Bhishma Pratigna (1921 film)

Bhishma Pratigna is a 1921 Indian silent film directed by Raghupathi Surya Prakash (R. S. Prakash). Prakash also produced the film along with his father Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu through Star of the East production company. The film stars Surya Prakash as Bhishma and Peggy Castello as Ganga. It is generally considered to be the first Telugu feature film. Some film historians also consider it to be the first feature film produced in South India. The film was released all over India, Burma and Sri Lanka and was a big success. The film was made on a budget of ₹12,000 (worth ₹2.2 crore in 2021 prices) and made ₹60,000 in returns.

Cast

 * Raghupathi Surya Prakash as Bhishma
 * Peggy Castello as Ganga
 * Bunny Osten
 * A. Narayanan

Production
Bhishma Pratigna made in 1921 is a silent film. It is the first film made by a Telugu producer. It is generally considered to be the first Telugu feature film.

Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu sent his son R. S. Prakash abroad to learn filmmaking. Prakash went to London and joined Barker Motion Photography in Ealing in 1918, then went to Paris (Pathé), Germany (where he saw F. W. Murnau at work) and to Hollywood. After Prakash's return, he founded 'Star of the East', the first Telugu-owned film production company. In 1921, the father-son duo produced a silent film titled Bhishma Pratigna. Prakash not only directed the film, but also played the title role of Bhishma. An English woman named 'de Costello' played the role of Ganga.

Later, the father and son duo made some more films like Matsyavatar, Nandanar (1923), Gajendra Moksham (1923). C. Pullayya and Y. V. Rao, who became noted filmmakers started their career as Prakash's followers.