Lanka Dahan
Lanka Dahan (English: Lanka Aflame) is a 1917 Indian silent film directed by Dadasaheb Phalke. Phalke also wrote the film based on an episode of the Hindu epic Ramayana, credited to Valmiki. The film was Phalke's second feature film after the 1913 Raja Harishchandra, which was the first Indian full-length feature film. Phalke also directed various short films in between.
| Lanka Dahan | |
|---|---|
Enranged Hanuman, played by Shinde. | |
| Directed by | Dhundiraj Govind Phalke |
| Written by | Dhundiraj Govind Phalke |
| Based on | Ramayana by Valmiki |
| Produced by | Dhundiraj Govind Phalke |
| Starring | Anna Salunke Ganpat G. Shinde |
| Cinematography | Trymbak B. Telang |
Release date | 1917 |
| Country | India |
| Languages | Silent Film Marathi intertitles |
Anna Salunke, who had previously played the role of Rani Taramati in Phalke's Raja Harishchandra played two roles in this film. As women were prohibited from taking part in commercial performing arts, men also played the female characters. Salunke played the male character of Rama as well as the female character of his wife Sita. He is thus credited with playing the first double role in Indian cinema.