Debaki Kumar Bose (1898-1971)

Bengali and Hindi director born in Akalpoush, Burdwan Dist., West Bengal; also worked in Tamil and in Marathi. Son of a noted solicitor, Madhusudhan Bose. Influenced by Sisir Bhaduri, his teacher at Bidyasagar College, Calcutta (1920). Left university to join non-co- operation movement after Calcutta Congress (1920). Edited journal, Shakti, from Burdwan (1927-8). Hired by Dhiren Ganguly as actor and scenarist for Dinesh Ranjan Das’ Kamaner Aagun (1930). Devotee of Vaishnava evangelical movement.

Joined British Dominion Films (1927) as scenarist, then director. Joined P.C. Barua’s Barua Pics (1930), then entered New Theatres (1932-4) together with Barua, directing the studio’s first hit, Chandidas. Its cinematic validation of a major stage genre - the quasi-legendary biographical - helped lessen Bengali cinema’s dependence on the Calcutta Theatres for its themes as well as its literary, musical and acting talent. Early work known mainly for his free and inventive approach to established genres, esp. the mythological and the Saint film, creating a Bengali quality cinema (e.g. Aparadhi and Chandidas). Went to East India Film (1934-6) where he made the lyrical Seeta which launched Prithviraj Kapoor and Durga Khote as a star duo. Returned to New Theatres (1937-41), making the classic Bidyapati.

His independent Debaki Bose Prod. (1945) with stars from the Hindi and Marathi cinemas paved the way for other Calcutta cineastes after the decline of New Theatres in the early 40s. Made Arghya, a documentary on the caste system, based on four narrative poems by Tagore to celebrate the centenary of his birth.

FILMOGRAPHY: 1930: Kamaner Aagun (only act); Panchasar (also act); 1931: Aparadhi; Shadows of the Dead; 1932: Nishir Dak (all St); Chandidas; 1933: Puran Bhakt; Meerabai/Rajrani? Meera; Dulari Bibi; 1934: Seeta; 1935: Inquilab; Jeevan Natak; 1936: Sonar Sansar/Sunehra? Sansar; 1937: Bidyapati/Vidyapati?; 1939: Sapurey/ Sapera; 1940: Nartaki; Abhinav; 1942:

Director