First in Indian Cinema and Arts

Raja Harishchandra (1913), directed by Dadasaheb Phalke (Dhundiraj Govind Phalke), is considered India's first full-length feature film. It was a silent film shot in Mumbai. Dadasaheb Phalke is called the 'Father of Indian Cinema.' The Dadasaheb Phalke Award — India's highest film honour — is named in his memory.

Alam Ara (1931), directed by Ardeshir Irani, was India's first sound film (talkie). It premiered on March 14, 1931, at Majestic Cinema, Bombay. The film featured seven songs, making it also India's first musical film. The advent of talkies transformed Indian cinema and sparked the growth of regional film industries.

Bhanu Athaiya became the first Indian to win an Oscar when she received the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the film Gandhi (1983), directed by Richard Attenborough. Satyajit Ray received an Honorary Oscar in 1992. A.R. Rahman and Gulzar won Oscars in 2009 for Slumdog Millionaire.

Mother India (1957), directed by Mehboob Khan, was India's first film submitted for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It was nominated but did not win. The film starred Nargis and is considered one of the greatest Indian films. It explored poverty, dignity, and the sacrifices of Indian women.

Neecha Nagar (1946), directed by Chetan Anand, won the Grand Prix (Best Film award) at the first Cannes Film Festival in 1946 — making it the first Indian film to win an international award. Pather Panchali (1955) by Satyajit Ray later won the Best Human Document award at Cannes 1956.

While no Indian director has won the Palme d'Or outright, Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali (1955) won the Best Human Document award at Cannes 1956. Satyajit Ray received the Honorary Palme d'Or in 1982 and the Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 1992. He is the only Indian filmmaker to receive both the Bharat Ratna (1992) and an Honorary Oscar.

Devika Rani, the legendary actress and producer, was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969. Known as the 'First Lady of Indian Cinema,' she co-founded Bombay Talkies with her husband Himanshu Rai. Devika Rani was also known for launching Dilip Kumar's career. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1958.

Kisan Kanya (1937) was India's first colour feature film, produced by Ardeshir Irani (who also made India's first talkie, Alam Ara) using the Cinecolor process. However, widespread colour filmmaking in India began in the 1950s. Jhansi Ki Rani (1953) was the first Indian Technicolor film.

Pandit Ravi Shankar received his first Grammy Award in 1967 for Best Chamber Music Performance (with Yehudi Menuhin). He went on to win four Grammys in total. He is considered the greatest ambassador of Indian classical music internationally. He also collaborated with The Beatles' George Harrison, introducing sitar to Western audiences.

Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904–1986) was a pioneering Bharatanatyam dancer who revived and refined the art form. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1956. No Indian classical dancer has yet received the Bharat Ratna. However, Rukmini Devi is the most significant figure in the revival of Bharatanatyam from its temple origins to a concert stage art form. She founded Kalakshetra in 1936.

The National Film Awards were established in 1954 (1st National Film Awards). The Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) is awarded for Best Feature Film and several other top categories. The Silver Lotus (Rajat Kamal) covers many other categories. Administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of I&B, the awards are India's most prestigious film honours.

M.S. Subbulakshmi (1916–2004) was the first Indian musician to receive an Honorary Doctorate from Edinburgh University (1971) and later from other prestigious institutions. She was also the first musician to receive the Bharat Ratna (1998). She performed at the United Nations in 1966 — becoming the first Indian musician to do so — rendering the Bhaja Govindam and Suprabhatam.

Ghajini (2008), directed by A.R. Murugadoss and starring Aamir Khan, was the first Bollywood film to cross Rs. 100 crore at the box office, ushering in the era of the '100 Crore Club' in Bollywood. 3 Idiots (2009) then crossed Rs. 200 crore. Today, films regularly cross Rs. 500 crore. This transformed marketing, distribution, and budgeting across the Indian film industry.

Farah Khan was the first woman to win the Filmfare Award for Best Director for Om Shanti Om (2007). She is also known for directing Main Hoon Na (2004) and Happy New Year (2014). India's film industry has historically been male-dominated in direction and production, making Farah Khan's achievement a significant milestone.

Prithviraj Kapoor (1906–1972), patriarch of the Kapoor family and founder of Prithvi Theatres, was among the earliest actors to receive the Padma Bhushan (1969). He is considered the first major superstar of Indian cinema, known for films like Mughal-e-Azam (1960). He also established Prithvi Theatres in Mumbai, which became a major centre for theatre in India.

Hanuman (2005), produced by Sahara One Motion Pictures and directed by V.G. Samant and Milind Ukey, is considered the first fully animated feature film made in India. It depicted the story of Lord Hanuman in Hindi and was a major commercial success. Before Hanuman, most Indian animation was limited to television (like the Doordarshan animated shows) or foreign co-productions.

Nutan (1936–1991) won the National Film Award for Best Actress for Seema (1955) at the 3rd National Film Awards — making her one of the earliest winners of this prestigious award. She went on to win five Filmfare Awards for Best Actress — a record at the time. Known for her versatility and naturalistic acting, she is considered one of Indian cinema's greatest actresses.

Thanjavur (Tanjore) in Tamil Nadu is considered the birthplace and heartland of Bharatanatyam — the oldest classical dance form of India. The dance evolved from the temple traditions of the Devadasi community and the 'Sadir' style. The Thanjavur Quartet (four brothers — Chinnaiah, Ponnaiah, Vadivelu, and Shivanandam) in the 19th century codified the Bharatanatyam margam (repertoire) as known today.

Pather Panchali (1955) by Satyajit Ray is one of the most internationally acclaimed Indian films and has been preserved in various world film archives. The film launched the Apu Trilogy (Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Apur Sansar) and is regularly featured in lists of the greatest films ever made. It depicted rural Bengal with realism and poetry, influencing global parallel cinema.

Pandit Ravi Shankar was among the first Indian musicians to perform at the Royal Albert Hall, London, helping bring Indian classical music to Western audiences in the 1960s. His collaborations with Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison of The Beatles made the sitar internationally famous. M.S. Subbulakshmi performed at the United Nations in New York (1966), becoming the first Indian musician to do so.