B. N. Sircar
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Birendranath Sircar (also Sarkar; 5 July 1901 – 28 November 1980) was an Indian
film producer A film producer is a person who oversees film production. Either employed by a production company or working independently, producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production, such as selecting the script, coordinating writing, di ...
and the founder of
New Theatres Calcutta New Theatres is an Indian film studio. It was formed in Calcutta by producer B. N. Sircar (Birendranath Sircar, the recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award of 1970). It was formed on 10 February 1931. Motto of this company was– ''Jivatang Jyotire ...
. He made
Bengali-language Bengali ( ), generally known by its endonym Bangla (, ), is an Indo-Aryan language native to the Bengal region of South Asia. It is the official, national, and most widely spoken language of Bangladesh and the second most widely spoken of t ...
films that were noted for introducing many film directors who later became famous. He was awarded the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1970 and the third highest civilian award in India, the Padma Bhushan, in 1972.


Early life

B. N. Sircar was born in Bhagalpur to the then Advocate-General of Bengal, Sir N. N. Sircar. After completing his study at Hindu School, Kolkata, he studied Engineering at the University of London and on returning to India he was asked to build a cinema. The project caused him to develop a keen interest in film and he proceeded to build a cinema for the screening of Bengali-language films. Called Chitra, this was opened in Calcutta by
Subhas Chandra Bose Subhas Chandra Bose ( ; 23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945 * * * * * * * * *) was an Indian nationalist whose defiance of British authority in India made him a hero among Indians, but his wartime alliances with Nazi Germany and Imperia ...
on 30 December 1930 and was followed by the construction of New Cinema, which showed Hindi films. He then decided to involve himself in making of two silent films.


Career

On 10 February 1931, he founded
New Theatres Calcutta New Theatres is an Indian film studio. It was formed in Calcutta by producer B. N. Sircar (Birendranath Sircar, the recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award of 1970). It was formed on 10 February 1931. Motto of this company was– ''Jivatang Jyotire ...
. A stickler for quality, Sircar attracted directors such as P.C. Barua, Premankor Atharthi, Debaki Bose, Dhiren Ganguly, Bimal Roy and Phani Majumdar under his wings. Actors such as KL Saigal, Pahadi Sanyal, Amar Mullick, Kanan Devi, Chandrabati Devi, Lila Desai Leela Desai and Prithviraj Kapoor were on his payroll. Technicians like Mukul Bose (Sound Recordist- Director), Yusuf Moolji (Cameraman), Nitin Bose (Cameraman-Director) and Subodh Mitra (Editor) were well aware of the various technical innovations being introduced in Hollywood and Europe and were able to adapt many of these within the limitations of the New Theatres Studio lot. Music composers and singers such as RC Boral, Timir Baran and Pankaj Mullick too were associated with New Theatres productions. He was the President of the BMPA in the late 1940s


New Theatres

''
Dena Paona ''Dena Paona'' ( bn, দেনা পাওনা) () is a 1931 Bengali language, Bengali film directed by Premankur Atorthy, starring Amar Mullick, Durgadas Bannerjee, Jahar Ganguly, Nibhanani Devi, and Bhanu Bandopadhyay. Based on a novel ...
'', a Bengali talkie, was released in 1931, directed by Premankur Atarthi and produced by New Theatres. The musician
Raichand Boral Rai Chand Boral (19 October 1903 – 25 November 1981) was an Indian composer, considered by music connoisseurs to be the Bhishma Pitamah, the father of film music in India. He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in India ...
composed the music for this movie. In 1935, P.C. Barua directed and acted in '' Devdas'', based on
Saratchandra Chatterjee Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, alternatively spelt as Sarat Chandra Chatterjee ( bn, শরৎচন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায়; 15 September 1876 or ৩১ শে ভাদ্র ১২৮৩ বঙ্গাব্দ ...
's novel '' Devdas'', and this film became phenomenally successful. In 1935, playback singing was first used in India in the Bengali film ''
Bhagya Chakra ''Bhagya Chakra'' (''Wheel of Fate'') is a 1935 Indian Bengali-language film directed by Nitin Bose. The film was remade in Hindi in the same year, titled '' Dhoop Chhaon''. Cast * Biswanath Bhadhuri as Shamlal * Haricharan Bandyopadhyay as Hi ...
'' by
Nitin Bose Nitin Bose (26 April 1897 – 14 April 1986) was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatre ...
. The singers were
K C Dey Krishna Chandra Dey (24 August 1893 – 28 November 1962), better known as K.C. Dey, was an Indian music director, music composer, musician, singer, actor, and music teacher born in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He was S.D. Burman's first musical t ...
,
Parul Ghosh Parul Ghosh (; 1915–13 August 1977) was an Indian playback singer. Career Ghosh sang in Hindi and Bengali movies from 1935 to 1951. Hailing from Barisal (now in Bangladesh), she was introduced to playback singing by her brother Anil Biswas ...
and Suprabha Sarkar. '' Dhoop Chhaon'', Hindi remake of this film, was the first Hindi film to use playback singing. Kanan Devi was the first popular star actress, who appeared in many films produced by New Theatres. Also there was a group of talented actors with New Theatres like
K.L. Saigal Kundan Lal Saigal, often abbreviated as K. L. Saigal (11 April 1904 – 18 January 1947), was an Indian singer and actor who is considered the first superstar of the Hindi film industry, which was centred in Kolkata during Saigal's time, but is ...
, K. C. Dey, Prithviraj Kapoor,
Chhabi Biswas Chhabi Biswas (''Chabi Biśbās'') (13 July 1900 – 11 June 1962) was an Indian actor, primarily known for his performances in Tapan Sinha's '' Kabuliwala'' and Satyajit Ray's films '' Jalshaghar'' (''The Music Room'', 1958), '' Devi'' ( ...
, Bikash Roy, Pahari Sanyal, Basanta Choudhury. Top directors like Premankur Atarthi, P.C. Barua, Debaki Bose and
Nitin Bose Nitin Bose (26 April 1897 – 14 April 1986) was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatre ...
worked in New Theatres films. The musicians who worked there include
R. C. Boral Rai Chand Boral (19 October 1903 – 25 November 1981) was an Indian composer, considered by music connoisseurs to be the Bhishma Pitamah, the father of film music in India. He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in India ...
, Pankaj Mullick and
Timir Baran Timir may refer to: * Timir Biswas (born 1982) Indian singer in Bengali and Hindi * Timir Chanda (born 1978) Indian cricketer * Timir Datta, an Indian-American physicist * Timir Pinegin (1927-2013) Russian-Soviet sailor * Timir mine, Sakha, Ru ...
. He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Indian cinema give by Government of India in 1970, and in 1972 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, by Government of India.


Filmography

Sircar's films include: * ''
Dena Paona ''Dena Paona'' ( bn, দেনা পাওনা) () is a 1931 Bengali language, Bengali film directed by Premankur Atorthy, starring Amar Mullick, Durgadas Bannerjee, Jahar Ganguly, Nibhanani Devi, and Bhanu Bandopadhyay. Based on a novel ...
'' (Released 30 December 1931) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi * ''
Natir Puja ''Natir Puja'' ( English:the dancing girl's worship) is the only film where Rabindranath Tagore is credited as director. This film is a recording of Tagore's 1926 stage dance-drama of the same name. Background The dramatized version of Tagore ...
'' (Released 22 March 1932) * '' Punarjanma'' (Released 2 April 1932) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi * ''
Mohabbat Ke Ansu ''Mohabbat Ke Ansu'' () is a 1932 Indian Urdu-language social romantic film. It was directed by Premankur Atorthy for New Theatres Ltd. Calcutta. The music for the film was directed by R. C. Boral. The film starred K. L. Saigal in his debut ro ...
'' Urdu, (Released 1932) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi * '' Zinda Lash'' Urdu, (Released 1932) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi * '' Chirakumar Sabha'' (Released 28 May 1932) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi * '' Pallisamaj'' (Released 1 July 1932) – Directed by
Sisir Bhaduri Shishir Kumar Bhaduri or Sisir Kumar Bhaduri (2 October 1889 – 30 June 1959) was an Indian stage actor and theatre founder, who commonly referred to as the pioneer of modern Bengali theatre, where he was an actor, director, playwright and eve ...
* '' Chandidas'' (Released 24 September 1932) – Directed by Debaki Bose * ''
Kapalkundala ''Kapalkundala'' ( bn, কপালকুণ্ডলা) is a Bengali romance novel by Indian writer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Published in 1866, it is a story of a forest-dwelling girl named Kapalkundala, who fell in love with and married ...
'' (Released 20 May 1933) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi * '' Mastuto Bhai (short)'' (Released 20 May 1933) – Directed by
Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay Dhirendra Nath Ganguly (26 March 1893 – 18 November 1978), better known as Dhiren Ganguly or D.G, was a Dadasaheb Phalke Award-winning and Padma Bhushan recipient film entrepreneur/actor/director of Bengali Cinema. He had set up a number of ...
* '' Sita'' (Released 26 October 1933) – Directed by
Sisir Bhaduri Shishir Kumar Bhaduri or Sisir Kumar Bhaduri (2 October 1889 – 30 June 1959) was an Indian stage actor and theatre founder, who commonly referred to as the pioneer of modern Bengali theatre, where he was an actor, director, playwright and eve ...
* '' Mirabai'' (Released 11 November 1933) – Directed by Debaki Bose * '' Excuse Me Sir (short)'' (Released 30 March 1934) – Directed by
Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay Dhirendra Nath Ganguly (26 March 1893 – 18 November 1978), better known as Dhiren Ganguly or D.G, was a Dadasaheb Phalke Award-winning and Padma Bhushan recipient film entrepreneur/actor/director of Bengali Cinema. He had set up a number of ...
* '' Ruplekha'' (Released 14 April 1934) – Directed by P.C. Barua * '' P.Brothers (Cartoon)'' (Released 23 June 1934) – Directed by
Raichand Boral Rai Chand Boral (19 October 1903 – 25 November 1981) was an Indian composer, considered by music connoisseurs to be the Bhishma Pitamah, the father of film music in India. He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in India ...
* '' Mahua'' (Released 31 August 1934) – Directed by Hiren Bose * '' Devdas'' (Released 30 March 1935) – Directed by
Nitin Bose Nitin Bose (26 April 1897 – 14 April 1986) was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatre ...
* '' Abaseshe (short)'' (Released 24 August 1935) – Directed by Dineshranjan Das * ''
Bhagyachakra ''Bhagya Chakra'' (''Wheel of Fate'') is a 1935 Indian Bengali-language film directed by Nitin Bose. The film was remade in Hindi in the same year, titled '' Dhoop Chhaon''. Cast * Biswanath Bhadhuri as Shamlal * Haricharan Bandyopadhyay as Hi ...
'' (Released 3 October 1935) – Directed by
Nitin Bose Nitin Bose (26 April 1897 – 14 April 1986) was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatre ...
* '' Grihadaha'' (Released 10 October 1936) – Directed by P.C. Barua * ''
Mando Ki Mando refers to: *Mandø, one of the Danish Wadden Sea islands *Mando (singer), a Greek singer *Mando (music), a Goan (Indian) musical form *Mando Diao, Swedish garage rock band. *Mando Corporation, a Korean automotive parts manufacturer * Mando Fr ...
(short)'' (Released 21 October 1936) – Directed by
Tulsi Lahiri Tulsi Lahiri (7 April 1897 – 22 June 1959) was a Bengali actor, director and play writer. Early life Lahiri was born in 1897 in a zamindar family of Naldanga village, Rangpur of British India. He passed B.A and B.L and started his lawyer caree ...
* '' Maya'' (Released 23 December 1936) – Directed by P.C. Barua * '' Didi'' (Released 3 April 1937) – Directed by
Nitin Bose Nitin Bose (26 April 1897 – 14 April 1986) was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatre ...
* '' Mukti'' (Released 18 September 1937) – Directed by P.C. Barua * '' Arghya (short)'' (Released 25 September 1937) * '' Bidyapati'' (Released 2 April 1938) – Directed by Debaki Bose * '' Abhignan'' (Released 11 June 1938) – Directed by
Prafulla Ray Prafulla is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Prafulla Chaki (1888–1908), Bengali revolutionary associated with the Jugantar group *Prafulla Chandra Ghosh (1891–1983), the first Chief Minister of West Bengal, India *Prafulla ...
* '' Desher mati'' (Released 17 August 1938) – Directed by
Nitin Bose Nitin Bose (26 April 1897 – 14 April 1986) was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatre ...
* '' Achinpriya'' (Released 29 October 1938) – Directed by
Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay Dhirendra Nath Ganguly (26 March 1893 – 18 November 1978), better known as Dhiren Ganguly or D.G, was a Dadasaheb Phalke Award-winning and Padma Bhushan recipient film entrepreneur/actor/director of Bengali Cinema. He had set up a number of ...
* '' Sathi'' (Released 3 December 1938) – Directed by Phani Majumdar * '' Adhikar'' (Released 12 January 1939) – Directed by P.C. Barua * '' Baradidi'' (Released 7 April 1939) – Directed by Amar Mullik * '' Sapure'' (Released 27 May 1939) – Directed by Debaki Bose * ''
Rajat Jayanti Rajat may refer to: * Rajʽa (also spelled rajʽat) refers to the Second Coming in Islamic terminology * Rajat Gupta, American businessman * Rajat Kapoor, Indian actor and director * Rajat Neogy, Ugandan writer * Rajat Tokas, Indian actor * Rajat ...
'' (Released 12 August 1939) – Directed by P.C. Barua * ''
Jiban Maran ''Jiban Maran'' (Bengali জীবন মরণ, ''Life and Death'') is a social drama film directed by Nitin Bose, made in 1939 in Bengali language and was remade in Hindi as '' Dushman'', and was produced by New Theatres. Cast *K. L. Saigal ...
'' (Released 14 October 1939) – Directed by
Nitin Bose Nitin Bose (26 April 1897 – 14 April 1986) was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatre ...
* '' Parajoy'' (Released 22 March 1940) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra * '' Daktar'' (Released 31 August 1940) – Directed by Phani Majumdar * '' Abhinetri'' (Released 30 November 1940) – Directed by Amar Mullik * '' Nartaki'' (Released 18 January 1941) – Directed by Debaki Bose * '' Parichoy'' (Released 25 April 1941) – Directed by
Nitin Bose Nitin Bose (26 April 1897 – 14 April 1986) was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatre ...
* '' Pratishruti'' (Released 14 August 1941) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra * '' Shodhbodh'' (Released 28 March 1942) – Directed by Soumen Mukhopadhyay * ''
Minakshi Meenakshi (Sanskrit: ; Tamil: ; sometimes spelled as Minakshi; also known as , and ), is a Hindu goddess and tutelary deity of Madurai who is considered an avatar of the Goddess Parvati also referred to as Durga. She is the divine consort of ...
'' (Released 12 June 1942) – Directed by Madhu Bose * '' Priyo Bandhabi'' (Released 23 January 1943) – Directed by Soumen Mukhopadhyay * '' Kashinath'' (Released 2 April 1943) – Directed by
Nitin Bose Nitin Bose (26 April 1897 – 14 April 1986) was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatre ...
* ''
Dikshul ''Dikshul'' is a 1943 Indian Bengali film directed by Premankur Atorthy. The film was produced by New Theatres Ltd, Calcutta. Its music direction was by Pankaj Mullick and the cinematographer was Rabi Dhar. The lyricist for the film was Kazi Nazr ...
'' (Released 12 June 1943) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi * '' Udayer Pathey'' (Released 1 September 1944) – Directed by Bimal Roy * '' Dui Purush'' (Released 30 August 1945) – Directed by Subodh Mitra * '' Biraj Bou'' (Released 5 July 1946) – Directed by Amar Mullik * ''
Nurse Sisi Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health c ...
'' (Released 27 April 1947) – Directed by Subodh Mitra * ''
Ramer Sumati ''Ramer Sumati'' is a 1985 Bangladeshi drama film starring Bobita and Joy in lead roles. Prabir Mitra plays grandfather's role. This is the debut film of actor Sadek Bachchu. Synopsis Ram is a teenage boy who is very precocious and wicked. He k ...
'' (Released 24 December 1947) – Directed by Kartik Chattopadhyay * ''
Pratibad ''Pratibad'' nglish: ''Protest''is a 2001 Indian Bengali language action drama directed by Haranath Chakraborty. Plot The story is of a middle-class family struggling financially. The family consists of two sisters, mother and father. Prose ...
'' (Released 19 June 1948) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra * ''
Anjangarh ''Anjangarh'' is a 1948 Bollywood drama film, directed by Bimal Roy Bimal Roy (12 July 1909 – 8 January 1966) was an Indian film director. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films such as '' Do Bigha Zamin'', '' Pa ...
'' (Released 24 September 1948) – Directed by Bimal Roy * '' Mantramugdha'' (Released 14 January 1949) – Directed by Bimal Roy * ''
Bishnupriya Vishnupriya Devi ( bn, বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া) , was the daughter of Raj Pandit Sanatan Mishra and second wife of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. She is believed to be the reincarnation of the Goddess Satyabhama, the third consort of Krish ...
'' (Released 7 October 1949) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra * '' Rupkatha'' (Released 13 October 1950) – Directed by Soren Sen * '' Aadur Prem'',New Theatres Is Back
2011 – Directed by Somnath Gupta


See also

*
Cinema of India The Cinema of India consists of motion pictures produced in India, which had a large effect on world cinema since the late 20th century. Major centers of film production across the country include Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Ko ...
B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की बुनियाद के एक सर्जक https://cinemanthan.com/2013/10/04/bnsircar/

References


External links


www.kundanlalsaigal.com – Comprehensive Resource Website, offering preview of all his songs.www.pankajmullick.com – Comprehensive Resource Website, offering preview of his songs.www.krishnachandradey.com – Comprehensive Resource Website, offering preview of his songs.www.kanandevi.com
*


A short history
of Bengali cinema
A Biography of B N Sircar

An article on New Theatres by Sharmistha Gooptu
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sircar, B. N. 1901 births 1980 deaths Bengali Hindus Bengali film producers Film producers from Kolkata Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipients 20th-century Indian businesspeople