80 Years of ” Natir Pooja ” , A Rabindranath Tagore Film

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 15 , 2012           11.58 P.M.

” Natir Pooja ” . Does this name ring any familiar bell ?

I know the answer . It will be emphatic NO .

” Natir Pooja “ is a Bengali film . Does it make matter easier now ?

I know the answer even this time . It will again be a NO .

” Natir Pooja “ was produced by B. N. Sircar of New Theatres . What ?

Answer will be unanimous . The film evokes no familiarity .

” Natir Pooja “ was filmed at floor number 1 of NT Studio , Kolkata ? Now !

Even a student of cinema will now scratch his head .

” Natir Pooja “ was released in Chitra Talkies , Kolkata on March 14 , 1932 .

Now even the connoisseurs will look the other way .

Well , now let me untangle the mystery .

” Natir Pooja “ completed 80th year on March 14 , 2012 . It was released on March 14 , 1932 and it is the only feature film directed by legendary Rabindranath Tagore in 1931 . It was based on a dramatised version of Rabindranath Tagore’s long poem Poojarini . It is 2500 year old story of  a Nati [ danseuse ] , who sacrificed herself because of her devotion of Buddha .

Tagore wrote this all – woman play at the behest of his daughter – in – law . It was first performed in Uttarayan , Shantiniketan on the occasion of Tagore’s 70th birthday . Later on a ticketed performance was staged in New Empire of Kolkata for the aid of Vishwa Bharati . B. N. Sircar of New Theatres saw it there and requested Tagore to make it into a film .

Rabindranath Tagore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tagore , apart from directing the film , also played role of Upala .

Rabindranath Tagore as an Actor in Natir Pooja

Various Scenes of Natir Pooja

Various Scenes of Natir Pooja

Various Scenes of Natir Pooja

Various Scenes of Natir Pooja

Various Scenes of Natir Pooja

Synopsis of Natir Pooja

Nitin Bose was the cinematographer of the film . In his later years same Nitin Bose migrated to Mumbai and made many path – breaking films including Dilip Kumar‘s Technicolor ” Ganga Jumna ” .

It is unfortunate and sad that the prints of the film , the only one ever directed by Rabindranath Tagore , were destroyed in a fire that engulfed New Theatres .

I happened to see an article about ” Natir Pooja “ in Screen and was tempted to share it with the students of my acting academy .

It is well-known that Rabindranath Tagore was India’s first Nobel Laureate and the first Asian to get Nobel Prize for literature . It is in common knowledge that he was a poet , story – writer , song – writer , novelist , dramatist , musician , painter and educationist . But it is not in common knowledge that he directed a feature film in Bengali and also acted in it .

I , on behalf of all the students and staff of Vidur’s Kreating Charakters , remember the 8oth anniversary of the film ” Natir Pooja ” , a directorial venture of Rabindranath Tagore .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

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www.vidurfilms.com

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