Shehnai Was the First Film Released in Independent India

On August 15, 1947, India became free from British rule after about 200 years.

On that very special day, the first movie of free India was released.

Its name was Shehnai.

It starred a very famous actor-singer named Kishore Kumar.

The movie was about a struggling entertainer who runs a music and dance troupe with his daughters.

Their mother thinks the work brings disrespect to her girls.

The movie also tells the love stories of the daughters.

The songs were made by C. Ramchandra and became quite popular.

People were so excited that there were long queues outside movie theatres for days.

The movie was a hit and ran for 25 weeks in big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur.

It is remembered as the start of a new era in Indian cinema.