Kanan Devi
Encyclopedia
Kanan Devi (22 April 1916 – 17 July 1992) was an Indian
actress and singer. She was among the early singing stars of Indian cinema, and is credited popularly as the first star of Bengali Cinema
. Her singing style, usually in rapid tempo, was used instrumentally in some of the biggest hits of New Theatres, Kolkata
.
in or around 1916. In her autobiography, Kanan Devi has observed that she was born illegitimately. She belonged to a poor family and after the death of her adoptive father, she and her mother were left to earn and live on their own and had to do all sorts of work to drag on their lives.
Her name was soon changed to Kanan Bala. When she was only ten, a well wisher introduced her to Jyoti Studios where she was cast in a small role in Joydev (1926). She later worked with Radha Films, in films mainly by Jyotish Banerjee. After being noticed in Khooni Kaun and Maa (1934), she entered New Theatres, Calcutta. She came in contact of maestro Raichand Boral
who coached her and familiarized her in the Hindi accent. She received her initial musical training under Ustad Alla Rakha. She was employed as a singer at the Megaphone Gramaphone Company, receiving further training under Bhishmadev Chatterjee. She later learnt Rabindra Sangeet
under Anadi Dastidar. Her name was soon again changed to Kanan Devi for the purpose of films.
New Theatres's P.C. Barua wanted her to play the lead in his Devdas (1935), but, due to some reasons she could not act in the film. She later played the lead in Barua's Mukti (1937), which was perhaps her finest performance, making her the studio's top star. The films of New Theatres established her as a superhit singer. It was her association with K. C. Dey
that people enjoyed the most. Kanan Devi remained the top star of New Theatres until she resigned her contract in 1941 and began to freelance in Bengali
and Hindi
films. M.P. Productions's Jawaab, was perhaps her biggest hit. Her song Yeh Duniya Hai Toofan Mail was well received. She repeated the same feast in Hospital (1943), Banphool (1945), and Rajlakshmi (1946).
She moved to Bombay in 1948. She was seen for the last time in Hindi cinema in Chandrashekhar (1948) with Ashok Kumar
. Kanan Devi turned producer with Shrimati Pictures in 1949 and later launched the Sabyasachi Collective with the film Ananya (1949). Her own productions were mainly based on the stories of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay
. Kanan Devi married her first husband, Shri Ashok Maitra, but their marriage was short-lived and ended in a divorce. However, she did express gratitude towards him for giving her social recognition for the first time in her life. Later, she married her second husband Haridas Bhattacharya
, had her first and only child, a son, Siddharta Bhattacharya, and settled down, raising her family in Calcutta. She also worked as the president of Mahila Shilpi Mahal, an organization that helps aged and needy female artistes of the yesteryears and for the upliftment of Bengali cinema
. Kanan Devi, the first lady of the Bengali screen was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award
for her contribution to Indian cinema, in 1976. She died on 17 July 1992 in Belle View Clinic, Calcutta when she was around seventy-six years of age.
... aka The Crooked Writing
... aka Radha Krishna Prem
... aka The Story of Lord Krishna
... aka Shesh Uttar (India: Bengali title)
... aka The Last Reply
... aka Acquaintance
... aka Marriage
... aka The Snake-Charmer (India: English title)
... aka The Snake-Charmer (India: English title)
... aka Freedom
... aka The Liberation of the Soul
... aka The Poison Tree
... aka Krishna and Sudama
... aka Merchant of Arabia (India: English title)
... aka Doings of Lord Vishnu
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
actress and singer. She was among the early singing stars of Indian cinema, and is credited popularly as the first star of Bengali Cinema
Bengali cinema
Bengali cinema refers to the Bengali language filmmaking industries in the Bengal region of South Asia. There are two major film-making hubs in the region: one in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and the other in Dhaka, Bangladesh .The history of cinema in Bengal dates back to the 1890s, when the first...
. Her singing style, usually in rapid tempo, was used instrumentally in some of the biggest hits of New Theatres, Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
.
Biography
Kanan Devi was born as Kanan Dassi in Howrah, West BengalWest Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
in or around 1916. In her autobiography, Kanan Devi has observed that she was born illegitimately. She belonged to a poor family and after the death of her adoptive father, she and her mother were left to earn and live on their own and had to do all sorts of work to drag on their lives.
Her name was soon changed to Kanan Bala. When she was only ten, a well wisher introduced her to Jyoti Studios where she was cast in a small role in Joydev (1926). She later worked with Radha Films, in films mainly by Jyotish Banerjee. After being noticed in Khooni Kaun and Maa (1934), she entered New Theatres, Calcutta. She came in contact of maestro Raichand Boral
Raichand Boral
Rai Chand Boral was an Indian composer, considered by music conoisseurs to be the father of Bollywood film music.-Life and career:...
who coached her and familiarized her in the Hindi accent. She received her initial musical training under Ustad Alla Rakha. She was employed as a singer at the Megaphone Gramaphone Company, receiving further training under Bhishmadev Chatterjee. She later learnt Rabindra Sangeet
Rabindra Sangeet
Rabindra Sangeet , also known as Tagore Songs in English, is a form of music composed by Rabindranath Tagore who added a new dimension to the musical concept of India in general and Bengal in specific....
under Anadi Dastidar. Her name was soon again changed to Kanan Devi for the purpose of films.
New Theatres's P.C. Barua wanted her to play the lead in his Devdas (1935), but, due to some reasons she could not act in the film. She later played the lead in Barua's Mukti (1937), which was perhaps her finest performance, making her the studio's top star. The films of New Theatres established her as a superhit singer. It was her association with K. C. Dey
K. C. Dey
Krishna Chandra De better known as K.C. Dey, was a Bengali actor, singer and music composer and teacher born in Calcutta . He was S.D. Burman's first musical teacher and mentor. He worked for New Theatres in Kolkata until 1940. He is best remembered for his Kirtan songs.Dey sang and composed...
that people enjoyed the most. Kanan Devi remained the top star of New Theatres until she resigned her contract in 1941 and began to freelance in Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
and Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
films. M.P. Productions's Jawaab, was perhaps her biggest hit. Her song Yeh Duniya Hai Toofan Mail was well received. She repeated the same feast in Hospital (1943), Banphool (1945), and Rajlakshmi (1946).
She moved to Bombay in 1948. She was seen for the last time in Hindi cinema in Chandrashekhar (1948) with Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar also fondly called Dadamoni was an Indian film actor. Born Kumudlal Ganguly in Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency he attained iconic status in Indian cinema...
. Kanan Devi turned producer with Shrimati Pictures in 1949 and later launched the Sabyasachi Collective with the film Ananya (1949). Her own productions were mainly based on the stories of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay is one of the most popular Bengali novelists and short story writers of early 20th century.- Background and writing :Sarat Chandra was born into poverty in Debanandapur, Hooghly, India...
. Kanan Devi married her first husband, Shri Ashok Maitra, but their marriage was short-lived and ended in a divorce. However, she did express gratitude towards him for giving her social recognition for the first time in her life. Later, she married her second husband Haridas Bhattacharya
Haridas Bhattacharya
-Education:After school, he joined Calcutta's renowned Scottish Church College from where he graduated in 1912. He obtained a Master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Calcutta in 1914, and a law degree in 1917...
, had her first and only child, a son, Siddharta Bhattacharya, and settled down, raising her family in Calcutta. She also worked as the president of Mahila Shilpi Mahal, an organization that helps aged and needy female artistes of the yesteryears and for the upliftment of Bengali cinema
Bengali cinema
Bengali cinema refers to the Bengali language filmmaking industries in the Bengal region of South Asia. There are two major film-making hubs in the region: one in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and the other in Dhaka, Bangladesh .The history of cinema in Bengal dates back to the 1890s, when the first...
. Kanan Devi, the first lady of the Bengali screen was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. It was instituted in 1969, the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered as the father of Indian cinema.The award for a particular year is...
for her contribution to Indian cinema, in 1976. She died on 17 July 1992 in Belle View Clinic, Calcutta when she was around seventy-six years of age.
Actor
| Year | Film Name | Director | Co-star | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Joydev | Jyotish Bannerji | Actor | |
| 1931 | Rishir Prem | Jyotish Bannerji | Actor | |
| 1931 | Jore Barat | Jyotish Bannerji | Actor | Short |
| 1932 | Bishnumaya | Jyotish Bandyopadhyay | Actor | |
| 1932 | Prahlad | Priyanath Ganguly | Actor | |
| 1932 | Vishnu Maya Vishnu maya Visnu Maya or Chathan is a concept in Hinduism that refers to the divine power to create illusions.-Origin:According to Hindu mythology Lord Shiva while on a hunt happened to hear a sweet voice in the jungle. He was surprised to find that it belonged to a tribal girl, "Koolivaka" - a girl of... |
Jyotish Bannerji | Actor | |
| 1933 | Sree Gouranga | Prafulla Ghosh | Actor | |
| 1933 | Char Darvesh | Prafulla Ghosh | Actor | Fantasy |
| 1934 | Maa | Prafulla Ghosh | Actor | |
| 1934 | Hari Bhakti | Prafulla Ghosh | Actor | |
| 1935 | Kanthahaar | Jyotish Bannerji | Actor | |
| 1935 | Manmoyee Girls School | Jyotish Bannerji | Actor | |
| 1935 | Basabdatta | Satish Dasgupta | Actor | |
| 1936 | Bishabriksha | Phani Burma | Actor | |
| 1936 | Krishna Sudama | Phani Barma | Actor | |
| 1936 | Khooni Kaun | G. R. Sethi | Actor | |
| 1936 | Maa | Prafulla Ghosh | Actor | |
| 1937 | Vidyapati | Debaki Bose Debaki Bose Debaki Bose , also known as Debaki Kumar Bose, was a top director, writer, actor of Bengali cinema/Indian cinema. He was born on 25 November 1898 in Akalpoush, Burdwan, Bengal, British India. He died on 17 November 1971 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is known for his innovative use of sound... |
Actor | |
| 1937 | Mukti | Pramathesh Chandra Barua | Actor | |
| 1937 | Mukti | Pramathesh Chandra Barua | Actor | |
| 1937 | Bidyapati | Debaki Bose Debaki Bose Debaki Bose , also known as Debaki Kumar Bose, was a top director, writer, actor of Bengali cinema/Indian cinema. He was born on 25 November 1898 in Akalpoush, Burdwan, Bengal, British India. He died on 17 November 1971 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is known for his innovative use of sound... |
Actor | |
| 1938 | Saathi | Phani Majumdar | Actor | |
| 1938 | Street Singer | Phani Majumdar | Actor | |
| 1939 | Sapera | Debaki Bose Debaki Bose Debaki Bose , also known as Debaki Kumar Bose, was a top director, writer, actor of Bengali cinema/Indian cinema. He was born on 25 November 1898 in Akalpoush, Burdwan, Bengal, British India. He died on 17 November 1971 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is known for his innovative use of sound... |
Actor | |
| 1939 | Jawani-Ki-Raat | Hemchandra Chunder | Actor | |
| 1939 | Sapurey | Debaki Bose Debaki Bose Debaki Bose , also known as Debaki Kumar Bose, was a top director, writer, actor of Bengali cinema/Indian cinema. He was born on 25 November 1898 in Akalpoush, Burdwan, Bengal, British India. He died on 17 November 1971 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is known for his innovative use of sound... |
Actor | |
| 1940 | Parajay | Hemchandra Chunder | Actor | |
| 1940 | Haar Jeet | Amar Mullick | Actor | |
| 1940 | Abhinetri | Amar Mullick | Actor | |
| 1941 | Parichay | Nitin Bose Nitin Bose Nitin Bose was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatres, who made bilingual movies: in both Bengali and Hindi... |
Actor | |
| 1941 | Lagan | Nitin Bose Nitin Bose Nitin Bose was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatres, who made bilingual movies: in both Bengali and Hindi... |
Actor | |
| 1942 | Shesh Uttar | Pramathesh Chandra Barua | Actor | |
| 1942 | Jawab | Pramathesh Chandra Barua | Actor | |
| 1943 | Jogajog | Sushil Majumdar | Actor | |
| 1943 | Jogajog | Sushil Majumdar | Actor | |
| 1944 | Bideshini | Premendra Mitra | Actor | |
| 1945 | Path Bendhe Dilo | Premendra Mitra Premendra Mitra Premendra Mitra was a renowned Bengali poet, novelist, short story writer and film director. He was also an author of Bangla science fiction and thrillers.-Life:... |
Actor | |
| 1945 | Banphool | Niren Lahiri | Actor | |
| 1945 | Raj Lakshmi | Premendra Mitra Premendra Mitra Premendra Mitra was a renowned Bengali poet, novelist, short story writer and film director. He was also an author of Bangla science fiction and thrillers.-Life:... |
Actor | |
| 1946 | Tumi Aar Aami | Apurba Kumar Mitra | Actor | |
| 1946 | Krishna Leela | Debaki Bose Debaki Bose Debaki Bose , also known as Debaki Kumar Bose, was a top director, writer, actor of Bengali cinema/Indian cinema. He was born on 25 November 1898 in Akalpoush, Burdwan, Bengal, British India. He died on 17 November 1971 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is known for his innovative use of sound... |
Actor | |
| 1946 | Arabian Nights | Niren Lahiri | Actor | |
| 1947 | Chandrasekhar | Debaki Bose Debaki Bose Debaki Bose , also known as Debaki Kumar Bose, was a top director, writer, actor of Bengali cinema/Indian cinema. He was born on 25 November 1898 in Akalpoush, Burdwan, Bengal, British India. He died on 17 November 1971 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is known for his innovative use of sound... |
Actor | |
| 1947 | Chandrasekhar | Debaki Bose | Actor | |
| 1947 | Faisla | Apurba Kumar Mitra | Actor | |
| 1948 | Bankalekha | Chitta Bose | Actor | |
| 1948 | Anirban | Soumyen Mukherjee | Actor | |
| 1949 | Ananya | Sabyasachi | Actor | |
| 1949 | Anuradha | Pranab Roy | Actor | |
| 1950 | Mejdidi | Ajay Kar | Actor | |
| 1952 | Darpachurna | Actor | ||
| 1954 | Nababidhan | Haridas Bhattacharya | Actor | |
| 1955 | Debatra | Haridas Bhattacharya | Actor | |
| 1956 | Asha Asha Asha is the Avestan language term for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine. In the moral sphere, aša/arta represents what has been called "the decisive confessional concept of Zoroastrianism." ... |
Haridas Bhattacharya Haridas Bhattacharya -Education:After school, he joined Calcutta's renowned Scottish Church College from where he graduated in 1912. He obtained a Master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Calcutta in 1914, and a law degree in 1917... |
Actor | |
| 1959 | Indranath Srikanta-O-Annadadidi | Haridas Bhattacharya | Actor. | |
Playback Singer
- Asha (1956) (playback singer)
- Debatra (1955) (playback singer)
- Naba Bidhan (1954) (playback singer)
- Darpachurna (1952) (playback singer)
- Mejdidi (1950) (playback singer)
- Ananya (1949) (playback singer)
- Anirban (1948) (playback singer)
- Bankalekha (1948) (playback singer)
... aka The Crooked Writing
- Faisla (1947) (playback singer)
- Chandrashekhar (1947) (playback singer)
- Arabian Nights (1946) (playback singer)
- Krishna Leela (1946) (playback singer)
... aka Radha Krishna Prem
... aka The Story of Lord Krishna
- Tum Aur Main (1946) (playback singer)
- Tumi Aar Aami (1946) (playback singer)
- Ban Phool (1945) (playback singer)
- Path Bendhe Dilo (1945) (playback singer)
- Rajlaxmi (1945) (playback singer)
- Bideshini (1944) (playback singer)
- Jogajog (1943) (playback singer)
- Jawab (1942) (playback singer)
... aka Shesh Uttar (India: Bengali title)
... aka The Last Reply
- Lagan (1941) (playback singer)
- Parichay (1941) (playback singer)
... aka Acquaintance
... aka Marriage
- Abhinetri (1940) (playback singer)
- Haar Jeet (1940) (playback singer)
- Jawani Ki Reet (1939) (playback singer)
- Parajay (1939) (playback singer)
- Sapera (1939) (playback singer)
... aka The Snake-Charmer (India: English title)
- Sapurey (1939) (playback singer)
... aka The Snake-Charmer (India: English title)
- Bidyapati (1937) (playback singer)
- Mukti (1937/I) (playback singer)
... aka Freedom
... aka The Liberation of the Soul
- Mukti (1937/II) (playback singer)
- Vidyapati (1937) (playback singer)
- Bishabriksha (1936) (playback singer)
... aka The Poison Tree
- Krishna Sudama (1936) (playback singer)
... aka Krishna and Sudama
- Manmoyee Girls School (1935) (playback singer)
- Maa (1934) (playback singer)
- Char Darvesh (1933) (playback singer)
... aka Merchant of Arabia (India: English title)
- Vishnumaya (1932) (playback singer)
... aka Doings of Lord Vishnu
- Jore Barat (1931) (playback singer)
- Prahlad (1931/I) (playback singer)
Producer
- Abhaya O Srikanta (1965) (producer)
- Indranath Srikanta O Annadadidi (1959) (producer)
- Rajlakshmi O Srikanta (1958) (producer)
- Andhare Alo (1957) (producer)
- Asha (1956) (producer)
- Debatra (1955) (producer)
- Naba Bidhan (1954) (producer)
- Darpachurna (1952) (producer)
- Mejdidi (1950) (producer)
- Ananya (1949) (producer)
- Bamuner Meye (1949) (producer)