Today marks the 80th anniversary of Alam Ara – India’s first talkie film : Bollywood News

Today 14th March 2011 is a special day for Indian cinema as it marks the 80th anniversary of Alam Ara - the first Indian film to have sound.

On this very day in the year 1931, Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic cinema in Mumbai causing such frenzy and stampede among the audience that the police control had to be called for.

Today marks the 80th anniversary of Alam Ara – India’s first talkie film

Alam Ara also featured the first song of Indian cinema -'De De Khuda Ke Naam Par'- sung by actor Wazir Mohammed Khan himself. The film, directed by Ardeshir Irani, is a love story between a prince and a gypsy girl and was based on a Parsi play.

The sad part though is that as a result of a fire which took place at National Film Archive of India at Pune in 2003, the last surviving print of Alam Ara was destroyed and the film is no longer available in its original format.