Alam Ara  Alam Ara () was a 1931 Indian film directed by Ardeshir Irani. It was the first Indian sound film. Irani recognised the importance that sound would have on the cinema, and raced to complete "Alam Ara" before several contemporary sound films. "Alam Ara" debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai (then Bombay) on 14 March 1931. The first Indian talkie was so popular that "police aid had to be summoned to control the crowds." The film was houseful for the next 8 weeks of its release. It was advertised with the tagline "All living. Breathing. 100 per cent talking". The film has long been lost and was not available as far back as 1967 according to the National Film Archive of India, Pune. The film is a love story between a prince and a gypsy girl, based on a Parsi play written by the Bene Israel of India member, Joseph David Penkar. David later served as a writer at Irani's film company. The story centers on an imaginary, historical royal family in the kingdom of Kumarpur. The main characters are the king, Sultan Saleem Khan (L. V. Prasad), and his two warring wives, Dilbahar Begum (Shushila), and Navbahar Begum (Zillu). Their rivalry escalates when a "fakir" (W. M. Khan) predicts that Navbahar will bear the king's heir. Dilbahar, in a fit, attempts to have an affair with the kingdom's chief minister, General Adil Khan (Prithviraj). The affair goes sour and a vengeful Dilbahar imprisons him and exiles his daughter, Alam Ara or Alamara (Zubeida). In exile, Alamara is brought up by Gypsies. Upon returning to the palace at Kumarpur, Alamara meets and falls in love with the charming young prince, Jahangir Khan (Master Vithal). In the end, Adil is released, Dilbahar is punished and the lovers marry. Both the movie and its music were widely successful, including the hit song "De de khuda ke naam per", which was also the first song of the Indian cinema. It was sung by actor Wazir Mohammed Khan who played a "fakir" in the film. As playback singing had yet to start in Indian cinema, it was recorded live with musical accompaniment of a harmonium and a tabla.