Dadasaheb Phalke Mural

Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood, owes much to the Indian film industry, yet its origins are often unknown. As part of St+art Mumbai 2014, artist Ranjit Dahiya from the Bollywood Art Project created a mural honoring Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema and creator of India’s first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913).

The mural, covering the MTNL building facade, depicted Phalke with a film roll against a vibrant yellow background, symbolizing Bollywood's brilliance. “Dadasaheb Phalke deserved the most prominent mural,” said Dahiya, considering Mumbai's film industry love. The MTNL building, visible from the Western Express Highway, was chosen for its prominence, adding historical and cultural depth. Collaborating with artists Yantr, Munir Bukhari, and Nilesh Kharade, Dahiya's 120x150 foot mural used 800 liters of paint over 10 days. It was unveiled on December 11, 2014, by Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and advertising professional Piyush Pandey.