Big B inaugurates Dadasaheb Phalke's mural in Mumbai

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan unveiled a 120x150 feet mural of Dadasaheb Phalke, revered as the father of Indian cinema, on the MTNL Building at Bandra Reclamation here Thursday.

St+art Mumbai festival, an initiative by non-profit organisation St+art India Foundation, closed on a high with the unveiling of the filmmaker-screenwriter's mural.

"St+art India Foundation's vision is to change the urban landscape of India by making it more colourful, interactive and positive.

"Earlier this year, St+art India Foundation took baby steps in Delhi and today with the inauguration of the iconic Dadasaheb Phalke's mural by the legend himself, Amitabh Bachchan, our foundation's vision has been re-emphasised," Arjun Bahl, festival director of St+art Mumbai, said in a statement.

The wall is 120x150 feet and to cover the whole facade, a total of 800 litres of paint was used.

"Bollywood is one of the largest film industries in the world today, but only a few know about Dadasaheb Phalke. It is important that the young generation values Phalke's efforts and see him in this new avatar," said Hanif Kureshi, creative director of St+art Mumbai.

The mural showcases the synergy of street art and Indian cinema and the significance it has in not just Mumbai, but also the country today.

Ranjit Dahiya, founder of the Bollywood Art Project (BAP), is the artist who made the mural. He also had the support of other artists - Yantr from Guwahati, Munir Bukhari from Rajkot and Nilesh Kharade from Solapur.

"The MTNL building is an iconic structure considering it is right off the western express highway and sea link and visible to everyone that passes by.

"Keeping Mumbai and its love for the film industry in mind, the one individual that I instantly thought of was Dadasaheb Phalke -- the father of Indian cinema, who truly deserved the most prominent mural," said Dahiya.