Chandrabati Devi
Biography: Chandrabati Devi defied societal norms, pursuing a career in Hindi and Bengali cinema. Born on 19th October 1909, in Muzaffarpur, she moved to Kolkata, where she graduated in Bengali literature and trained in music under the guidance of Dinendranath Tagore. Her entry into the silent film industry was facilitated by her husband, Bimal Pal, with whom she founded 'Movie Pictures', making her debut in the silent film "Piyari" ' (1929), being catapulted to stardom and possibly becoming the first female film producer in Bengal. Despite challenges, she earned acclaim for roles like Meera in Debaki Bose's cult classic "Meerabai" (1933), Chandramukhi in the 1935 cult classic "Devdas", and "Dakshayagna", with her portrayal of Saratchandra Chattopadhyay’s heroines leaving a lasting impact. As her career progressed, she transitioned to character roles, with memorable performances in "Agni Pariksha" and "Ami Sirajer Begum". A talented writer and editor, Chandrabati remained committed to the purity of art throughout her life. She died on 22nd April, 1992.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: October 19, 1909
Deathday: April 29, 1992
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Known For
Agni Pariksha
1954-09-03
Agni Pariksha
Overview: Love story of Tapasi and Kiriti in the backdrop of social and cultural conflict regarding marriages and progressiveness.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1954-09-03
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Dakshayagna
1934-12-28
Dakshayagna
Overview: Dakshayagna is a pivotal tale in Hindu mythology. It recounts the grand sacrifice ritual organized by Daksha, where his daughter Sati, wife of Lord Shiva, tragically immolates herself due to her father's insult to her husband. Enraged by this, Shiva destroys the sacrifice, leading to the creation of the Shakti Pithas. This event also sets the stage for the reincarnation of Sati as Parvati, who later marries Shiva. The story is central to understanding the complexities of Hindu deities and their interactions.
Genres: History Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1934-12-28
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Iran Ki Ek Raat
1949-07-15
Iran Ki Ek Raat
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Genres: Drama
Original Language: hi
Release Date: 1949-07-15
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Moner Mayur
1954-01-01
Moner Mayur
Overview: Anu and Binay love each other and wish to get married but face opposition from her greedy uncle. They decide to elope but are caught and separated due to unforeseen circumstances.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1954-01-01
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Two Generations
1945-08-30
Two Generations
Overview: One of the early films of Chhabi Biswas featuring him as a leading man, before he came to be associated with the dominating patriarch roles that have become iconic in Bengali cinema, the film is a tale of the love, relationships and ideals of two generations. Nutubihari is an idealist who has given up his love for Kalyani for the sake of his beliefs. He marries Bimala and becomes a lawyer, fighting for the rights of the poor against the feudal lords. Meanwhile, Kalyani comes to ask refuge after she becomes a widow and is inexplicably accepted by Bimala with a lot of warmth. As the years pass Kalyani's daughter Mamata and Nutu's oldest son Arun fall in love and wish to get married. However, the new-found fame and fortune turns his head and Nutu begins to resemble all the ideals and vices that he had always despised. On the other hand in an ironical turn of events, Arun comes to occupy the position once held by his father, highlighting the generational conflict of ideals.
Genres: Family Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1945-08-30
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Indrani
1958-10-10
Indrani
Overview: Indrani Mukherjee the only daughter of a staunch brahmin in a village studies at Kolkata and stays in a girls' hostel. She meets Sudarshan Dutta, who had a brilliant career as a student and is doing his PhD. They fall in love, and Indrani wants to get married with him as soon as possible. She goes back to her village and informs her father of her intention to get married, Indrani's father takes umbrage as Sudarshan is not a Brahmin and also unemployed. Sudarshan too warns Indrani that he won't be able to provide for her. Indrani marries Sudarshan and is tormented at Sudarshan's house by his mother and sisters in law because of several emotional strains at play. To avoid further complications at home, Indrani gets a job as a teacher in Dinajpur. One day, after a heated exchange between two people that started their journey fiercely loving and trusting one another, Sudarshan leaves Indrani and goes in search of a job elsewhere.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1958-10-10
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Chandranath
1957-11-14
Chandranath
Overview: Feeling lonely after his father's death, Chandranath meets and falls in love with a poor widow's daughter during his travels. Later, secrets from her past come to haunt him.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1957-11-14
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Sakher Chor
1960-06-30
Sakher Chor
Overview: Indra catches a thief Kaanta in the night and tricks him into believing he's a famous thief himself who has made away with large sums of money in high-profile heists and thefts. Later, Indra enters a bet with his friends who bait him into pulling off a theft and he seeks Kaanta's help.
Genres: Comedy Drama Romance
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1960-06-30
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Marutirtha Hinglaj
1959-02-12
Marutirtha Hinglaj
Overview: While on their way to Hinglaj, Maharaj and his companions meet Kunti, who was raped by dacoits, and Thirumal, whom she left her family for. Together, they set out to seek the blessings of God.
Genres: Adventure Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1959-02-12
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Deep Jele Jaai
1959-05-01
Deep Jele Jaai
Overview: A nurse at a psychiatric ward gets a bit too involved in the well-being of a patient.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1959-05-01
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The Lost Melody
1957-09-06
The Lost Melody
Overview: An amnesiac man escapes the hospital he has been admitted to and is aided by doctor Roma Banerjee, who takes him to her father's country house. While treating him she falls for him and he for her. They marry, but an accident makes him remember his life as a rich man in Calcutta and completely forget the time spent with Roma. Roma follows him to Calcutta.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1957-09-06
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Baradidi
1939-04-07
Baradidi
Overview: Suren, prevented by his family from pursuing a university career, leaves home and becomes a tutor to Pramila. He falls in love with her widowed elder sister Madhavi who, although returning his love, has him sacked to save the situation.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1939-04-07
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Laksha-Heera
1956-04-13
Laksha-Heera
Overview: A 1956 Bengali Drama Film directed by Chittaranjan Mitra.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1956-04-13
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Putrabadhu
1956-10-05
Putrabadhu
Overview: The Mukherjee family's daughter, Maya, is engaged to Nanda but notices his growing attraction to Shukla. Maya convinces Shukla to help, and Shukla successfully reunites Maya and Nanda. However, Maya's mother dislikes Shukla. Shukla then falls in love with Maya's brother, Dilip, but faces opposition from Dilip's mother. Despite challenges, Shukla's love and sacrifice ultimately win over the family, uniting them.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1956-10-05
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Tasher Ghawr
1957-06-14
Tasher Ghawr
Overview: When a wealthy man accidentally stumbles upon his lookalike who is poor, the two of them decide to swap places in a bid to escape from their problems. Things take quite an interesting turn after that.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1957-06-14
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Rodon Bhara Basanta
1974-04-05
Rodon Bhara Basanta
Overview: Shipra is a poor woman who is molested and killed as she witnesses corruption. The police and lawyer Somnath take up the case and slowly dig into it. He traces the corrupted policeman and comes to know that Karuna, the head lady of the orphanage where Shipra used to live is equally involved in female trafficking. However, when he sees Karuna his world is turned upside down. Karuna is Shukla, Somnath’s long-lost wife. Circumstances had led her to become a puppet in the hands of the gangsters. However, she is to keep mum about the entire conspiracy, lest they kill her only daughter. Somnath gives assurance to Karuna to speak the truth. She does that and, in the end, the entire gangster network is caught. Karuna’s daughter is proved to be Somnath’s daughter. They get together again.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1974-04-05
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The Philosopher's Stone
1958-01-17
The Philosopher's Stone
Overview: An underpaid middle-aged clerk finds a stone that changes iron to gold on touch. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with The Film Foundation in 2007.
Genres: Comedy Fantasy
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1958-01-17
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Didi
1937-03-20
Didi
Overview: A famous Saigal musical narrating a strange love story set against 1930s industrialization and worker-management relations. The 16-year-old Prabhavati inherits a mill and turns it into an extremely profitable enterprise. Prakash is a worker who designs a more efficient machine for the factory for which he first gets sacked and then is re-employed. He falls in love with Prabhavati's sister Sheila, who later makes way for Prabhavati who is also in love with Prakash. Her withdrawal distresses Prakash, causing him to bully the workers who then go on strike.
Genres: Romance Drama Music
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1937-03-20
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Saugandh
1942-03-24
Saugandh
Overview: A father worries for his younger son and asks his elder son to promise that he will do everthing in his power to ensure Arun does not go astray, educates himself and becomes an independent man. However, fate has other plans. When Arun commits an unthinkable crime, his brother fulfills the promise made to their father and shields his younger sibling from all harm.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: hi
Release Date: 1942-03-24
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My Sister
1944-01-01
My Sister
Overview: Set against the backdrop of WW II in Calcutta, "Meri Bahen" is the story of a schoolteacher and his young sister. The film followed his rise to fame as a singer and the changes in his relationships following a bomb-raid.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: hi
Release Date: 1944-01-01
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Chinna Patra
1972-10-13
Chinna Patra
Overview: Starring Uttam Kumar in a double role. One is the unruly, rich and spoilt brat who is killed by his enemies, while the other, a good guy, reaches the dead man's house and is compelled to take his place
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1972-10-13
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Prithibi Amare Chay
1957-05-03
Prithibi Amare Chay
Overview: A 1957 Indian film about an aspiring singer and the son of a reputed businessman. His stepmother accuses him of indecency and throws him out of his house to inherit all the property of her husband. The female protagonist suffers a similar fate as her stepmother forces her to leave. They both decide to commit suicide and go to a riverbank where they meet and the cupid strikes.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1957-05-03
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Raikamal
1955-03-08
Raikamal
Overview: Raikamal narrates the story of Rai Kamal, a devotee of Lord Krishna. Rai Kamal and Ranjan are childhood sweethearts. When Ranjan grows up he wishes his desire to marry Rai but his parents are against this match as they are Brahmins and Rai Kamal was a low caste Vaishnav.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1955-03-08
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Dui Bon
1955-01-01
Dui Bon
Overview: Ananda, an upcoming writer leaves his village to pursue his writing career in Kolkata
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1955-01-01
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Bicharak
1959-03-12
Bicharak
Overview: The plot revolves around a series of flashbacks that reveal a judge's past and hidden secrets. Gyanendra, a judge, lives with his wife Sarama. Being the Judge, every time he has a trial of similar cases he remembers his past, the truth about his questionable actions. Gyanendra always recalls when he was a popular lawyer, married to Sumoti, a suspicious and rude lady. But he had a weak feeling for his professor's daughter Sarama. One day Gyanendra's house was burnt and his first wife Sumoti died. Gyanendra could not make any attempt to save her, perhaps he was unable to bear Sumati further. Thereafter he marries Sarama and becomes a judge but he realizes his crime and his past haunts him much.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1959-03-12
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One Night
1956-05-11
One Night
Overview: This film revolves with miscommunication and misunderstanding of two couples and their family which cause series of laughter. Sushavan Dutta and his wife, Anita, were invited at their relative Digbijay babu's house. While in journey Anita misses train and Sushavan has to journey with another lady Santana. Santana is the wife of famous political leader Shailesh. At night they take shelter as husband and wife in Gosaiji's hotel, Harimatar Panthashala because Gosaiji allows married couples only. Santana carries a puppy with her, which run away from the garden of the hotel and Sushovan has to chase it at night. When Anita's mother comes to know that Sushavan is untraced, she becomes angry and make chaotic situation.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1956-05-11
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Jiban Trishna
1957-12-25
Jiban Trishna
Overview: A philanderer, the only son of a wealthy doctor, is attracted to a poor orphaned artist. Her stepbrother loathes rich people, and would go to any extent to get money off them. What would happen if the roles reversed?
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1957-12-25
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Raja-Saja
1960-01-01
Raja-Saja
Overview: Trouble ensues when an eccentric but simple-minded villager discovers he is the only living heir of a royal estate.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1960-01-01
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Devdas
1935-03-30
Devdas
Overview: Devdas, the son of a zamindar, and Parvati, his neighbour's daughter, are childhood sweethearts. However, class and caste differences prevent their marriage. Devdas is sent off to Calcutta, while Paro is married off to an aged rich widower. In Calcutta, as remorse drives him to alcohol, Devdas meets Chandramukhi, a prostitute. All Indian prints of this Bengali version were destroyed in a fire that ravaged New Theatre’s studios. Today, only one copy of the film survives which belongs to the Bangladesh Film Archives. Of that copy almost forty percent is destroyed.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1935-03-30
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Bratacharini
1955-10-21
Bratacharini
Overview: A 1955 Bengali Drama Film directed by Kamal Gangopadhyay.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1955-10-21
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Agnibhramar
1973-11-02
Agnibhramar
Overview: A 1973 Bengali Drama Film directed by Ajit Gangopadhyay.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1973-11-02
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Jay Jayanti
1971-03-12
Jay Jayanti
Overview: Jayanti takes up a job of a governess in the Roy family. Sanjoy Roy, the uncle of the five kids, is an arrogant man. Soon, Jayanti wins the kids' hearts and Sanjoy's respect.
Genres: Family Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1971-03-12
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Jiban Jigyasa
1971-10-15
Jiban Jigyasa
Overview: Indra and Radha's love is short-lived when he decides to go abroad. Soon enough, Radha's life takes an ugly turn when her child with Indra, born out of wedlock, dies and she is accused of murder.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1971-10-15
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Sashibabur Sansar
1959-05-29
Sashibabur Sansar
Overview: Sashibhushan who is the orthodox patriarch, has a tough time dealing with the youngsters who want to live life on their own.
Genres: Family Drama
Original Language: bn
Release Date: 1959-05-29
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The Lost Tune
The Lost Tune
Overview: An amnesiac after a train accident, Alok Mukherjee (Uttam Kumar) is rescued on escaping from the asylum where he is admitted by Doctor Roma Banerjee (Suchitra Sen) who takes him to her father's (Pahadi Sanyal) country house in a village called Palaspur. There, while treating him she falls for him and he for her. They marry but a second accident makes him recall his life as a rich businessman in Calcutta and forget the memories spent with Roma. Roma follows him to Calcutta and meets him there, but he doesn't recognise her. He hires her as governess to his niece instead. Roma keeps trying to simulate Alok's memory but is looked at suspiciously by Lata, Alok's fiancée in Calcutta who thinks Roma is snatching Alok away from her and who complains to Alok's mother. The latter has Roma kicked out. Alok realizing she is from Palaspur and that is where he got back his memory goes there and regains his memory of times spent with Roma there.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
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