Which film is widely recognised as the first Indian full length talkie, that is, the first Indian sound film with recorded dialogue and songs?

Introduction / Context:
The transition from silent films to talkies marks a major turning point in the history of cinema worldwide. In India, one particular film is recognised as the first full length talkie, meaning the first feature film with synchronised recorded dialogue and songs. This question tests knowledge of that landmark movie, which every student of Indian culture and film history is expected to know.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the first Indian sound film, not the first film ever made in India.
• The options include early and famous Indian films, but only one introduced recorded sound.
• The learner is expected to distinguish between silent cinema and talkies.
• No detailed knowledge of release year is needed, just the correct title.

Concept / Approach:
Alam Ara, released in 1931, is recognised as the first Indian talkie. Before this, films like Raja Harishchandra and Shree Pundalik were silent movies with no synchronised recorded dialogue. Mother India is a much later classic from the 1950s. The approach is to identify which film is historically celebrated for introducing sound to Indian cinema and then eliminate those that either belong to the silent era or to later decades.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Raja Harishchandra (1913) is often cited as the first full length Indian feature film, but it was silent. Step 2: Remember that Shree Pundalik is another very early Indian film, also silent. Step 3: Note that Mother India is a famous post independence film from the 1950s, far too late to be the first talkie. Step 4: Identify Alam Ara as the film that first brought recorded dialogues and songs to Indian cinema in 1931. Step 5: Conclude that Alam Ara is the only option that fits the description of the first Indian talkie.

Verification / Alternative check:
Film history references consistently state that Ardeshir Irani directed Alam Ara, India's first talkie, which opened in 1931 and created a sensation because audiences heard actors speak on screen for the first time. Raja Harishchandra and Shree Pundalik are acknowledged as early silent films. Mother India is remembered as a later landmark but not as the first sound film. This evidence confirms Alam Ara as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Raja Harishchandra is historic as the first full length Indian feature film, yet it is silent and predates sound technology in Indian cinema. Shree Pundalik is another pioneering silent film but again lacks recorded dialogue. Mother India, though a celebrated film, came more than two decades after the introduction of talkies and therefore cannot be first in that category. None of these options match the specific criterion of being the first talkie.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse the first feature film with the first talkie and mistakenly choose Raja Harishchandra. Others may pick Mother India because of its fame without paying attention to the timeline. The safest method is to remember one simple mapping: Raja Harishchandra equals first Indian feature film, and Alam Ara equals first Indian talkie. Keeping these separate avoids most errors on related questions.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: Alam Ara