== Dhirendranath Ganguly (1893-1978) ==
Bengali director, painter and actor born in
Calcutta. Studied in Shantiniketan, graduated
from the Government School of Art, Calcutta
(1915); art teacher in the Nizam’s Art College,
Hyderabad. Successful portrait painter and
sought to extend his oil painting techniques
into photography. Published 2 collections of
photographic self-portraits, Bhaber Abhiyakti
and Biye (1922), as photo montages with
Ganguly himself modelling all the characters.
Set up Indo-British Film (1918) in Calcutta with
Nitish Lahiri. First film, [[Bilet Pherat]], was
probably ready in 1919. Returned to
Hyderabad and set up Lotus Film (1922-4) on
the Nizam’s invitation. Went back to Calcutta,
after a short stay in Bombay, and started
[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Dominion_Films#British_Dominion_Films|British Dominion Films Studio]] (1929)
together with [[P.C. Barua]]. Remained ardent
supporter of [[Empire Films]] concept. Unable to
sustain his studio into the sound era, he went
freelance in 1934, including two separate
periods at [[New Theatres]]. With Bilet Pherat
introduced a type of satire into film (continued
in The Marriage Tonic, Takay Ki Na Hay)
analogous to 19th C. tradition of Naksha
satirical literature, drawing on [[Pat painting]]
and the musical satires of [[Calcutta Theatres]].
Among his later films were adaptations of
[[Premendra Mitra]]’s novels (e.g. Ahuti,
Daabi).

FILMOGRAPHY (* act only): 1921: Bilet
Pherat*; Shri Radha Krishna*; 1922: Sadhu
Aur Shaitan*; Indrajit; Lady Teacher; Hara
Gauri; Chintamani; Bimata; 1923: The
Marriage Tonic; Yayati; 1927:
Shankaracharya*; 1930: Panchasar*;
Kamaner Aagun*; Alik Babu; 1931: Takay Ki
Na Hay; Charitraheen; Maraner Pare* (all St);
1933: Mastuto Bhai; 1934: Excuse Me, Sir;
Night Bird; Halkatha; 1935: Bidrohi; 1936:
Country Girl; Dwipantar; 1938: Halbangala;
Achin Priya; Abhisarika; 1940: Path Bhoole;
Karmakhali; 1941: Pratishodh*; Ahuti; 1943:
Daabi; 1947: Srinkhal; 1948: Shesh Nibedan;
1949: Cartoon; 1962: Abhisarika*; Rakta
Palash*.

[[Director]]

[[Actor]]