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Happened to watch a beautiful film today, the Oscar nominated Marathi film – Harishchandrachi Factory. The movie is the story behind the making of the first Indian feature film – Raja Harishchandra. The movie in a light hearted way portrays the struggles Dadasaheb Phalke, had to face to make his dream of producing a motion picture a reality. While the movie is a must watch for cinema lovers it also can be a source of inspiration for budding entrepreneurs. So if you do not have time to take up a course on Entrepreneurship, spend around 100 minutes in watching this film and you shall have learned enough.

Lesson # 1 – Follow Your Passion Irrespective Of Failures
Although his first venture in the camera business failed miserably, Dadasaheb Phalke realised that it was due to people spreading false rumours that taking photos sucks the life out of you and not because of any lack of opportunity in the business. Seeing an English feature film for the first time, he was bewildered by seeing pictures in motion and instantaneously decided that this is what he wants to do. While he did not have the resources or the knowledge to make a film, he had the passion to make motion pictures. Being passionate about what you intend to do is most crucial to setting up your venture. Knowledge and resources can be acquired, but passion has to be ignited from within.

Lesson # 2 – Have Confidence In Your Dreams
While the movie portrays the struggles of a first time film maker, ironically Paresh Mokashi (the director of the film) had to face his share of struggles in making Harishchandrachi Factory. But his confidence in his dream made him overcome all problems. When no producer was ready to produce the film in Marathi, Paresh mortgaged his home and decided to make the film on his own money. This bears resemblance to Dadasaheb mortgaging his wife’s jewels to make his first film. When you have confidence in your dreams, problems are nothing but milestones in your journey.

Lesson # 3 – A Desire For Continuous Learning
Dadasaheb sat for hours watching English cinema on screens in his town to try and learn the art of making films. However he realised that watching films alone is not enough and if he had to learn the art of making films, he would have to go and learn it at London. Without having any contacts or acquaintances in London, but with the burning desire to learn, he left for London to study cinema. It was this quest for knowledge which gave him the confidence to walk into a Motion Pictures office in London and say, “I am Dadasaheb Phalke and I want to make a motion picture. Will you help me?”. As entrepreneurs you need to have this constant quest for learning everything related to your business. As long as this desire is present within you, success would not be very far. When you think you have learnt everything, then it is time to move on to something new.

Entrepreneurship lessons from Harishchandrachi Factory 

Lesson # 4 – Gaining Investor Confidence Through Demonstration Of Your Ability
While you may be passionate and confident about your dream venture, investors will look at your venture with scepticism. Is he actually capable of doing this? Is it even possible to do this? Are some questions that will be thriving in their minds. As Dadasaheb says in the movie – “Chamtkaara Shivay Namaskar Nahin” (if you do not perform miracles no one will salute you). To gain confidence of investors and friends he produces a short film that shows the growth of a bean seed to a plant. Seeing that Dadasaheb in fact had the capability to make a motion film, he managed to win the support of his friends and investors were ready to give him money to make the film. So while you may have a mountainous project in mind, it is important you at least develop a mole hill first to show that you actually have the capability to build a mountain.

Lesson # 5 – Be Ready To Get Your Hand Dirty
Midway through the shooting when the camera stops working, Dadasaheb says to his friend – its time to open up the instruction manual. As entrepreneurs, it is extremely important to get your hands dirty, learn things the hard way and make things work. You will not have enough money in the startup phase to get specialist help, so be ready to learn, be ready to fail and be ready to get your hands dirty.

Second part coming in a while In the meanwhile do catch the movie.

Here is a theatrical trailer of the film Harishchandrachi Factory 

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