Pramathesh Barua
Encyclopedia
Pramathesh Chandra Barua ' onMouseout='HidePop("72892")' href="/topics/Bengali_language">Bengali
: প্রমথেশ চন্দ্র বড়ুয়া Promothesh Chôndro Boŗua) (24 October 1903–29 November 1951) was a famous actor, director, and screenwriter of India
n films in the pre-independence era.
of Gauripur, Assam
, where he was born and spent his childhood. He studied at Hare School
, Calcutta and then Bachelors of Science graduated from Presidency College, Calcutta in 1924. Soon after he travelled to Europe
, where he received his first exposure to films. After returning, he served for a time in the Assam Legislative Assembly
and joined the Swaraj Party
but ultimately moved to Calcutta and later began a career in films, much to the chagrin of his father.
's Indo British Film Co
, and also worked for him as an actor. He then went to Europe for a second time, observing production of movies in London
. After purchasing some lighting equipment in Paris
, he returned to India and established Barua Pictures Limited. The studio's first major project was Apradhi in 1931, a silent film that starred Barua and was directed by Debaki Bose
. The film became a critical success, and Barua went on to play the villain in Bhagyalaxmi (1932), directed by Dhiren Ganguly. Barua later hired Ganguly when British Dominion Films failed, and the two of them, along with Debaki Bose, then joined New Theatres
.
Barua's breakthrough with New Theatres came with Devdas
in 1935. The film was first made in Bengali
, with Barua himself in the title role; he then remade it in Hindi
as the 1936 film Devdas
, with K.L. Saigal as the leading man. The Hindi version became a craze all throughout India; it cemented Barua as a top-notch director and Saigal as the top-notch hero of Indian films. Barua followed up Devdas with Manzil in 1936, Mukti in 1937, Adhikar in 1938, Rajat Jayanti in 1939, and Zindagi (which reunited him with Saigal) in 1940.
Barua's films were photographed by Bimal Roy
, who would later become an accomplished director in his own right.
Barua left New Theatres in 1939 and freelanced thereafter. However, of his post-New Theatres films, only Shesh Uttar/Jawab (1942) stood out. He planned an Indian version of The Way of All Flesh
, but it never materialized. He took to drinking heavily, and his health began to decline; he died in 1951.
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...
: প্রমথেশ চন্দ্র বড়ুয়া Promothesh Chôndro Boŗua) (24 October 1903–29 November 1951) was a famous actor, director, and screenwriter of India
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...
n films in the pre-independence era.
Early life
Barua was the son of the ZamindarZamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
of Gauripur, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, where he was born and spent his childhood. He studied at Hare School
Hare School
Hare School is one of the oldest schools in Kolkata, India, teaching grades 1 to 12 under the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education and the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education. The boys-only school was established by the Scottish watch-maker David Hare with the help of social...
, Calcutta and then Bachelors of Science graduated from Presidency College, Calcutta in 1924. Soon after he travelled to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, where he received his first exposure to films. After returning, he served for a time in the Assam Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Assam
The Assam Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Assam. It is housed in Dispur, the capital of Assam. The legislative assembly comprises 126 Members of Legislative Assembly, directly elected from single-seat constituencies...
and joined the Swaraj Party
Swaraj Party
The Swaraj Party, Swarajaya Party or Swarajya Party, established as the Congress-Khilafat Swarajaya Party, was a political party formed in India in 1922 that sought greater self-government and political freedoms for the Indian people from the British Raj. It was inspired by the concept of Swaraj...
but ultimately moved to Calcutta and later began a career in films, much to the chagrin of his father.
Film career
Barua made a small investment in Dhirendra Nath GangulyDhirendra Nath Ganguly
Dhirendra Nath Ganguly , better known as Dhiren Ganguly or D.G , was a Dadasaheb Phalke Award winning and Padma Bhushan recipient film enterpreneur/actor/director of Bengali Cinema. He had set up a number of film production companies: Indo British Film company, British Dominion Films, Lotus Film...
's Indo British Film Co
Indo British Film Co
The Indo British Film Co was a film production company set up by Dhirendra Nath Ganguly in 1918. It was the first Bengalee owned production company in India. The first production by the company was Bilat Ferat in 1921, directed by N.C. Lahiri.-External links:...
, and also worked for him as an actor. He then went to Europe for a second time, observing production of movies in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. After purchasing some lighting equipment in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he returned to India and established Barua Pictures Limited. The studio's first major project was Apradhi in 1931, a silent film that starred Barua and was directed by 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...
. The film became a critical success, and Barua went on to play the villain in Bhagyalaxmi (1932), directed by Dhiren Ganguly. Barua later hired Ganguly when British Dominion Films failed, and the two of them, along with Debaki Bose, then joined New Theatres
New Theatres Calcutta
New Theatres, Calcutta was formed by producer B. N. Sircar . It was formed on 10 February 1931.Moto - Jivatang Jyotiretu Chhayam...
.
Barua's breakthrough with New Theatres came with Devdas
Devdas (1935 film)
Devdas is a 1935 Bengali film based on the Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay novella, Devdas. It stars P.C. Barua as Devdas and Jamuna Barua as Parvati and Chandrabati Devi as Chandramuki.Sharat Chandra Chatterjee's classic novel Devadas is about two lovers - Debdas and Parbati - who can never unite...
in 1935. The film was first made 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...
, with Barua himself in the title role; he then remade it in 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...
as the 1936 film Devdas
Devdas (1936 film)
Devdas is a 1935 film based on the Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay novella, Devdas. Directed by P.C. Barua, it stars K.L. Saigal as Devdas and Jamuna Barua as Parvati . Of Barua's two versions, this was the popular one throughout India.-Plot:Devdas Devdas (Hindi: देवदास, Urdu: دیوداس) is a 1935 film...
, with K.L. Saigal as the leading man. The Hindi version became a craze all throughout India; it cemented Barua as a top-notch director and Saigal as the top-notch hero of Indian films. Barua followed up Devdas with Manzil in 1936, Mukti in 1937, Adhikar in 1938, Rajat Jayanti in 1939, and Zindagi (which reunited him with Saigal) in 1940.
Barua's films were photographed by Bimal Roy
Bimal Roy
Bimal Roy was one of the most acclaimed Indian film directors of all time. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films like Do Bigha Zamin, Parineeta, Biraj Bahu, Madhumati, Sujata, and Bandini, making him an important director of Hindi cinema...
, who would later become an accomplished director in his own right.
Barua left New Theatres in 1939 and freelanced thereafter. However, of his post-New Theatres films, only Shesh Uttar/Jawab (1942) stood out. He planned an Indian version of The Way of All Flesh
The Way of All Flesh (film)
The Way of All Flesh is a drama film directed by Victor Fleming, written by Lajos Biró, Jules Furthman and Julian Johnson from a story by Perley Poore Sheehan. The film is unrelated to Samuel Butler's novel The Way of All Flesh, and is now considered a lost film.-Cast:*Emil Jannings - August...
, but it never materialized. He took to drinking heavily, and his health began to decline; he died in 1951.
Director
- Bengal 1983 (1932)
- Roop Lekha (1934)
- Devdas (1935)
- Maya (1936/II)
- Maya (1936/I)
- Manzil (1936)
- Grihadah (1936)
- Devdas (1936)
- Mukti (1937/II)
- Mukti (1937/I)
- Adhikar (1938)
- Rajat Jayanti (1939)
- Adhikar (1939)
- Zindagi (1940)
- Shap Mukti (1940)
- Mayer Pran (1941)
- Uttarayan (1941)
- Jawab (1942)
- Rani (1943)
- Subah Shyam (1944)
- Ameeree (1945)
- Pehchan (1946)
- Iran Ki Ek Raat (1949)
- Maya Kanan (1953)
Actor
- 1. Subah Shyam (1944)
- 2. Rani (1943)
- 3. Jawab (1942) .... Manoj
- 4. Uttarayan (1941) .... Salil
- 5. Mayer Pran (1941) .... Satish
- 6. Shap Mukti (1940) .... Ramesh
- 7. Adhikar (1939) .... Nikhilesh
- 8. Rajat Jayanti (1939) .... Rajat
- 9. Adhikar (1938) .... Nikhilesh
- 10. Mukti (1937/I) .... Prasant
- 11. Mukti (1937/II) .... Prasanta
- 12. Grihadah (1936) .... Mahim
- 13. Manzil (1936) .... Mahim
- 14. Devdas (1935) .... Devdas
- 15. Roop Lekha (1934) .... Arup in the Bengali version
- 16. Bengal 1983 (1932)
- 17. Aparadhi (1931)
- 18. Charitraheen (1931)
- 19. Takay Ki Na Hay (1931)
- 20.
Writer
- 1. Adhikar (1939) (writer)
- 2. Rajat Jayanti (1939) (writer)
- 3. Adhikar (1938) (writer)
- 4. Mukti (1937/I) (writer)
- 5. Mukti (1937/II) (writer)
- 6. Devdas (1936) (writer)
- 7. Maya (1936/I) (writer)
- 8. Maya (1936/II) (writer)
- 9. Devdas (1935) (writer)
- 10. Ekada (1932) (screenplay) (story)
External links
- Chatterji, Shoma A. (15 October 2009). "Pramathesh Chandra Barua-The First Star in Bengali Cinema". Calcutta Tube
- P.C. Barua at cinema section of Calcuttaweb.com