80 – Year – Old ” New Theatres “

EVENING…………………………..6.00

Yesterday when I was writing about 80 years of  ” ALAM ARA “ , first Hindi talkie , rather Indian talkie , I came across an article in Screen which states that B. N. Sircar’s legendary film production company ” New Theatres “ also completed 80 years on February 10 , 1931 . It was one month and four days before the epoch making ” ALAM ARA “ , that this legendary production company was launched . ” New Theatres “ ,   Calcutta [ now Kolkata ] was founded by producer B. N. Sircar a.k.a. Birendranath Sircar, the recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award of 1970.

Logo of New Theatres , Calcutta

The logo of ” New Theatres ” has an elephant in a circle with a quote from  Upnishads . It was like the famous logo of Hollywood’s production company MGM where a lion used to roar in the same kind of circle . Moto of New Theatres was – Jivatang Jyotiretu Chhayam means [ Light infusing shadows with life ]

Like Ardeshir Irani’s Imperial Movietone , New Theatres of Calautta [ now Kolkata ] produced ” Dena Paona ” ,  the first Bengali talkie. It was released in 1931,  and was directed by Premankur Atarthi . Famous musician Raichand Boral composed music for this movie.

Scene from Dena Paona, 1931 - first Bengali Talkie

After first Bangla talkie, ” Dena Paona “ , ” New Theatres ” produced another path breaking film ” Devdas “ in 1935.  P.C. Barua directed and acted in ” Devdas “ , based on Saratchandra Chatterjee‘s novel ” Devdas “ and this film became phenomenally successful in the industry.

Pramathesh Barua and Jamuna Barua in Debdas, 1935

Pramathesh Barua and Jamuna Barua in Debdas, 1935.

In 1935, playback singing was first used in India in the New Theartes production Bengali film ” Bhagya Chakra ” by Nitin Bose. The singers were K C Dey, Parul Ghosh and Suprabha Sarkar. ” Dhoop Chhaon “ Hindi remake of this film, was the first Hindi film to use playback singing. It was another feather in New Theaters’ cap .

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, K. C. Dey, Prithviraj Kapoor, Chhabi Biswas, Bikash Roy, Pahari Sanyal, Basanta Choudhury.

Top directors like Premankur Atarthi, P.C. Barua, Debaki Bose and Nitin Bose worked in New Theatres films. The Famous musicians who worked there include R. C. Boral, Pankaj Mullick and Timir Baran.

New Theatres used to make commendable films till 1955. From 1931 to 1955 , it was a 24 year long and illustrious journey . During this period New Theatres produced 150 path breaking films. Many of them are considered classics today . Name of some of the films , which are considered milestone , are given below :

• Dena Paona (Released 30 December 1931) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi
• Natir Puja (Released 22 March 1932)
• Punarjanma (Released 2 April 1932) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi
• Chirakumar Sabha (Released 28 May 1932) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi
• Pallisamaj (Released 1 July 1932) – Directed by Sisir Bhaduri
• Chandidas (Released 24 September 1932) – Directed by Debaki Bose
• Kapalkundala (Released 20 May 1933) – Directed by Premankur Atarthi
• Mastuto Bhai (short) (Released 20 May 1933) – Directed by Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay
• Sita (Released 26 October 1933) – Directed by Sisir Bhaduri
• Mirabai (Released 11 November 1933) – Directed by Debaki Bose
• Excuse Me Sir (short) (Released 30 March 1934) – Directed by Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay
• Ruplekha (Released 14 April 1934) – Directed by P.C. Barua
• P.Brothers (Cartoon) (Released 23 June 1934) – Directed by Raichand Boral
• Mahua (Released 31 August 1934) – Directed by Hiren Bose
• Devdas (Released 30 March 1935) – Directed by Nitin Bose
• Abaseshe (short) (Released 24 August 1935) – Directed by Dineshranjan Das
• Bhagyachakra (Released 3 October 1935) – Directed by Nitin Bose
• Grihadaha (Released 10 October 1936) – Directed by P.C. Barua
• Mando Ki (short) (Released 21 October 1936) – Directed by Tulsi Lahiri
• Maya (Released 23 December 1936) – Directed by P.C. Barua
• Didi (Released 3 April 1937) – Directed by Nitin Bose
• 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
• Desher mati (Released 17 August 1938) – Directed by Nitin Bose
• Achinpriya (Released 29 October 1938) – Directed by Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay
• 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 (Released 12 August 1939) – Directed by P.C. Barua
• Jiban Maran (Released 14 October 1939) – Directed by Nitin Bose
• 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
• Pratishruti (Released 14 August 1941) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra
• Shodhbodh (Released 28 March 1942) – Directed by Soumen Mukhopadhyay
• Minakshi (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
• Dikshul (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 (Released 27 April 1947) – Directed by Subodh Mitra
• Ramer Sumati (Released 24 December 1947) – Directed by Kartik Chattopadhyay
• Pratibad (Released 19 June 1948) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra
• Anjangarh (Released 24 September 1948) – Directed by Bimal Roy
• Mantramugdha (Released 14 January 1949) – Directed by Bimal Roy
• Bishnupriya (Released 7 October 1949) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra
• Rupkatha (Released 13 October 1950) – Directed by Soren Sen

Of the above mentioned films , I have seen two classics ; Pramathesh Barua directed ” Mukti “ [ 1937 ] and ” Devdas” .  Bimal Roy directed ” Udayer Pathe “ [ 1944 ] was later made in Hindi as ” Naya Zamana  ” starring Dharmendra and Hema Malini. I have seen the Hindi version.

Among all the illustrious directors , who worked in ” New Theatres ” , I was fortunate enough to meet Phani Majumdar and was able to take his blessings. Phani da made his debut with ” Street Singer “ , a Kundan Lal Sehgal starrer. It had famous Sehgal song – BABUL MORA NAIHAR CHHUTO HI JAY .  Later on he directed successful films like ” Aarti “ [ first film of Rajshri banner ] , ” Akashdeep ” and ” Oonche Log ” . I was fortunate enough to meet his actress wife Monice Desai also. Phani da died in 1994, when I was starting my acting training career.

After 55 years ” New Theatres ” , the legendary banner , is again producing a new film.

Ami Aadu (Upcoming Film, 2011) – Directed by Somnath Gupta

[I have taken some portions of this blog from the internet sites like Wikipedia and reproduced it here . Some facts are taken from Screen weekly. I express my gratitude .]

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