Sushil Majumdar (1906-88)

Bengali and Hindi director born in Komilla, Tripura (now Bangladesh). Educated at Shantiniketan (1911-21) and at Kashi Vidyapeeth, Benares, and studied engineering at Jadavpur. Participated in non-co-operation agitations (1922). Actor for the amateur University Institute theatre group, then in the Calcutta Theatres stage company Manmohan Theatres (1927). Manager of touring company in Chittagong. Joined Bengal Movie & Talkie Film (e.g. Jeevan Prabhat), and then P.C. Barua’s studio (1930). Directed Barua’s short comedy Ekada and Debaki Bose’s Aparadhi and Nishir Dak. Early work strongly influenced by Calcutta theatres’ stage conventions (e.g. Tarubala), but also moved into new directions, e.g. Muktisnan’s depiction of political corruption. Later work, esp. Tulsi Lahiri’s scripts, moved closer to IPTA-influenced film (Dukhir Iman). The only Bengali director from the 30s to retain his popularity for over 40 years, e.g. with the Ashok Kumar starrer, Hospital, and one of Uttam Kumar’s bestknown performances in Lal Patthar. His Rikta was re-edited and reissued in 1960. Turned producer with Digbhranta.

FILMOGRAPHY (* also act/ act only): 1931: Jeevan Prabhat; Aparadhi; 1932: Nishir Dak; Ekada* (all St); Bengal 1983; 1936: Tarubala; 1937: Muktisnan; Basanti Purnima; 1939: Rikta*; 1940: Tatinir Bichar; Abhinav; 1941: Pratishodh; 1942: Avayer Biye; 1943: Jogajog/Hospital?; 1944: Char Aankhen; 1945: Begum; 1947: Abhijog*; 1948: Soldier’s Dream; Sarbahara; 1950: Digbhranta*; 1952: Ratrir Tapasya; 1954: Moner Mayur; Dukhir Iman*; Bhangagara; 1955: Aparadhi; 1956: Shubharatri; Daner Maryada; 1957: Shesh Parichaya; 1958: Marmabani; 1959: Pushpadhanu; Agnisambhaba; 1960: Hospital*; 1961: Kathin Maya; 1962: Sancharini; 1964: Kaalsrote; Lal Patthar*; 1966: Dolgobinder Karcha; 1969: Shuk Sari; 1971: Lal Patthar*; 1979: Samadhan; 1980: Dui Prithibi; 1982: Uttar Meleni.

Director