1933: Key Events

• The Indian Air Force is formed, named ‘Royal’ during WW2. The Indian Military Academy is started at Dehra Dun on the lines of the Sandhurst academy.

• The government of India nationalises radio broadcasting.

• Choudhury Rehmat Ali’s note of 28 January is the first time the word ‘Pakistan’ (Land of the Pure) is used: it is also a loose acronym for ‘Punjab, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Sind, Baluchistan’.

• In Calcutta, Bengal Lamps is India’s first manufacturer of light bulbs and electrical equipment.

• Natyamanwantar stages its landmark Marathi stage production, Andhalyanchi Shala.

• Prabhat Studio moves to Pune; its Sairandhri, processsed and printed in Germany, becomes India’s first colour film.

• Kolhapur Cinetone is started. Wadia Movietone is founded, establishing the stunt film as a respectable, big- budget genre, with Hunterwali (1935).

• Vijay Bhatt and others start Prakash Pictures.

• Vel Pictures and Tamil Nadu Talkies are launched in Madras.

• Himansu Rai’s fourth international venture, Karma, is premièred in London.

• The air-conditioned Regal Cinema opens in Bombay.