6. Films and Science of India

Indian films have changed greatly from the post-independence era to today. This journey shows changes in technology, style, society, politics, and culture. We will explore how Indian cinema has grown and reflects the country’s history and culture.1

 Let’s look at how it has grown and how it reflects India’s history and culture.

1. Pre-Independence Era (1900-1947)

• Indian movies began many years ago, even before India gained independence. The Lumiere Brothers from France showed the first short films in Mumbai in 1896. Dada Saheb Phalke, India’s first filmmaker, made the silent movie Raja Harishchandra in 1913. This marked the beginning of Indian cinema.1

• Many early films in this era explored mythological and historical themes, often drawing inspiration from Indian epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.1

• The silent era came to an end with the beginning of the sound revolution, when talkies occurred in the 1930s, with Ardeshir Irani's "Alam Ara" (1931) being the first Indian talkie (film with dialogues1.)

• In the early 1900s, women weren't allowed to act in films and plays. So the directors used male actors to play the role of female characters. However, this ended when Dada Saheb Phalke, found  a female actress for his second film, Mohini Bhasmasur1. 

Fig 6.1: A promotional poster for Alam Ara at Majestic Cinema & stills from Dada Saheb Phalke's Raja Harishchandra feature film

2. Post-Independence Era (1947-1990)

a. 1947 to 1960

• The period from 1947 to 1960 is often called the "Golden Age" of Indian cinema. "Mother India," a famous film directed by Mehboob Khan, was a great achievement. Hindi films in this era often addressed social issues like poverty and family struggles. The movies made during the Golden Era also launched the careers of famous actors like Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and more.2

• Alongside mainstream cinema, the "Parallel Cinema" movement (Films in different states and regions) saw development during the golden age. Satyajit Ray's debut film, "Pather Panchali" (1955), and its sequels which received international acclaim.2 

Indian films like "Slumdog Millionaire," "Lunchbox," and "Gully Boy" have received international acclaim, highlighting the globalisation of Indian cinema. Actors like Priyanka Chopra, Anupam Kher and Irrfan Khan, among others, have gained international recognition for their talent and versatility.2 

India's science and knowledge heritage is a treasure built over centuries of curiosity, innovation, and wisdom. Even in ancient times, people in India were making significant scientific and technological advancements. Famous mathematicians from India developed theories that we still use today in various fields. India has a history of science and knowledge that goes back nearly 5,000 years. This heritage is well-known for discoveries in areas like gemstone therapy, Ayurvedic medicine, physics, farming, literature, and much more.

Let’s review some scientific and technological developments in Indian heritage.

1. Mathematics:

Zero is an essential invention in mathematics, credited to the mathematician Aryabhata. He was the first person to create a symbol for zero. His work made it possible to perform calculations like addition and subtraction using zero. Ancient India also developed the decimal numeral system, which is still used worldwide today.3

Fig 6.3: Statue depicting Aryabhata on the grounds of IUCAA, Pune. 

2. Astronomy 

Aryabhata was an ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer who wrote the famous book "Aryabhatiya." He calculated the size of the Earth and the Moon. Aryabhata also suggested that the Earth spins like a top, explaining why stars appear to move in the sky. Aryabhata calculated the value of Pi (π), an important number used in math. He also explained how planets move.4 

3. Chemistry  

In ancient India, there was a strong tradition of alchemy, which was an early form of science, rather than Chemistry as a separate field. Alchemy was like a magical way of trying to change one substance into another. Indian alchemists worked on ways to turn simple metals into valuable ones like gold. Ancient Indian texts mention famous alchemists like Patanjali and Nagarjuna, who were like scientists experimenting with metals and minerals. One of the main materials they used was mercury, a shiny liquid metal often found in their experiments.4 

Fig 6.4:A recreation of Rasashala, a typical alchemical laboratory of Nagarjuna, can be seen in the "Our Science & Technological Heritage of India" gallery at the National Science Centre in Delhi. 

4. Medicine and Well Being 

a. Ayurveda:
Ayurveda, one of the oldest healthcare systems in the world, has its roots in ancient India and began more than 5,000 years ago. Ancient Indian texts document Ayurvedic principles and practices. Ayurveda believed that natural items like gold, silver, mercury, garlic, honey, and herbs had the power to heal sickness. Interestingly, modern scientists have confirmed the healing benefits of some of these remedies.4 

b. Sushruta: 

In the fourth century, a great surgeon named Sushruta wrote a book called the Sushruta Samhita. People often call him the "Father of Surgery." In his book, he listed about 125 surgical tools and described how to perform surgeries like Caesarean sections (helping babies be born), plastic surgery (repairing or improving appearances), and fixing broken bones.4 

Fig 6.5: Statue of Sushruta, "Father of Plastic Surgery" in Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar

c. Yoga: 

Yoga has been a part of Indian culture for thousands of years. One of the earliest references to yoga comes from the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed around 3300–1300 BCE. Archaeologists have found seals showing people doing yoga postures and meditation. The word "yoga" was first mentioned in the Rig Veda, an ancient sacred text.5 

Fig 6.6: Yoga pose on the seal of Indus valley Civilization & Ancient statues from Ajanta and Ellora caves prove that yoga was already known and practised 

Yoga includes exercises for both the body and the mind. It teaches people to eat healthily, stay active, and live balanced lives. Even today, scientists agree that yoga is one of the best ways to stay healthy and stress-free.5