Dhiraj Bhattacharya (5 November 1905 - 1959) was an actor of Bengali and

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

cinema who began in

silent films A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...

. He was also a theater personality and writer.

Early life

Bhattacharya was born in a

zamindar A zamindar in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semi-autonomous feudal lord of a ''zamindari'' (feudal estate). The term itself came into use during the Mughal Empire, when Persian was the official language; ''zamindar'' is the ...

family of Panjia village, near

Jessore Jessore (, ), officially Jashore, is a city of Jessore District in Khulna Division. It lies in southwestern Bangladesh. It is home to the first flight training school of the Bangladeshi Air Force, established in 1971. Jessore city consists of 9 wa ...

, in

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

. His father's name was Lalit Mohan Bhattacharya. He entered Mitra Institution,

Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...

and passed matriculation in 1923. He joined Ashutosh College to study literature but could not finish his studies. Bhattacharya joined the police service before becoming an actor.

Career

Bhattacharya started his acting career after joining

Madan Theatre Madan Theatre Company, also known as Madan Theatres Limited or Madan Theatres in short, was a film production company founded by Jamshedji Framji & his partner Kanhaiyalal Kaushik, one of the pioneers of Indian Cinema. History A young Parsi pe ...

. His first film ''Sati Lakhsmi'' was released in 1925 but he first gained recognition from Charu Roy's movie ''Bengalee''. He worked with Madhu Basu in ''Giribala'', and acted in several detective and thriller films of

Premendra Mitra Premendra Mitra (4 September 1904 – 3 May 1988)Samsad Bengali Charitabhidhan Vol.II edited Anjali Bose, Published by Sagitta Samsad, Kolkata, Edition January,2019,Page-240 was an Indian poet, writer and film director in the Bengali language. ...

. Bhattacharya was popular for his romantic performances as well as his innovative skills in portraying villainous characters. After becoming established as a film actor he turned to the theatre.

Filmography

* ''Sati Lakshmi'' (1925) * '' Giribala'' (1929) * ''Kal Parinaya'' (1930) as Manindra * ''Mrinalini'' (1930) * ''Annapurna'' (1932) * ''Nauka Dubi'' (1932) * '' Radha Krishna (1933 film)'' * ''Krishnakanter Will'' (1932) * ''Jamuna Puliney'' (1933) as lord Krishna * ''Chand Saudagar'' (1934) as Lakhindar * ''Daksha Yagna'' (1934) as Mahadev * '' Chandragupta'' (1934) * '' Satya Pathe'' (1935) * ''Basabdatta'' (1935) as Upagupta * ''Kanthahaar'' (1935) Gaourikanta * ''Krishna Sudama'' (1936) * ''Sonar Sansar'' (1936) as Raghu * ''Bangalee'' (1936) as Nishith * ''Khooni Kaun'' (1936) * ''Balaa Ki Raat'' a.k.a. ''One Fatal Night'' (1936) * ''Rajgee'' (1937) as Dwijesh * ''Chinnahar'' (1937) as Loknath * ''Abhinay'' (1938) as Hirak * ''Sarbbajanin Bibahatsab'' (1938) as Mathur * ''Rupor Jhumko'' (short film) (1938) * ''Parasmani'' (1939) as Bhabatosh * ''Pathik'' (1939) * ''Nara Narayan'' (1939) * ''Kumkum'' (1940) as Chandan * ''Kumkum The Dancer'' (1940) * ''Byabadhan'' (1940) as Arun * ''Rajkumarer Nirbasan'' (1940) as Kumar Prakash chandra/Naren * ''Ahuti'' (1941) * ''Epar Opar'' (1941) as Prabir * ''Shakuntala'' (1941) as King Dushyant * ''Banglar Meye'' (1941) * ''Nandini'' (1941) * ''Pashaan Debata'' (1942) * ''Abhayer Biye'' (1942) * ''Milan'' (1942) * ''Dabi'' (1943) * ''Dwanda'' (1943) * ''Nilanguriya'' (1943) * ''Samadhan'' (1943) as Lokesh * ''Swamir Ghar'' (1943) * ''Sahdhharmini'' (1943) * ''Sahar Theke Dure'' (1943) as Doctor * ''Wapas'' (1943) as Rajan * ''Irada''(1944) * ''Bideshini'' (1944) * ''Kato Dur'' (1945) * ''Mane Na Mana'' (1945) * ''Sri Durga'' (1945) * ''

Mandir A Hindu temple, also known as Mandir, Devasthanam, Pura, or Kovil, is a sacred place where Hindus worship and show their devotion to deities through worship, sacrifice, and prayers. It is considered the house of the god to whom it is dedica ...

'' (1946) * ''Natun Khabor'' (1947) * ''Taruner Swapna'' (1948) * ''Saankha Sindur'' (1948) * ''Pratibad'' (1948) * ''Banchita'' (1948) * ''Joyjatra'' (1948) * ''

Kalo Chhaya ''Kalo Chhaya'' (Dark Shadows) is a Bengali suspense thriller film directed by Premendra Mitra and produced by Gouranga Prasad Basu. This film was released on 17 December 1948 under the banner of Eastern Studio. Plot A lady visited Mr. Suraj ...

'' (1948) as Dinanath/Rajiblochan * ''

Kuasha ''Kuasha'' (The fog) is a Bengali language, Bengali thriller film directed by Premendra Mitra based on his own novel. This movie was released under the banner of Mahabharati Limited on 19 August 1949. Plot Cast * Dhiraj Bhattacharya * Nripat ...

'' (1949) * ''Bandhur Path'' (1949) * ''Ekeyi Gramer Chhele'' (1950) * '' Kankal'' (1950) as Abhay * ''Kankantala light Railway'' (1950) * ''Pathaharar Kahini'' (1950) * ''Rakter Tan'' (1950) * ''Kalsaap'' (1951) * ''Chiner Putul'' (1951) * ''Setu'' (1951) * ''Niyoti'' (1951) * ''Swapna o' samadhi'' (1952) * '' Hanabari'' (1952) * ''Dui Beyayi'' (1953) * ''Chikitsha Sankat'' (1953) * '' Ora Thake Odhare'' (1954) as Shibnath Babu * ''Maraner Pare'' (1954) * '' Moyla Kagaj'' (1954) * ''Maa o' Chhele'' (1954) * ''Sanjher Pradip'' (1955) as Tridip * '' Dakinir Char'' (1955) * ''Mahanisha'' (1956) as Aparna's Grandfather * ''Amar Bou'' (1956) * ''Shadhak ramprasad'' (1956) * '' Adarsha Hindu Hotel'' (1957) as Hajari Thakur * ''Neela Chole Mahaprabhu'' (1957) * '' Bardidi''(1957) as Mathur Babu * ''Raat ekta'' (1957) * '' Bagha Jatin'' (1958) * ''Manmoyee Girls School'' (1958) * ''Dhumketu'' (1958) * ''lilakanka'' (1958) * ''Aparadh'' (1960) * ''Gariber Meye'' (1960)

Bibliography

Bhattacharya published his autobiographical story in two parts, He also wrote a few story books: * ''Jakhan Police Chilam'' * ''Jakhan Nayak Chilam'' * ''Mahua Milan'' * ''Sajano Bagan'' * ''Mon Nie Khela''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bhattacharya, Dhiraj 1905 births 1959 deaths Bengali male actors Indian male film actors Male actors from Kolkata Male actors in Bengali cinema 20th-century Indian male actors Bengali writers