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1-50 of 116
- Writer
- Composer
- Director
Satyajit Ray was born in Calcutta on May 2, 1921. His father, Late Sukumar Ray was an eminent poet and writer in the history of Bengali literature. In 1940, after receiving his degree in science and economics from Calcutta University, he attended Tagore's Viswa-Bharati University. His first movie Pather Panchali (1955) won several International Awards and set Ray as a world-class director. He died on April twenty-third, 1992.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Ritwik Ghatak was born on 4 November 1925 in Dacca, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Dhaka, Bangladesh]. He was a director and writer, known for Reason, Debate and a Story (1974), Musafir (1957) and The Cloud-Capped Star (1960). He was married to Surama Ghatak. He died on 6 February 1976 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
The legendary Bengali Actor of Calcutta, Uttam Kumar (Guru, Mahanayak as fans say), widely regarded as one of the Greatest actors ever in India, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, singer, music composer, playback singer who predominantly worked in Indian Cinema. Though he was a commercial success and widely accepted as the Greatest Actor of Bengali film, he also achieved great critical appreciations for his natural way of acting. When the Indian government instituted the National Film Awards for National Film Award for Best Actor and National Film Award for Best Actress in 1967, Uttam Kumar was the first-ever recipient of the Best Actor Award for his performances in Antony Firingee and Chiriyakhana in 1967. Acted in over 250 films with different experimental and complicated characters. Among which "Nayak", "Bicharak", "Jatugriha", "Chiriyakhana", "Khokababur Protyabarton", "Chowrongiee", "Ekhane Pinjar", "Thana Theke Aschi" etc. shows his genius.Though there were problems regarding editing, co-stars and others in contemporary Bengali films, still his genius acting made him the most popular film star. He is well acclaimed due to the successful depiction of several kinds of characters in films apart from his romantic image. He received the Best "greatest Actor" MAHANAYAK award for the same film from the Government of India on 25 November 1975. The price was worth 500000 rupees. Besides 8 times Bengal film Journalists' Awards for his incomparable acting he got many prizes and acclaims throughout his life. Got the Indian national award Padmashree for his contribution to Bengali films. He produced "Saptapadi" which was a commercial hit and approved Uttam Kumar along with Suchitra Sen the romantic Icon of Bengali Film forever. It got Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Bengali in 1961 National Film Award, India. He starred in Hindi films like "Kitaab", "Dooriyan", "Plot no. 5", "Amanush", "Anand Ashram" etc. which approves his popularity and also shows beauties of natural acting. He composed music for the film "Banpalashir Padabali", which was a great commercial hit. He was very generous to poor co-workers in Film Industry but he lived an alcoholic reckless life. Workaholic Uttam Kumar died while filming "Ogo Bodhu Sundari" one of the greatest comedy films of Bengal, in Belle Vue Clinic on 24th July 1980.The Tollygunge metro station of Kolkata Metro was renamed as "Mahanayak Uttam Kumar". Satyajit Ray paid homage to his death saying "It is the demise of a leading light of the Bengali film industry...There isn't - there won't be another hero like him."- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Utpal Dutt was born on 29 March 1929 in Barisal, Bengal Presidency, British India [now Bangladesh]. He was an actor and director, known for The Stranger (1991), Gol Maal (1979) and Bhuvan Shome (1969). He was married to Shobha Sen. He died on 19 August 1993 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Mother Teresa also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun who in 1950 founded and was an active member of the Missionaries of Charity. Although her passport name was Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, she was born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu (Skopje, capital of North Macedonia. After living in Skopje for eighteen years, she moved to Ireland and then to India, where she lived for most of her life.
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Production Manager
Anil Chatterjee was born on 25 October 1929 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was an actor and assistant director, known for Sagina Mahato (1971), The Big City (1963) and Three Daughters (1961). He died on 17 March 1996 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay was born on 15 September 1876 in Debanandapur, Hooghly, Bengal Presidency, British India. Sarat Chandra was a writer, known for Devdas (2002), Dev.D (2009) and Swami (1977). Sarat Chandra died on 16 January 1938 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India.
- Writer
- Music Department
- Composer
Rabindranath Tagore was born on 6 May 1861 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India [now India]. He was a writer and composer, known for Song of the Body, Streer Patra (1972) and Natir Puja (1932). He was married to Mrinalini Devi. He died on 7 August 1941 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India [now India].- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Rabi Ghosh was born on 24 November 1931 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was an actor and director, known for Baksha Rahasya (1996), Byomkesh Bakshi (1993) and Aranyer Din Ratri (1970). He was married to Anubha Gupta. He died on 4 February 1997 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Actor
- Director
Chhabi Biswas was born on 12 July 1900 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was an actor and director, known for Karnarjun (1941), The Music Room (1958) and Kabuliwala (1957). He died on 11 June 1962 in Calcutta [now Kolkata], West Bengal, India.- Music Artist
- Music Department
- Composer
Hemanta Mukherjee was born on 16 June 1920 in Benares, Benares State, British India. He was a music artist and composer, known for Nagin (1954), Bees Saal Baad (1962) and Lalan Fakir (1987). He was married to Bela Mukherjee. He died on 26 September 1989 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Music Artist
- Composer
- Music Department
Salil Choudhury was born on 19 November 1923 in Harinavi, 24 Parganas, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was a music artist and composer, known for Madhumati (1958), Anand (1971) and Prem Patra (1962). He was married to Jyoti Chowdhury and Sabita Banerjee. He died on 5 September 1995 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Actress
- Music Department
Binota Basu was born in a Brahma family in 1925 on Kojagari Lakshmi Purnima Tithi and was therefore called Lakshmi. Her father Satya Sundar Basu was an advocate in Patna High court. Binota was one of his six daughters. Satya Sundar was a lawyer by profession but his music was his first love and after court hours his routine was to sing and play musical instruments like the Sitar, the organ and many others. Binota's mother was a good singer too. So Binota had music in her blood and she entered films as a playback artiste in Dikshul (1943). Raichand Boral had introduced her to Pankaj Kumar Mallick, the music director of the film. This happened after the family shifted to Calcutta. While in Calcutta, Binota along with her sisters came in close touch with cousin Chinmohan Sehanbish , who in turn introduced them to the legendary Debabrata Biswas from whom Binota got some early training in music. Under Raichand Boral's guidance her first major success was in Wapas (1943), where she sang "Albela Mastana", "Jeevan Hai Bekar" and "Bhool Na Jana". All the songs became popular. The next year Binota became a star with her acting and singing in Bimal Roy's Udayer Pathey (1944) and with the Hindi version Humrahi got an all India exposure. Her popularity touched the sky but soon she got married to Jyotirmoy Roy, who had written the story of Udayer Pathey. After marriage she was allowed to work mostly in films associated with her husband. These included Abhijatri (1947), Diner Parey Din (1949), Shankhabani (1951), Nagardola (1956), Taka Ana Pai (1956), Kancha Mithhey (1957).In Abhijatri she was paired with her first hero Radhamohan Bhattacharya again. After her husband's death in 1961 she withdrew from the film world but came back later to give memorable performances as character artiste in Tapan Sinha's Jatugriha (1964), Mrinal Sen's Calcutta 71 (1971), Chhayateer (1972) and finally Hangsharaj (1976). She won the best actress and best supporting actress awards from the prestigious Bengal Film Journalists' Association a number of times. Binota Roy was inspired to write by her writer husband. She is credited with several short stories which were published in popular Bengali magazines. A collection of her stories was first published as a book titled Mayamukur in 1964. Binota Roy died on the twenty eighth day of July, 1978 and was survived by sons Ramya and Samya and daughter Suchita.- Anup Kumar was born on 17 June 1930 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was an actor, known for Palatak (1963), Tilottama (1978) and Bosepukure Khunkharapi (1996). He was married to Aloka Ganguly. He died on 4 September 1998 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
He was one of the finest character actors in Bengali Film Industry. He was versatile and portrayed roles ranging from villain, comedian and main lead with élan. His most memorable roles were in movies like "Marutirtha Hinglaj", "Arogya Niketan", "Uttar Falguni", "Chele kaar", just to name a few. He was active in commercial theater in Bengali as well. When he was acted in a play called '42', as pre-independence Indian ruthless police officer under British rule, audience thrown shoes at him during the play. He said it was his greatest award that people so much moved by his acting, got angry and thrown shoes. He along with Tulsi Chakraborty, took Bengali cinema a high during 60's and 70's. Bikash Roy will be remembered for ever for his finest acting skills and as a true gentleman.- Tripti Mitra was born on 25 October 1925 in Dinajpur, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Dinajpur, Bangladesh]. She was an actress, known for Reason, Debate and a Story (1974), Gopinath (1948) and Pathik (1953). She was married to Sombhu Mitra. She died on 24 May 1989 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
- Actor
- Producer
Bhanu Bannerjee was born on 26 August 1920 in Bikrampur, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Munshiganj, Bangladesh]. He was an actor and producer, known for Sharey Chuattar (1953), Parajay (1939) and Bindur Chheley (1973). He died on 4 March 1983 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Hiralal Sen is known as the first film maker in the Indian sub-continent. He was born in Manikgonj near Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was the son of a famous lawyer and from a Zamindar family. He grew up in Kolkata. In 1898, a film troupe en route to Paris screened a certain Professor Stevenson's short film along with the stage show, The Flower of Persia at the Star Theatre in Calcutta. Borrowing Stevenson's camera, Sen made his first film, "A Dancing Scene" from the opera The Flower of Persia. With assistance from his brother, Motilal Sen, he bought an Urban Bioscope from Charles Urban's Warwick Trading Company in London. In the following year, with his brother, he formed the Royal Bioscope company.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pahadi Sanyal was born on 22 February 1906 in Darjeeling, Bengal Presidency, British India [now Darjeeling, West Bengal, India]. He was an actor and assistant director, known for Sapurey (1939), Maya (1936) and Maya (1936). He died on 10 February 1974 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Actress
- Producer
Kajal Gupta was born on 8 January 1936 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. She was an actress and producer, known for Marjina Abdulla (1972), Agnishwar (1975) and Jotugriha (1964). She was married to Dinen Gupta. She died on 22 October 1996 in Calcutta [now Kolkata], West Bengal, India.- Actress
- Music Department
Molina Devi was born in 1916. She was an actress, known for Abhagin (1938), Badi Didi (1939) and Bindur Chheley (1952). She was married to Jolu Boral and Gurudas Bannerjee. She died on 13 August 1977 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Ashapurna Devi was born on 8 January 1909 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. Ashapurna was a writer, known for Baala Bandhana (1971), Chhoti Si Mulaqat (1967) and Agni Parikshya (1954). Ashapurna died on 13 July 1995 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
- Chunibala Devi was born in 1872. She was an actress, known for Pather Panchali (1955), Rikta (1939) and Bigraha (1930). She died in 1955 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
- Mahua Roy Chowdhury was born on 24 September 1958. She was an actress, known for Paka Dekha (1980), Ranger Saheb (1978) and Jiban Marur Prante (1976). She was married to Tilak Chakraborty. She died on 22 July 1986 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
- Actress
- Music Department
- Producer
Kanan Devi was born in 1916 in Howrah, Bengal Presidency, British India. She was an actress and producer, known for Haar Jeet (1940), Parajay (1939) and Abhinetri (1940). She was married to Haridas Bhattacharya and Maitra, Ashok. She died on 17 July 1992 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Although her usual place of work has always been Calcutta, Rajlakshmi was born in Meerut in the then Northern Provinces of India in 1902. She received training in music and dance before joining the professional stage in Calcutta in 1930. The play was Grihaprabesh by Tagore. From then on she became a regular actress of the Bengali stage and finally joined films, her first movie being Palli Samaj (1932). She carried on as a successful stage actress and also took part as a character artiste in films and went on to act in over two hundred films in different languages like Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Assameseetc. On the stage she came in contact with the legendary Sisir Kumar Bhaduri under whose training she performed in a great number of plays and in films she was mainly chosen for comic as well as villanous roles. As a person she was known in her circle as a most caring and gentle woman, loved by all. She met with a car accident while returning from outdoor shooting of a Bengali film Jiban Jignasa (1971)and although she made a recovery it was never complete and she suffered from anaemia thereafter and kept indifferent health till the end on the 26th day of May, 1972.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Writer
Jyotirindra Moitra was born in 1911. Jyotirindra was a composer and writer, known for The Darjeeling Limited (2007), Komal Gandhar (1961) and Charulata (1964). Jyotirindra died on 26 October 1977 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Writer
- Producer
Manik Bandopadhaya was a Bengali writer who is regarded as one of the greatest Bengali novelists of all time. His fiction includes more than two hundred short stories and thirty-six novels such as Putul Nacher Itikotha (The Puppet's Tale), Podda Nodir Majhi (The Boatman of The Padma), Jononi (Mother), and Dibaratrir Kabbo (Poetry of the Day and Night).- Actor
- Music Department
Jahar Roy was born on 19 September 1919 in Barishal, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was an actor, known for Thana Theke Aschi (1965), Sharey Chuattar (1953) and Ghoom Bhangar Gaan (1965). He died on 11 August 1977 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Actress
Jamuna was the fourth daughter of the six daughters of Puran Gupta, a resident of a village near Agra, India. Each of the sisters were named after Indian rivers like Ganga, Jamuna, Bhagirathi etc. As destiny would have it, Jamuna came to reside in Calcutta, a leading film producing city in India, in the thirties and played a small role in Mohabbat Ki Kasauti (1934), directed by P.C. Barua. A romance started although Barua, hailing from the native Indian state of Gauripur, Assam, was already twice married. As the actress, who was to play Parbati in Barua's next venture Devdas (1935) reported inability to attend the studio on the very first day of shooting, Jamuna was called from Barua's residence (she was living with him by then) and was asked to get down to work stright away without any preparation whatsoever. Thus she came to be the first Parbati of Indian talkies- Miss Light had played the role in the silent vertion of the enormously popular Sarat Chandra novel. Aishwarya Rai happens to the last so far and Devdas has been made and re-made a number of times. Jamuna played the same role in the Hindi version also and was accepted in this very first proper exposure as an actress in her own right. She continued to act in Barua's films like Grihadaha (1936), Maya (1936), Adhikar (1939), Uttarayan (1941), Shesh Uttar (1942), Chander Kalanka (1944)and the respective Hindi versions of each film. Barua had left the prestigious New Theatres in 1940 and was directing as well as producing his films. Thereafter she acted in a number of Barua directed Hindi movies like Amiree, Pehchan and Iran Ki Ek Raat. These films however did not add to the prestige of either to Barua or to Jamuna and are better forgotten. Jamuna also acted outside Barua direction in three Bengali films Debar (1943) and Nilanguriya (1943) where she proved herself without Barua's influence. Her last film Malancha (1953) was also outside Barua's direction. She also starred in its hindi version Phulwari (1953). Barua's untimely death in 1951 when he was only 48 changed Jamuna's life altogether. She had three sons by Barua, Deb Kumar, Rajat and Prasun. They were all minors at the time and the Gauripur estate refused to take any of their responsibilities. She had to wage a legal battle with the powerful and influential royal family to get her and her children's dues and recognition. Time settled the matters and she was allowed ownership of the house with its vast adjoining land and also an allowance. Jamuna spent the rest of her life after Barua as a housewife, busy in bringing up her minor sons. She had to complete the unfinished film Malancha of course but said good bye to the world soon after. Later in her life she did attend a number of functions to celebrate the centennary year of husband P.C.Barua and recived felicitations on behalf of the Goverment of India and the state Government of Assam as the first Parbati of Indian talkies. Her last days were not very comfortable and she was bedridden for more than six months prior to her death. Her death totally snapped the ties with the thirties. No other Indian actress of her time and calibre is alive today. She is survived by her three sons and their families and a host of relatives and admirers.- Director
- Cinematographer
- Writer
Nitin Bose was born on 27 April 1897 in Calcutta, Bengal, British India [now India]. He was a director and cinematographer, known for Gunga Jumna (1961), Desher Mati (1938) and Dharti Mata (1938). He died on 14 April 1986 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Uday Shankar was born on 8 December 1900 in Udaipur, British India. He was a director and actor, known for Kalpana (1948). He was married to Amala Shankar. He died on 26 September 1977 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Writer
- Music Department
Narayan Gangopadhyay was born on 7 February 1919 in Dinajpur, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Dinajpur, Bangladesh]. He was a writer, known for Dhuli (1954), Bhangagara (1954) and Kamallata (1969). He was married to Asha Devi. He died on 6 November 1970 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Kamal Mitra was born on 9 December 1912 in Burdwan, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was an actor, known for Parineeta (1969), Jighansa (1951) and Sabar Uparey (1955). He died on 2 August 1993 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Granddaughter of Brahmakesari Keshab Chandra Sen, Sadhona was born in a prosperous Brahmo family and received education as was common with Brahmo girls of those days. Her father was Saral Chandra Sen and she was the second of his three daughters. Her elder sister Binita was married into a royal family of Chittagong (now Bangladesh)and settled to household life, while the youngest Nilina pursued a career in Indian Classical music and earned herself a position of eminence and was known in record circles as Naina Devi. Sadhona married Madhu Bose, film maker working in Bengal, British India, at a young age, and joined the Calcutta Art Players, a theatrical company owned by husband Modhu Bose and took part as heroine in the plays produced by the unit. Later on Sadhona joined films and played Marjina in Alibaba (1937), made in Bengali under the banner of Bharatlakshmi Pictures. This film was a runaway hit and is remembered well by film enthusiasts. Modhu Bose had earlier directed a number of films but he tasted real success with Alibaba. For Sadhona this film meant a permanent place in the history of Bengali films. This was followed with Abhinoy (Bengali-1938), another major success for the couple. They migrated to Bombay and again created history with the immensely popular Kumkum (1940), made in two languages, Hindi and Bengali and thereafter went on to create the first triple version (English, Bengali, Hindi) film of India, Rajnartaki (1941). Sadhona did come back to Calcutta for a double version Bengali movie Meenakshi (1942)with the handsome Jyoti Prakash as the hero. Going back to Bombay soon after the completion of this film where she starred in major films like Shankar Parvati, Vishkanya, Paigham and others and firmly established herself as a heroine in her own right without the backing of husband Modhu Bose. In fact they had fallen quite apart by the mid forties and most unfortunately Sadhona started living much too abandoned a life heavily engaged in drinks,parties and men and slowly lost her carefully earned position. She came back to calcutta after a reconciliation with Modhu Bose but had by this time lost her magic hold over the audiences and acted in films again directed by her husband like Shesher Kabita and Maa O Chhele, without remarkable success. Sadhona was a dancer in the first place and all her film successes were in dancing roles, although she was also a very fine actress and sang her own songs in some of her films including her first Alibaba.With film offers becoming too infrequent, she formed a dance troupe of her own and made all India tours with plays like Wither now, Hunger and others and met with success again as she was bound to be as a personality trained in dancing. She passed into oblivion slowly. Even in retired life she could not part with the bottle and without any income worth the name she found herself in the most difficult conditions financially. Modhu bose was ill and it was difficult to get treatment for him. She lost her husband in 1969 and had no money to sustain herself and thereafter came the greatest tragic period of her life when she had to resort to begging in the streets, in and around Park Street of calcutta. It was during this phase of her life that passers by and street walkers came across an old lady, looking distinguished, dressed in clothes that were expensive at one time but now showing the wear and tear asking for help. Some recognised her and gave her enough to go on for some days while some others gave her a rude rebuff. She took all that with a smile. Just before her death she got appointed as dance trainer in Calcutta's prestigious Star Theatre, courtesy her one time boy friend Timir Baran. She trained junior artistes for the play Janapad Badhu and once again her name featured in the newspapers in the advertisements of the play. However, the end had come very near and she passed away in September,1973. A very tragic and unfortunate way indeed for an all India star who at a time had captured the heart and imagination of millions.- Shibram Chakraborty was born in 1902 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. Shibram was a writer, known for Antohin Audio Drama (2020), Bari Theke Paliye (1958) and Pronami (2019). Shibram died in 1980 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Composer
Krishna Chandra Dey was born in 1893 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was an actor and composer, known for Bhagya Chakra (1935), Chandidas (1932) and Dhoop Chhaon (1935). He was married to Takak Bala. He died on 28 November 1962 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Writer
- Director
- Music Department
Premendra Mitra was born in 1904 in Benares, Benares State, British India [now India]. He was a writer and director, known for Hanabari (1952), Samadhan (1943) and Rajlaxmi (1945). He died on 2 May 1988 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Music Department
Suprabha Ghosh was born on the 25th of September, 1919. Her father was Upendranath Ghosh and her mother Champaknalini. Suprabha's first training in music was from her parents, both music lovers. Champaknalini gave her lessons in devotional songs. Formal training started from Dhrupadia Shishir Guha and thereafter from Tarapada Chakraborty. Her entry into music world as a professional happened when she was only thirteen, with her participation in Galpadadur Asar in All India Radio, Calcutta. In the forties she was a regular in the live early morning programme Mahishashurmardini from A.I.R. and her association with the radio was almost life long. In the last years of her life Suprabha Sarkar was associated as trainer of Nazrul songs. In 1942, Suprabha Ghosh got married to Advocate Sudhir Chandra Sarkar but unlike many singers of her time Suprabha did not have to quit singing after marriage even after becoming the mother of two sons. 1942 onwards all her records carried the name Suprabha Sarkar. Her first gramophone record was published from Senola Musical Products Company in February, 1936. The record number was QS 47 and the songs were Jadi Swapan Bhange Aji Nayan Jale, lyric by Hashirashi Devi and Alor Desher Bandhu He Mor, lyric by Batakrishna Dey. Both songs were set to tune by Nitai Ghatak. Several basic discs were published from Senola before she joined Hindusthan Musical Products as their regular artiste in June, 1938. From 1937 to April 1938, Suprabha recorded some songs for the short lived Bharatbani Records, a sister concern of Hindusthan, under the names Anjana Sarkar and Anuradha Ghosh. This was probably necessitated due to Suprabha's existing contract with Senola. As Anuradha Ghosh, she took part to sing and act in a one disc record play Bhorer Ashru, published from Bharatbani. Primarily an artiste of Hindusthan, Suprabha was invited by HMV and recorded two basic songs in 1953 with Hemanta Mukherjee as her trainer and two more in 1955 under Shyamal Mitra's guidance. In 1959 and then the next year, Suprabha sang for Megaphone Company as well. In 1949, Suprabha Sarkar turned composer and set to tune Rodana Tomar and Jibane Amar Na Bola Katha, both written by Manik Basu. However, after this she never did the job of music direction. Suprabha's association with Kaji Nazrul Islam dates back to the days of making of the N.T. film Sapurey (1939). Kaji Nazrul took great interest in Suprabha's work and the result was the evergreen Kaberi Nadijale Ke Go Balika published in January, 1941 with Mor Pratham Moner Mukul on the reverse from Hindusthan, the record number being H 876. Suprabha went on to become one of the leading exponents of Nazrul songs. She also recorded Tagore songs which became very popular. In films, Suprabha's first solo singing was for Leela Desai in Jiban Maran (1939). Only one song of Suprabha, Kabhu Je Ashay Kabhu Nirashay came out as a record from Hindusthan with Ei Peyechhi Anal Jwala of Kundan Lal Saigal on the reverse. Earlier, in 1935, Suprabha had the historic opportunity to sing in the first playback song in Indian films along with Parul Biswas and Miss Harimati in Bhagyachakra (1935), the song being Mora Pulak Jachi Tabu Sukh Na Mani and the Hindi version Dhoop Chhayon (1935), the song Main Khush Hona Chahoon. Some research workers give the name of Umashashi as one of the singers. The other singers in this quite long song were Krishna Chandra Dey and Ahi Sanyal. Their names as playback singers have not been included probably because they sang for themselves. The popularity of the Jiban Maran (1939) song gave Suprabha Sarkar a permanent place in Bengal's playback singing. Kundan Lal Saigal was so moved by her voice that he presented a harmonium to her. A very precious gift indeed and Suprabha preserved the instrument and used it all her life. Her voice was used by all the leading music directors in films like Shuktara (1940), Shapmukti (1940), Rajnartaki (1941), Aparadh (1942), Aahuti (1941), Kato Dur (1945), Pather Sathi (1946), Swapna O Sadhana (1947), Abhijog (1947), Swayam Siddha (1947), Natun Khabar (1947), Samapti, Dhatri Debata (1948), Anjangarh (1948), Sadharan Meye (1948), Priyatama (1948), Kalo Ghora (1948), Shyamaler Swapna (1948), Satero Bachhar Pare (1949), Niruddesh (1949), Singhadwar (1949), Jar Jetha Ghar (1949), Samarpan (1949), Cartoon (1949), Samapti (1949), Radharani (1950), Indira (1950), Sharey Chuattar (1954), Ma (1956), Paradhin (1956) to name a few. Others like Radharani, Ila Ghosh, Shaila Devi, Anima Sengupta were all at their best but Suprabha continued to be artiste most sought after for films. In the sixties, slowly she went out of the record world. Mid fifties saw the rise of newer stars in the music world and the inevitable happened and new talents tended to replace the old. Suprabha got less work for films and basic discs and she withdrew herself from the show business. However she could never detach herself from music and continued to serve as a teacher in institutions like Rabindra Bharati University, Surtirtha Sangeet Bidyalay and above all All India Radio where she was appointed trainer of Nazrul songs. Apart from official associations, she gave regular music lessons to a host of students. Jovial by nature, Suprabha Sarkar was also famous for her short temper. However, she was popular with her colleagues and juniors and was Bardi , meaning elder sister, to all. In the seventies, Suprabha Sarkar was interviwed on television by poet Pulak Bandyopadhyay. She rendered several songs, some in bits and some full showing what control she had over her voice even at that age. She breathed her last on 23rd of September, 1989.- Actress
- Music Department
Kamala Jharia's real name was Kamala Singha. She lived in the palace of the Maharaja of Jharia (now in Dhanbad district, coal capital of India, Jharkhand state, India). Her parents probably worked in the palace in some capacity. The surname Singha is common in several Hindi speaking northern and north western states of India as also in Bengal but there is no doubt that she was a Bengalee by birth. Mr K. Mallick (real name was Qamal Malik) who at the time was a very popular gramophone singer, was invited to the palace to sing at the court of Maharaja Shiva Prasad on the occasion of his marriage. The Maharaja was so pleased with K. Mallick's performance that he appointed him court singer in Jharia. K Mallick had to stay back at Jharia for sometime during which he discovered Kamala's musical talent and brought her to Calcutta and introduced her to HMV authorities. Kamala recorded four songs for HMV and went back to Jharia. She was paid sixty five Rupees only for the four songs. Her first published record was a red label one, numbered N 3137 in 1930. The songs were a) Priya Jeno Prem Bhulo Na, a Ghazal and b) Nithur Nayan Baan Keno Hano, a Dadra. Lyricist for both the songs was _Dhiren Das_. The authorities had some problem in naming the artiste. They knew her name but not her surname. They could not credit her as Miss Kamala because there was already one singer of the same name. Finally it was decided to identify her as Miss Kamala (Jharia) keeping in mind her then usual place of residence and thus began her illustrious musical career. Her formal training in music was from giants like a) Ujir Khan for Thumris, Ghazals and Indian classical b) Jamiruddin Khan c) K. Mallick d) Mr Satish Ghosh and Shrinath Das Nandi, to whom she formally performed the Nara Bandhan and became a regular student. Later, she came in contact with Kaji Nazrul Islam and Tulsi Lahiri, who was a film director, producer, lyricist and music director in fact he was a very colorful personality with his talent spread over a wide field. Later, Kamala Jharia became closely associated with Tulsi Lahiri in her personal life and lived with him as his wife. Kamala became a regular artiste of HMV and sister concern Twin records though she was later shifted to Megaphone Company along with her mentor Tulsi Lahiri but this was part of a purely business arrangement between HMV and Megaphone. Other recording companies like Pioneer, Senola, Columbia also published her songs. She joined films in 1933 and her first bengali film was Jamuna Puliney (1933), which happened to be the first sound films of _Angurbala_ and _ Indubala actress Kanhopatra (1937)_ as well. Apart from Bengali, she used to sing in Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Punjabi, Gujrati and many other Indian languages and at that period no other artiste would sing in so many different languages which explains her all India status and popularity. One of her lofty achievements was Bengali devotional songs like Kirtans and Ramprasadi. Songs like Katara Radhika Dekhiya Adhika, Maa Howa Ki Mukher Katha, Kanu Kahe Rai Kahitey Darai (Chandidas) are remembered today. She acted in films like in Mantra Shakti (1935), _Thikadaar(1940)_, _Sonar Sangsar(1936)_, Bijoyini (1941), Bangalee (1936), Tarubala (1936), Night Bird (1934), Step Mother (1935), Devjani (1939), Pataal Puri (1935), Mastuto Bhai (1934), Blood Feuds (1931) and other films. As a playback artiste she lent her voice for the heroine Madhavi in the Urdu film _Selima(1935)_ directed by _Modhu Bose_. Her singing career spanned over three decades. Kamala was associated with All India radio from the time of its inception as a singer. In 1976, The Gramophone Company of India honoured her with a Gold Disc, as a mark of lifetime achievement. She was attached to the radio from the very beginning of her career and also made several tours all over India singing at the durbars of different native princes. In 1977, during the celebration of the golden jubilee of All India Radio, she was felicitated as one of the living artistes who had taken part from the beginning of All India Radio. Mr Lal Krishna Advani, then minister for information and broadcasting, graced the occasion by his presence. She was very unwell and had to be helped by two escorts on the dais. _Angurbala_ was also present and rendered the same song as she had done on the first day of the radio company's broadcasting. This was Kamala's last public appearance. The third of the trio, _Indubala_ was too ill at the time to attend. A documentary titled "Teen Kanya" was made on the lives and achievements of the three in 1972 and all the three artistes were present on the first day of the film's screening. Among those present on the occasion were _Satyajit Ray_ and Hritwik Ghatak. Kamala Jharia suffered from chronic asthma for a long time and passed away on the 20th day of December, 1979.- Director
- Cinematographer
- Writer
Ajoy Kar was born on 27 March 1914 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was a director and cinematographer, known for Saptapadi (1961), Harano Sur (1957) and Jighansa (1951). He died on 25 January 1985 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Writer
- Director
Nihar Ranjan Gupta was born on 6 June 1911 in Jessore, Eastern Bengal and Assam, British India. Nihar Ranjan was a writer and director, known for Mamta (1966), Meri Surat Teri Ankhen (1963) and Tapasi (1965). Nihar Ranjan died on 20 February 1986 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Santosh Dutta was born on 2 December 1925 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was an actor, known for Three Daughters (1961), Sonar Kella (1974) and Joi Baba Felunath: The Elephant God (1979). He died on 8 February 1988 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Shekhar Chatterjee was born in 1924 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was an actor and writer, known for Marjina Abdulla (1972), Gandhi (1982) and Vasundhara (1983). He died on 6 April 1990 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Jibanananda Das was born on 17 February 1899 in Barisal, Bengal Presidency, British India. Jibanananda died on 22 October 1954 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
- Sukumar Ray was born on 30 October 1887 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. Sukumar died on 10 September 1923 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India.
- Writer
- Director
Haridas Bhattacharya was born on 17 February 1920 in Burma. Haridas was a writer and director, known for Andhare Alo (1957), Sesh Anka (1963) and Naba Bidhan (1954). Haridas was married to Kanan Devi. Haridas died on 7 September 2005 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Subodh Ghosh was born on 14 September 1909 in Hazaribagh, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was a writer, known for Permission (1987), Sujata (1960) and Trijama (1956). He died in 1980 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
- Actress
- Music Department
Chandrabati Devi was born on 19 October 1909 in Bihar, India. She was an actress, known for Karnarjun (1941), Meerabai (1933) and Suktara (1940). She was married to Bimal Pal. She died on 29 April 1992 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.- Actor
- Writer
- Music Department
Bijon Bhattacharya was born on 17 July 1917 in Faridpur, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Faridpur, Bangladesh]. He was an actor and writer, known for Nagin (1954), Sharey Chuattar (1953) and Dharti Ke Lal (1950). He was married to Mahasweta Devi. He died on 19 January 1978 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.