Phani Majumdar was a pioneering Indian film director, who worked in Hindi cinema,[1] most known for his film Street Singer (1938) starring K.L. Saigal noted for its song, Babul Mora Naihar Chhooto Jaye, Meena Kumari classic Aarti (1962) and Oonche Log (1965). He also worked in Singapore, where he notably made Hang Tuah (1955) in Malay, which was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival.[2]
Phani Majumdar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 December 1911 |
| Died | 16 May 1994 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | film director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1938–1986 |
Career
editStarting in 1930s, with leading film director P.C. Barua at New Theatres Studio of Calcutta founded by B. N. Sircar, who during this period made classics like Devdas (1935). He moved to Bombay in 1941 and worked with Bombay Talkies studio, he made Tamanna (1942) with Suraiya and Mohabbat (1943) with Shanta Apte and Andolan (1951). He made films in Punjabi, Magadhi (Bhaiya, 1961) and Maithili (Kanyadaan, 1965).[1] His Oonch Log was actor Feroz Khan's first hit and won the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film.
Noted film director-producer Shakti Samanta assisted Majumdar in Tamasha, Baadbaan and Dhobi Doctor at Bombay Talkies before working independently.[3]
He was married to Monica Desai, sister of actress, Leela Desai.[4]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Street Singer | Yes | No | K.L. Saigal, Hindi |
| 1938 | Sathi | Yes | No | K. L. Saigal, Bengali version of Street Singer |
| 1943 | Mohabbat | Yes | No | |
| 1948 | Hum Bhi Insaan Hain | Yes | No | |
| 1952 | Tamasha | Yes | Yes (screenplay) | Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, Kaushalya |
| 1952 | Goonj | Yes | No | Suraiya (Heroine), Suresh(Hero), Producer: H.S Kwatra, Story & Lyrics: D. N. Madhok, Sardul Kwatra |
| 1954 | Baadbaan | Yes | Yes (story) | |
| 1956 | Hang Tuah | Yes | No | Malay language |
| Anak-ku Sazali | Yes | No | Malay language | |
| 1958 | Doktor | Yes | Yes (story) | Malay language |
| 1961 | Bhaiyaa | Yes | Yes (story) | Magahi |
| 1962 | Aarti | Yes | No | Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar |
| 1965 | Kanyadan | Yes | No | Maithili language |
| Akashdeep | Yes | No | ||
| Kaajal | No | Yes[5] | ||
| Oonche Log | Yes | Yes | National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film in Hindi[6][7] Feroz Khan's first hit[8] | |
| 1978 | Badalte Rishtey | No | Yes | |
| 1986 | Ek Chadar Maili Si | No | Yes |
- Note:Films in Hindi-language unless mentioned otherwise.
Awards
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Obituary: Phani Majumdar". The Independent. 22 June 1994. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022.
- ^ Awards IMDb
- ^ "Shakti Samanta his Aradhana came true". MiD DAY. 11 April 2009.
- ^ "Gentleman Extraordinaire: Phani Majumdar". thedailyeye.info. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Kaajal (1965)". The Hindu. 19 November 2010.
- ^ a b "13th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ^ a b "13th National Film Awards (PDF)" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals.
- ^ "Review: Blast from the past: Oonche Log (1965)". The Hindu. 1 May 2009. Archived from the original on 26 May 2009.
- ^ "9th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2011.