First Box Office Hit Phalke's Lanka Dehan (1917) ran for 23 weeks in Bombay. It is on record that the money collected at the counters had to be transported in bullock carts with armed guards!
First Playback Maestro R C Boral introduced playback singing for the first time in the film Dhoop Chhaaon (1935). The song 'Main Khush Hona Chahun..' had an all women chorus led by Parul Ghosh with Suprova Sarkar and Harimati.
First 'A' Film Social Evil, a docu drama, was made in 1929 to give guidance to ignorant youth about sexual problems. It was the first film given the "For Adults Only" A certificate.
First English Song "Now The Moon Her Light Has Shed" sung by Devika Rani for the film Karma (1933) under the baton of music director Earnest Broadhurst.
First Women Composer Jaddan Bai, mother of Nargis, produced, directed and composed the music for Talash-e-Haq (1935). In the same year, Saraswati Devi scored the music for Bombay Talkies' film Jawani Ki Hawa.
First Music Directors Pirojshah Mistry and B Irani composed music for seven songs of first talkie film Alam Aara (1931).
First Film Song "De De Khuda Ke Naam Par Pyare" was sung by W M Khan for Alam Ara (1931).
First Film Insured Producer director Subhash Ghai's banner Mukta Arts took a Rs.11 crore policy for Taal ('99) with United India Insurance against possible shooting schedule disturbances or accidents on sets during shooting.
First Double Roles A. Salunke played both Rama & Sita in Phalke's Lanka Dahan ('17). Sahu Modak played both prince & pauper in Vitthal's Awara Shehzada ('33)
First One-Actor One-Set Film Sunil Dutt made Yaadein (1964) with just himself emoting only on one set.
First Songless Film J B H Wadia's Naujawan (1937) did not have any songs as it was a fast paced thriller.
