| 4 | | Major, still undervalued Bengali-Hindi director of Assamese origin, and one of the first major movie stars in India. Born into aristocratic family as the big game-hunting son of the Maharajah of Gauripur. Promising amateur sportsman and art-lover. Graduated from élite Presidency College, Calcutta (1924). Visited Europe and saw films (esp. René Clair and Lubitsch). Entered film as actor in silents; shareholder in [[ |
| | 4 | Major, still undervalued Bengali-Hindi director of Assamese origin, and one of the first major movie stars in India. Born into aristocratic family as the big game-hunting son of the Maharajah of Gauripur. Promising amateur sportsman and art-lover. Graduated from élite Presidency College, Calcutta (1924). Visited Europe and saw films (esp. René Clair and Lubitsch). Entered film as actor in silents; shareholder in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhiren_Ganguly|Dhiren Ganguly]]’s [[British Dominion Films]] (1928). Spent a few months at Elstree to learn film-making and started Barua Pics in Calcutta (1929), producing e.g. [[Debaki Bose]]’s Aparadhi (1931) and Nishir Dak (1932). Joined Chittaranjan Das’ Swarajya Party (1928) which represented Hindu zamindar interests after the Hindu-Muslim riots of 1926. Prominent member of Assam Legislative Assembly (1928-36) when his Party piloted the anti-tenant and anti-Muslim Tenancy Act (1928) through Bengal Legislative Council. Joined [[New Theatres]] (1932-39), |