H. S. Bhatavdekar

H S Bhatavedkar, the first Indian man to make a motion picture in India, was born on the 15th of March 1868 in Bombay to a Maharashtrian Karhade family. He grew up and lived in Bombay, pursuing a professional career in portrait photography. His life revolved around cameras and film equipment, and he owned a business in equipment dealing. Sawe dada, aka, Bhatavedkar, 's career in filmmaking began in 1896 as he attended the screening of the first film by the Lumiere Brothers and was rendered awe-struck. Shortly after, to follow his passion for filmmaking, he bought a cine camera from the UK and made his and India’s first motion picture, “The Wrestlers,” in 1899. “The Wrestlers” became the first ‘Reality documentary of India.’ It was a recording of a wrestling match in Bombay’s Hanging Garden between Pundalik Dada and Krishna Navi, and the film was sent to the UK for its processing.

This film gained HS Bhatavedkar the title of “Father of Indian factual film.” By 1903, H.S. Bhatavedkar had made six documentaries and short films named, The Wrestlers, The Man and His Monkeys, Local scenes of MM Bhownuggree, Atash Behram, Sir Wrangler Mr. R.P. Paranjype, Delhi Durbar of Lord Curzon and last but the most significant Delhi Durbar. Delhi durbar is considered a milestone in the filmmaking career of Sawe Dada. It was a visual account of the coronation of Edward VII as the emperor of India in 1903 in Delhi’s coronation park. His leap from recording day-to-day events to recording national events of historical importance is to be regarded and admired. Another critical event he documented was the return of acclaimed mathematics student R.P. Paranjype from Cambridge to India in December 1901.

This event became the first Indian news film significant to both British and Indian communities. H.S. Bhatavedkar retired from the cinema after four years of the Delhi Durbar documentary in 1907 as he sold his equipment to Karandikar of SN Patnar’s company. He also took the manager position of Gaiety Theatre in Bombay and died wealthy on the 20th of February in 1958. Later, his family name changed to Sawe, and his descendants live in Yari road, Mumbai.