1999 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 1999 · General Studies

Question 45: History and Culture

The first feature film (talkie) to be produced in India was

aHatimtai
bAlam Ara
cPundalik
dRaja Harishchandra

AnswerThe answer is (b).

Alam Ara (1931), directed by Ardeshir Irani, was India's first sound feature film. Raja Harishchandra (1913), by Dadasaheb Phalke, was the first full-length silent feature, and Pundalik (1912) was an even earlier silent film. Hatimtai came later. Remember: Alam Ara is the first talkie (1931); Raja Harishchandra is the first silent feature (1913).

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong. Hatimtai was made after Alam Ara.
  • (b) Right. Alam Ara (1931) was the first Indian talkie.
  • (c) Wrong. Pundalik (1912) was a silent film.
  • (d) Wrong. Raja Harishchandra (1913) was a silent film.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1999, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.