Independence Day Special: Did you know? This Was The First Bollywood Film to Release on 15 August 1947

India is set to celebrate its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026. In the eight decades since freedom, the country has grown across every sphere of society but today, the spotlight is on cinema.

As the nation marks Independence Day, it’s worth revisiting one of the earliest films of independent India. Did you know which was among the first Bollywood films to release after India won its freedom? It was Shehnai.

The First Film to Release on 15 August 1947

Released on August 15, 1947, the film starred Kishore Kumar, Rehana, Indumati, Nasir Khan, V.H. Desai, and others. It is remembered for its music and for marking the beginning of a new era in Indian cinema.

Directed by P.L. Santoshi, Shehnai holds the distinction of being the first movie to release in free India, following nearly 200 years of British rule.

True to its title, the film was set in the world of music, following the story of a struggling entertainer, played by Desai, who runs a music and dance troupe with his daughters. However, their mother believes the profession is bringing disrespect to her girls. The film also traces the love lives of the daughters alongside this central conflict.

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With music composed by C. Ramchandra and lyrics penned by Santoshi himself, the film featured songs such as “Jai Krishna Hare Shri Krishna Hare” and “Tirchi Topi Walo Se Ho Bach Ke Rehna Ji,” among others.

Was Shehnai a Hit?

The film reportedly earned under Rs 1 crore at the box office. It was indeed a commercial success, though not the highest-grossing film of the year. Contemporary accounts note that it enjoyed a silver jubilee run of 25 weeks in cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, and Kanpur. Releasing on the momentous occasion of Independence, the film drew long queues outside theatres for days.

While Shehnai performed well commercially, it did not top the charts for 1947. That distinction belongs to Jugnu, starring Dilip Kumar and Nargis, which released in November 1947 and ran for over 50 weeks, becoming one of the biggest hits of the year. Other major successes from that year included Do Bhai, Dard, and Mirza Sahibaan.