Who was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema?

Introduction / Context:

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is considered the highest honour in Indian cinema, awarded for lifetime contribution to films. This question checks your awareness of the history of Indian film awards and the personalities who shaped the industry. Remembering the first recipient helps you anchor the chronology of Indian cinema history and important cultural milestones.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The award in question is the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

• It is known as India's highest honour in cinema.

• The options list four notable names connected with Indian film and theatre.

• We assume the question refers to the official national award instituted by the Government of India in 1969.

Concept / Approach:

The method here is pure factual recall combined with elimination. You should know or deduce which personality was honoured first when the award was instituted. Among the options, Devika Rani stands out as a pioneering actress and studio head whose contribution predates many others. The others are well known but do not match the established record as the first awardee.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

You can verify this by referring to official lists of Dadasaheb Phalke Award winners maintained by government sources and standard reference books on Indian cinema. These lists consistently show the first recipient in 1969 as Devika Rani. None of the other listed personalities are shown as the inaugural awardee, which confirms your choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

B. N. Sarkar was an important figure in Indian theatre and cinema but was not the first Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient.

Prithviraj Kapoor is a legendary actor and theatre personality; he did receive many honours, but he was not the first to receive this particular award.

Kanan Devi was a pioneer among Bengali actresses and singers, yet she does not appear as the inaugural awardee in official records.

Common Pitfalls:

A typical mistake is to assume that the most famous or familiar name must be the first awardee. Another pitfall is confusing this award with other film honours like the National Film Awards or Filmfare awards. Students should carefully recall or revise chronological facts rather than rely on popularity of names alone.

Final Answer:

The first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was Devika Rani.