Pushpak, Raja Harishchandra and others: Silent movies of Bollywood that are still heard

The realm of Indian cinema's silent era, though devoid of spoken dialogue, was far from quiet in its impact and innovation. Emerging in the early 20th century, these visual narratives laid the crucial foundation for the sprawling and vibrant film industry we know today as Bollywood. While many of these pioneering films are sadly lost to time, their stories and the circumstances surrounding their creation continue to resonate, offering invaluable insights into the nascent stages of Indian storytelling on screen and the eager audience that embraced it. Here are some of the golden films of that era that continue to resonate deeply with their audiences.