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{{Short description|Indian film producer (1901–1980)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name                   = B. N. Sircar (Birendranath Sircar)
| name               = B. N. Sircar (Birendranath Sircar)
| image                   = Birendranath Sircar 2013 stamp of India.jpg
| image             = Birendranath Sircar 2013 stamp of India.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_size         = 250px
| caption                 =Sircar on a 2013 stamp of India
| caption           = Sircar on a 2013 stamp of India
| birth_name               =  
| birth_name         =  
| birth_date               = 5 July 1901
| birth_date         = 5 July 1901
| birth_place             = [[Bhagalpur]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| birth_place       = [[Bhagalpur]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date               = {{death date|df=yes|1980|11|28}}
| death_date         = {{death date and age|df=yes|1980|11|28|1901|7|5}}
| death_place             = [[Calcutta]], India
| death_place       = [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], India
| occupation             =[[film producer]]
| parents            = [[Nripendra Nath Sircar]] (father)
| years_active             =
| citizenship        = India
| relatives          = [[Peary Charan Sarkar]] (great-grandfather)
| education          = [[University of London]]
| occupation         = [[film producer]]
| awards            = [[Padma Bhushan]] (1972) [[Dada Saheb Phalke Award]] (1970)
| years_active       =  
}}
}}


'''Birendranath Sircar''' (also '''Sarkar'''; 5 July 1901 – 28 November 1980) was an [[India]]n [[film producer]] and the founder of [[New Theatres Calcutta]]. He made [[Bengali language|Bengali-language]] films that were noted for introducing many film directors who later became famous. He was awarded the [[Dada Saheb Phalke Award]] in 1970 and the third highest civilian award in India, the [[Padma Bhushan]], in 1972.<ref name=Cine>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cinemanthan.info/index.php/2011/03/bnsircar/ |title=B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की नींव के एक निर्माता {{!}} Cine Manthan |access-date=8 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416023142/http://www.cinemanthan.info/index.php/2011/03/bnsircar/ |archive-date=16 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
'''Birendranath Sircar''' (also '''Sarkar'''; 5 July 1901 – 28 November 1980) was an Indian [[film producer]] and the founder of [[New Theatres Calcutta]]. He made [[Bengali language|Bengali-language]] films that were noted for introducing many film directors who later became famous. He was awarded the [[Dada Saheb Phalke Award]] in 1970 and the third highest civilian award in India, the [[Padma Bhushan]], in 1972.<ref name=Cine>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cinemanthan.info/index.php/2011/03/bnsircar/ |title=B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की नींव के एक निर्माता {{!}} Cine Manthan |access-date=8 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416023142/http://www.cinemanthan.info/index.php/2011/03/bnsircar/ |archive-date=16 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
B. N. Sircar was born in Bhagalpur to the then Advocate-General of Bengal, [[Sir]] [[Nripendrath Nath Sircar]]. After completing his study at [[Hindu School, Kolkata]], he studied Engineering at the [[University of London]]{{cn|date=June 2014}} and on returning to India he was asked to build a cinema. The project caused him to develop a keen interest in film and he proceeded to build a cinema for the screening of Bengali-language films. Called Chitra, this was opened in Calcutta by [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] on 30 December 1930 and was followed by the construction of New Cinema, which showed Hindi films.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Gulzar|editor1-link=Gulzar|editor2-last=Nihalani|editor2-first=Govind|editor2-link=Govind Nihalani|editor3-last=Chatterjee|editor3-first=Saibal|title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema|year=2003|publisher=Popular Prakashan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC|isbn=978-81-7991-066-5|page=632}}</ref> He then decided to involve himself in making of two silent films.{{cn|date=June 2014}}
B. N. Sircar was born in [[Bhagalpur]] to the then [[Advocate-General of Bengal]], [[Nripendra Nath Sircar|Sir Nripendra Nath Sircar]]. He was the grandson of Nagendra Nath Sircar, and great-grandson of [[Peary Charan Sarkar]], the principal of [[Hare School]], Calcutta. After completing his study at [[Hindu School, Kolkata]], he studied Engineering at the [[University of London]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Engineering's loss, cinema's gain: BN Sircar and his New Theatres |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/engineerings-loss-cinemas-gain-bn-sircar-and-his-new-threatres/cid/2060084 |first=Trinanjan |last=Chakraborty |date=2024-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210083856/https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/engineerings-loss-cinemas-gain-bn-sircar-and-his-new-threatres/cid/2060084 |archive-date=2024-12-10 |access-date=2025-01-09 |newspaper=The Telegraph|location=Kolkata |language=en}}</ref> and on returning to India he was asked to build a cinema. The project caused him to develop a keen interest in film and he proceeded to build a cinema for the screening of Bengali-language films. Called Chitra, this was opened in Calcutta by [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] on 30 December 1930 and was followed by the construction of New Cinema, which showed Hindi films.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Gulzar|editor1-link=Gulzar|editor2-last=Nihalani|editor2-first=Govind|editor2-link=Govind Nihalani|editor3-last=Chatterjee|editor3-first=Saibal|title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema|year=2003|publisher=Popular Prakashan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC|isbn=978-81-7991-066-5|page=632}}</ref> He then decided to involve himself in making of two silent films.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}


==Career==
==Career==
On 10 February 1931,{{cn|date=June 2014}} he founded [[New Theatres Calcutta]]. A stickler for quality, Sircar attracted directors such as [[P.C. Barua]], Premankor Atharthi, Debaki Bose, Dhiren Ganguly, Bimal Roy and [[Phani Majumdar]] under his wings. Actors such as KL Saigal, Pahadi Sanyal, Amar Mullick, Kanan Devi, Chandrabati Devi, Lila Desai [[Leela Desai]] and Prithviraj Kapoor were on his payroll. Technicians like Mukul Bose (Sound Recordist- Director), Yusuf Moolji (Cameraman), Nitin Bose (Cameraman-Director) and Subodh Mitra (Editor) were well aware of the various technical innovations being introduced in Hollywood and Europe and were able to adapt many of these within the limitations of the New Theatres Studio lot. Music composers and singers such as RC Boral, Timir Baran and Pankaj Mullick too were associated with New Theatres productions.<ref>[http://www.upperstall.com/people/bn-sircar B.N.Sircar Upperstall Profile] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201024309/http://www.upperstall.com/people/bn-sircar |date=1 December 2010 }}</ref>
On 10 February 1931,{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} he founded [[New Theatres Calcutta]]. He was the President of the [[Diptendu Pramanick#Career|BMPA]] in the late 1940s<ref name=Cine/><ref>Bagiswar Jha : B.N. Sircar : A monograph; Seagull Books, Calcutta (1990)</ref>
He was the President of the [[Diptendu Pramanick#Career|BMPA]] in the late 1940s<ref name=Cine/><ref>Bagiswar Jha : B.N. Sircar : A monograph; Seagull Books, Calcutta (1990)</ref>


==New Theatres==
''[[Dena Paona (film)|Dena Paona]]'', a Bengali talkie, was released in 1931, directed by [[Premankur Atarthi]] and produced by New Theatres. The musician [[Raichand Boral]] composed the music for this movie.
In 1935, [[P.C. Barua]] directed and acted in ''[[Devdas (1935 film)|Devdas]]'', based on [[Saratchandra Chatterjee]]'s novel ''[[Devdas]]'', and this film became phenomenally successful.
In 1935, [[playback singing]] was first used in India in the Bengali film ''[[Bhagya Chakra]]'' by [[Nitin Bose]]. The singers were [[K C Dey]], [[Parul Ghosh]] and Suprabha Sarkar.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156353/
|title=Bhagya Chakra (1935)
|publisher=www.imdb.com
|access-date=23 October 2008
}}
</ref> ''[[Dhoop Chhaon]]'', Hindi remake of this film, was the first Hindi film to use playback singing.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379255/
|title=Dhoop Chhaon (1935)
|publisher=www.imdb.com
|access-date=23 October 2008
}}
</ref>
[[Kanan Devi]] was the first popular star actress, who appeared in many films produced by New Theatres. Also there was a group of talented actors with New Theatres like [[K.L. Saigal]], [[K. C. Dey]], [[Prithviraj Kapoor]], [[Chhabi Biswas]], [[Bikash Roy]], [[Pahari Sanyal]], [[Basanta Choudhury]].
Top directors like [[Premankur Atarthi]], [[P.C. Barua]], [[Debaki Bose]] and [[Nitin Bose]] worked in New Theatres films. The musicians who worked there include [[Raichand Boral|R. C. Boral]], [[Pankaj Mullick]] and [[Timir Baran]].
He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Indian cinema give by Government of India in 1970,<ref name="18thawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/17th_NFF_1971.pdf|title=18th National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=26 September 2011|format=PDF}}</ref> and in 1972 he was awarded the [[Padma Bhushan]], by Government of India. <ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013) |publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015  }}</ref>
==Filmography==
==Filmography==
Sircar's films include:<ref>{{cite book|last=Sur|first=Ansu|title=[[Bengali film directory]]|editor=Ansu Sur|publisher=Nandan, Calcutta|year=1999|page=319}}</ref><ref name=Mukherjee>{{cite web|last1=Mukherjee|first1=Partha, Priyanka|title=New Awakening|url=http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=18495&index1=1|website=harmonyindia.org|publisher=harmonyindia.org|access-date=24 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120750/http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=18495&index1=1|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Sircar's films include:<ref>{{cite book|last=Sur|first=Ansu|title=[[Bengali film directory]]|editor=Ansu Sur|publisher=Nandan, Calcutta|year=1999|page=319}}</ref><ref name=Mukherjee>{{cite web|last1=Mukherjee|first1=Partha, Priyanka|title=New Awakening|url=http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=18495&index1=1|website=harmonyindia.org|publisher=harmonyindia.org|access-date=24 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120750/http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=18495&index1=1|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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* ''[[Bishnupriya]]'' (Released 7 October 1949) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra
* ''[[Bishnupriya]]'' (Released 7 October 1949) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra
* ''[[Rupkatha (film)|Rupkatha]]'' (Released 13 October 1950) – Directed by Soren Sen
* ''[[Rupkatha (film)|Rupkatha]]'' (Released 13 October 1950) – Directed by Soren Sen
* ''[[Ami Aadu|Aadur Prem]]'',<ref>[http://calcuttatube.com/the-new-theatres-is-back-with-adur-prem-46847/46847/ New Theatres Is Back] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227145904/http://calcuttatube.com/the-new-theatres-is-back-with-adur-prem-46847/46847/ |date=27 February 2011 }}</ref> 2011 – Directed by Somnath Gupta
* ''[[Ami Aadu|Aadur Prem]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=The NEW THEATRES is Back with ADUR PREM Bengali Movie {{!}} CalcuttaTube |first=Shoma A. |last=Chatterji |url=http://calcuttatube.com/the-new-theatres-is-back-with-adur-prem-46847/46847/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227145904/http://calcuttatube.com/the-new-theatres-is-back-with-adur-prem-46847/46847/ |archive-date=2011-02-27 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=calcuttatube.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 2011 – Directed by Somnath Gupta
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Cinema of India]]
* [[Cinema of India]]
 
* B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की बुनियाद के एक सर्जक<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cinemanthan.com/2013/10/04/bnsircar/|title=B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की बुनियाद के एक सर्जक|date=4 October 2013|accessdate=24 January 2026}}</ref>
B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की बुनियाद के एक सर्जक https://cinemanthan.com/2013/10/04/bnsircar/ ==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sircar, B. N.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sircar, B. N.}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1901 births]]

Latest revision as of 13:46, 24 January 2026


B. N. Sircar (Birendranath Sircar)
Sircar on a 2013 stamp of India
Born5 July 1901
Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died28 November 1980(1980-11-28) (aged 79)
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
CitizenshipIndia
EducationUniversity of London
Occupationfilm producer
Parent(s)Nripendra Nath Sircar (father)
RelativesPeary Charan Sarkar (great-grandfather)
AwardsPadma Bhushan (1972) Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1970)

Birendranath Sircar (also Sarkar; 5 July 1901 – 28 November 1980) was an Indian film producer and the founder of New Theatres Calcutta. He made Bengali-language films that were noted for introducing many film directors who later became famous. He was awarded the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1970 and the third highest civilian award in India, the Padma Bhushan, in 1972.[1]

Early life[edit | edit source]

B. N. Sircar was born in Bhagalpur to the then Advocate-General of Bengal, Sir Nripendra Nath Sircar. He was the grandson of Nagendra Nath Sircar, and great-grandson of Peary Charan Sarkar, the principal of Hare School, Calcutta. After completing his study at Hindu School, Kolkata, he studied Engineering at the University of London[2] and on returning to India he was asked to build a cinema. The project caused him to develop a keen interest in film and he proceeded to build a cinema for the screening of Bengali-language films. Called Chitra, this was opened in Calcutta by Subhas Chandra Bose on 30 December 1930 and was followed by the construction of New Cinema, which showed Hindi films.[3] He then decided to involve himself in making of two silent films.[citation needed]

Career[edit | edit source]

On 10 February 1931,[citation needed] he founded New Theatres Calcutta. He was the President of the BMPA in the late 1940s[1][4]

Filmography[edit | edit source]

Sircar's films include:[5][6]

See also[edit | edit source]

  • Cinema of India
  • B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की बुनियाद के एक सर्जक[8]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की नींव के एक निर्माता | Cine Manthan". Archived from the original on 16 April 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  2. ↑ Chakraborty, Trinanjan (2 November 2024). "Engineering's loss, cinema's gain: BN Sircar and his New Theatres". The Telegraph. Kolkata. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Gulzar; Nihalani, Govind; Chatterjee, Saibal, eds. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. p. 632. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5.
  4. ↑ Bagiswar Jha : B.N. Sircar : A monograph; Seagull Books, Calcutta (1990)
  5. ↑ Sur, Ansu (1999). Ansu Sur (ed.). Bengali film directory. Nandan, Calcutta. p. 319.
  6. ↑ Mukherjee, Partha, Priyanka. "New Awakening". harmonyindia.org. harmonyindia.org. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Chatterji, Shoma A. "The NEW THEATRES is Back with ADUR PREM Bengali Movie | CalcuttaTube". calcuttatube.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की बुनियाद के एक सर्जक". 4 October 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2026.

External links[edit | edit source]

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