS Rajamouli’s support for Nitin Kakkar’s Phalke film

While that's happening, SS Rajamouli is supporting a different Phalke film directed by Nitin Kakkar of Filmistaan (2012). Apparently, Jr NTR has been asked about starring in this version.

More so, the subject pertains to the universe that Phalke created. According to a source acquainted with the project, Kakkar's version focuses on the origins of a cultural movement that was sparked by Phalke. Rumour has it that this film focuses less on the man and more on the movement he began, giving Phalke's legacy a wider perspective.

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The two films share a historical figure as their subject, but those in the know say there's space for both takes. The source noted that they can work well together. Although the exact release dates are yet unknown, Khan's film appears to be in the queue. According to the source, there is a lot of buzz surrounding the other film, which is set to be a multilingual production.

Dadasaheb Phalke's legacy and contribution to Indian cinema

"Raja Harishchandra" (1913) was the first feature film made in India, and it was directed and produced by Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, better known as Dadasaheb Phalke. He was in the industry for 19 years, during which time he directed 27 short films and 94 features. The Indian government established the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the greatest accolade in Indian cinema, to recognise him for his contributions.