description Kaliya Mardan Overview
Kaliya Mardan is a 1919 Indian silent mythological film directed by Dadasaheb Phalke, a foundational figure in early Indian cinema. It dramatizes the childhood episode in which Krishna subdues the serpent Kaliya, whose presence has poisoned the Yamuna River. Phalke's daughter Mandakini played the young Krishna, making the surviving film an important record of mythological storytelling, performance, and visual effects during India's silent era.
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What is the story of Kaliya Mardan?
The 1919 silent mythological film follows child Krishna as he confronts the venomous serpent Kaliya, whose presence has poisoned the Yamuna River. Its climax shows Krishna subduing the serpent by dancing on its many hoods.
Who directed Kaliya Mardan and who played Krishna?
Dadasaheb Phalke directed the film, and his daughter Mandakini Phalke played the child Krishna. That casting makes the film part of both Phalke's early mythological cinema and his family filmmaking history.
Is Kaliya Mardan a silent film?
Yes, Kaliya Mardan is an Indian silent film from 1919, so it relies on visual action and editing rather than recorded dialogue. A silent-film screening may use musical accompaniment, but the original film has no synchronized spoken soundtrack.
Why is Kaliya Mardan important in Indian film history?
Phalke is widely treated as a foundational figure in Indian cinema, and Kaliya Mardan is described as the most extant of his early films. Its surviving Krishna-and-Kaliya imagery preserves a major example of early Indian mythological storytelling.
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