May 18

On May 18, 1593, the aftermath of Thomas Kyd’s interrogation cast suspicion upon Christopher Marlowe, one of the era’s most innovative playwrights. Kyd, detained and accused of heresy, allegedly named Marlowe as a heretical associate, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest. Forced into hiding, Marlowe’s fate became a subject of intrigue in Elizabethan society, blending literary genius with dangerous religious politics. The episode highlights the precarious position of artists under the scrutiny of the Church and Crown. Marlowe’s subsequent disappearance and mysterious death fueled legends that endure in literary history.

Shree Pundalik was a short, four-minute adaptation of a popular Marathi stage play.\nTorne filmed the production using a single-camera setup at a local tent cinema.\nIt was publicly screened in Bombay (now Mumbai), captivating early audiences.\nAlthough it preceded other productions, its footage has since been lost.\nThe film’s success inspired further filmmaking efforts, leading to the 1913 release of Raja Harishchandra.\nThat subsequent production is often credited as India's first full-length feature film.\nShree Pundalik is celebrated today as the pioneering spark of what would become Bollywood.