On 7 July 1896, the Lumiere Brothers of France screened six films at Watson Hotel, Bombay, marking the birth of Indian cinema. The Lumiere brothers were French cinematographers who came to India to screen their films after proving their cinematic excellence in Paris. The screening of the films took place at Watson Hotel, Mumbai on 7 July 1896 and the ticket was priced at Rs 1. The Times of India called the event “the miracle of the century”. The Lumiere Brothers’ show received an overwhelming response and was followed by the introduction of motion pictures in India in Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras). The six films screened were Entry of the Cinematograph, The Sea Bath, Arrival of a Train, A Demolition, Ladies and Soldiers on Wheels and Leaving the Factory. The second film screening by the French Brothers took place on 14 July at a new venue, the Novelty Theatre, Bombay, and twenty-four films were shown that day, including A Stormy Sea and The Thames at Waterloo Bridge. Alternating between these two venues, the shows ended on 15 August 1896.
