Niranjan Pal (1889-1959)

Director and scenarist born in Calcutta. Son of nationalist leader Bipin Chandra Pal. Participated marginally in early youth in terrorist action around Calcutta (1908). Sent to Marseilles and to London where he lived until 1929. Met Veer Savarkar, leader of the extreme right-wing Hindu Mahasabha, and was linked with the assassination of William Hutt Curzon Wyllie (achieved at the Imperial Institute in London on 1 July 1909). In London, worked with the Natural Color Kinematograph Co. (1913); wrote short stories, plays and sold several scripts such as Faith of a Child (F. Martin Thornton, 1915) and A Gentleman of Paris (Sinclair Hill, 1931), based on his own novel His Honour the Judge. Started Indian Players group and staged plays like Bluebottle and The Goddess. Met Himansu Rai, an actor in The Goddess, and discussed making Prem Sanyas (1925). Pal claims in his unpublished memoirs, Such is Life, that the film was his idea as well as his script. Collaborated as scenarist on all Himansu Rai’s silent productions (Shiraz, 1928; Prapancha Pash, 1929). Revived Indian Players and The Goddess on stage in Calcutta with participation of Premankur Atorthy, Modhu Bose and Charu Roy. His play Zarina, staged by Bose’s Calcutta Amateur Players, was later filmed by Ezra Mir (1932). Made promotional films for a French motor car company and Imperial Tobacco, exhibited with Chaplin films in tent shows around Calcutta (1930-3). Made newsreels for Aurora called Aurora Screen News (1938-42) and occasional features for Aurora, including the children’s film Hatekhari. Rejoined Rai at Bombay Talkies (1934-7) as chief scenarist and wrote some of the studio’s biggest hits (Jeevan Naiya and Achhut Kanya, both 1936; Izzat and Savitri, both 1937). Made documentaries for Punjab government and worked in the Film Advisory Board as chief scriptwriter (1942). Also wrote the story of Modhu Bose’s Khyber Falcon (1932) and Jayant Desai’s Qatil Katari (1931).

FILMOGRAPHY: 1930: Naseeb Ni Balihari; 1931: Sui Ka Naka; Pardesia; Pujari; 1932: Dardi (all St); 1939: Hatekhari; Amma; 1940: Suktara; Ditiya Path; 1941: Rashpurnima; Chitthi; Brahman Kanya; 1951: Bodhodaya.

Director

Writer