Which film is widely regarded as the first full length Sanskrit language feature film produced in India?

Introduction / Context:
Sanskrit, the ancient classical language of India, has had a profound influence on philosophy, religion and literature, but it has rarely been used as the primary language of mainstream cinema. This question tests knowledge of Indian film history and specifically asks which production is widely recognised as the first full length Sanskrit language feature film made in India. Knowing this fact helps learners connect cultural heritage, language revival and the evolution of Indian cinema as an art form.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the first full length feature film produced in the Sanskrit language in India.
• All options are titles of well known Indian films from different periods.
• Only one of these is historically documented as the first Sanskrit language film.
• Short films or documentaries are not considered here, only a full length feature film.

Concept / Approach:
To answer correctly, we recall that Adi Shankaracharya, directed by G. V. Iyer and released in the early 1980s, is credited as the first full length Indian feature film made entirely in Sanskrit. It is a biographical film on the life and teachings of Adi Shankara, the great Advaita philosopher. Bhagavad Gita is another Sanskrit film by the same director, but it came later. Alam Ara and Raja Harishchandra are landmark films for other reasons, such as being among the earliest Indian films and the first Indian talkie in Hindi, but they were not in Sanskrit. Therefore, we focus on which movie explicitly holds the film history milestone for Sanskrit language cinema.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify which film among the options is known to be in Sanskrit rather than in Hindi or silent format. Step 2: Recognise that Adi Shankaracharya was produced in Sanskrit and is documented as the first full length Sanskrit feature film in India. Step 3: Note that Bhagavad Gita is also a Sanskrit film but it was released after Adi Shankaracharya, so it cannot be the first. Step 4: Recall that Alam Ara is famous as the first Indian talkie in Hindi and Raja Harishchandra is famous as one of the earliest silent Indian films, not Sanskrit productions. Step 5: Based on these distinctions, select Adi Shankaracharya as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick cross check using standard film history references shows that Adi Shankaracharya received recognition at the National Film Awards and is mentioned consistently as the first Sanskrit language feature film. Bhagavad Gita, although also in Sanskrit, is listed with a later release date. No credible reference lists Alam Ara or Raja Harishchandra as Sanskrit films. This confirms that the historically correct milestone film is Adi Shankaracharya.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bhagavad Gita is indeed a Sanskrit film, but it was released later and therefore is not the first Sanskrit feature film. Alam Ara is important as the first Indian sound film, but it is in Hindi, not Sanskrit. Raja Harishchandra is one of the earliest Indian silent films and a landmark of Indian cinema history, but it predates the use of spoken dialogue and is not a Sanskrit language feature. Thus, these three options do not match the specific requirement of being the first full length Sanskrit language film produced in India.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that any very old or historically important film must also be the first in every category. Students may confuse the earliest silent film or the first talkie with the first Sanskrit film. Another pitfall is mixing up Bhagavad Gita and Adi Shankaracharya because both are Sanskrit religious films by the same director. It is important to focus on the exact wording of the question, which asks for the first Sanskrit feature film, not simply an early religious or award winning film. Remembering the specific association of Adi Shankaracharya with this milestone avoids such confusion.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: Adi Shankaracharya