'''1943: Key Events'''

* The Bengal famine (1943-4), a direct consequence of war profiteering and speculation, leaves five million dead. 

* The best- known work of art dealing with the issues involved is Bijon Bhattacharya’s play Nabanna, the inaugural production of the Indian Peoples’ Theatre Association. 

* Subhash Chandra Bose arrives in Singapore by submarine from Kiel and becomes Supreme Commander of the Indian National Army. He proclaims a ‘Provisional Government of Azad Hind’ (Free India). His government in exile is immediately recognised by Germany and Japan. 

* The Muslim League amends the ‘Quit India’ resolution to ‘Divide And Quit’. 

* The Calcutta Group of painters, including Gopal Ghosh, Prodosh Dasgupta and Nirode Majumdar, has its first show.

* Kismet, one of the biggest hits in Indian film history, is released. 

* Rajkamal Kalamandir’s début feature, Shakuntala, is a major hit. 

* Information Films of India is started; 

* the Defence of India Act is amended to force all distributors to pay for and to show the Indian News Parade. 

* K. Ramnoth starts the Cine Technicians Association of South India. 

* Court Dancer, the English version of Raj Nartaki, is released in the USA in a few provincial theatres. 

* Kalish Mukhopadhyay starts the seminal Bengali film monthly Rupamancha, with extensive film and performing arts reviews, committed to film education and to the reorganisation of the industry.