Bansi Chandragupta (1924–1981) was an Indian

art director Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film industry, film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and ...

and

production designer In film and television, the production designer is the individual responsible for the overall aesthetic of the story. The production design gives the viewers a sense of the time period, the plot location, and character actions and feelings. Wo ...

, regarded among the greatest of art directors of

Indian film industry The Cinema of India consists of motion pictures produced in India, which had a large effect on world cinema since the late 20th century. Major centers of film production across the country include Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Ko ...

. He won

Filmfare Best Art Direction Award The Filmfare Best Art Direction Award is given by the '' Filmfare'' magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films. Although the awards started in 1954, this category was started only in 1956. Superlatives Awards See also * ...

thrice, for '' Seema'' in 1972, for ''

Do Jhoot ''Do Jhoot'' is a 1975 Bollywood romance film directed by Jitu Thakar. The film stars Vinod Mehra, Ajit and Moushumi Chatterjee in lead roles. Cast *Vinod Mehra as Sanjay *Moushumi Chatterjee as Lajwanti / Vandana *Aruna Irani as Rekha ...

'' in 1976 and for ''

Chakra Chakras (, ; sa , text=चक्र , translit=cakra , translit-std=IAST , lit=wheel, circle; pi, cakka) are various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, or the esoteric or ...

'' in 1982. He was awarded

Evening Standard British Film Award The Evening Standard British Film Awards were established in 1973 by London's ''Evening Standard'' newspaper. The Standard Awards is the only ceremony "dedicated to British and Irish talent," judged by a panel of "top UK critics." Each ceremony ...

posthumously for "best technical/artistic achievement" in 1983. He was born in 1924 in

Sialkot Sialkot ( ur, ) is a city located in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the capital of Sialkot District and the 13th most populous city in Pakistan. The boundaries of Sialkot are joined with Jammu (the winter capital of Indian administered Jammu and Ka ...

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...

and died on 27 June 1981 in

Brookhaven, New York The Town of Brookhaven is the most populous of the ten towns of Suffolk County, New York, United States. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is located approximately 50 miles from Manhattan. It is the largest of the state of New York's ...

, United States. Chandragupta is most well known as art director/production designer of movies directed by

Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray (; 2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992) was an Indian director, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, author, essayist, lyricist, magazine editor, illustrator, calligrapher, and music composer. One of the greatest auteurs of fil ...

. He also worked with renowned film directors like

Jean Renoir Jean Renoir (; 15 September 1894 – 12 February 1979) was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and author. As a film director and actor, he made more than forty films from the silent film, silent era to the end of the 1960s. ...

Mrinal Sen Mrinal Sen (''Beng.'' মৃণাল সেন; 14 May 1923 – 30 December 2018) was an Indian film director, and screenwriter known for his work primarily in Bengali, and few Hindi and Telugu language films. Regarded as one of the finest Ind ...

Shyam Benegal Shyam Benegal (born 14 December 1934) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. Often regarded as the pioneer of parallel cinema, he is widely considered as one of the greatest filmmakers post 1970s. He has received ...

Basu Chatterjee Basu Chatterjee ( bn, বাসু চ্যাটার্জ্জী; 10 January 1927 – 4 June 2020) was an Indian film director and screenwriter. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Chatterjee became associated with what came to be known as mi ...

Ismail Merchant Ismail Merchant (born Ismail Noor Muhammad Abdul Rahman (25 December 1936 – 25 May 2005)) was an Indian film producer, director and screenwriter. He worked for many years in collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions which included Directo ...

James Ivory James Francis Ivory (born June 7, 1928) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. For many years, he worked extensively with Indian-born film producer Ismail Merchant, his domestic as well as professional partner, and with screen ...

and

Aparna Sen Aparna Sen (, ''Ôporna Shen'') is an Indian film director, screenwriter and actress who is known for her work in Bengali cinema. She has received several accolades as an actress and filmmaker, including nine National Film Awards, five F ...

Early life

Bansi Chandragupta was born at Sialkot in Pakistan. Chandragupta's family moved from Pakistan to

Kashmir Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...

when he was a young boy. Here he met painter Shubho Tagore, on whose advice Chandragupta moved to

Calcutta Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, the official name until 2001) is the Capital city, capital of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal, on the eastern ba ...

to pursue his ambition in painting. He spent most of his working life in this city.p 539
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from 'Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema', by Gulzar, Govind Nihalani, Saibal Chatterjee,

Career

After a few stints in

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

commercial films, Chandragupta got a chance to work as art director in

's movie '' The River'' (1951). Here he worked closely with production designer

Eugène Lourié Eugène Lourié (russian: Евгений Лурье; 8 April 1903 – 26 May 1991) was a French film director, art director, production designer, set designer and screenwriter who was known for his collaborations with Jean Renoir and for ...

and learned the craft of film designing. During the shooting of this movie, he met

who asked him to join a group of film enthusiasts that included Ray, RP Gupta,

Chidananda Dasgupta Chidananda Das Gupta ( bn, চিদানন্দ দাশগুপ্ত) (20 November 1921 – 22 May 2011)—family name sometimes spelled 'Dashgupta' and 'Dasgupta'—was an Indian filmmaker, film critic, a film historian and one of the ...

Harisadhan Dasgupta Harisadhan Dasgupta (1923–1996) was an Indian film director from Calcutta who was most prolific in the 1950s and 1960s. Dasgupta specialized in surveying subjects of fascination to the Bengali public. Dasgupta attended the University of So ...

and others, to form the Calcutta Film Society. Later, Ray asked Chandragupta to be set designer for his film ''

Pather Panchali ''Pather Panchali'' (; ) is a 1955 Indian Bengali (language), Bengali-language Drama (film and television), drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray and produced by the Government of West Bengal. It is an adaptation of Bibhutibhushan Ba ...

''. This collaboration sustained till ''

Shatranj Ke Khilari ''Shatranj Ke Khilari'', also subtitled and later internationally released with the translated title ''The Chess Players'', is a 1977 Indian film written and directed by Satyajit Ray, based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name ...

'' (1977). Some of the best examples of Chandragupta's work are from the Ray films: ''

'', ''

Jalsaghar ''Jalsaghar'' ( bn, জলসাঘর ''Jalsāghar'', "The Music Room") is a 1958 Indian Bengali drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray, based on a popular short story by Bengali writer Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay, and starring Chhabi Bis ...

'' and ''

Charulata ''Charulata'' (Spelt as ''Cārulatā''; ) is a 1964 Indian drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray. Based upon the novel ''Nastanirh'' by Rabindranath Tagore, it stars Soumitra Chatterjee, Madhabi Mukherjee and Sailen Mukherjee. The f ...

''. Apart from Ray's films, best works of Chandragupta's works are visible in '' 36 Chowringhee Lane'' by Aparna Sen, '' Umrao Jaan'' by Muzzafar Ali and ''Chakra'' by Rabindra Dharamraj. All these were shot in 1981, the year Chandragupta died of a heart attack in New York. '' 36 Chowringhee Lane'' was dedicated to Chandragupta.

Filmography

Production Designer

* ''

Akaler Sandhane ''Akaler Shandhaney'' ( bn, আকালের সন্ধানে; "In Search of Famine") is a 1982 Indian Bengali film directed by Mrinal Sen. Plot In September 1980, a film crew comes to a village to make a film about a famine, which ki ...

'' (1980) directed by

* ''Manzil'' (1979) directed by

* ''Mahatma and the Mad Boy'' (1974) directed by

* '' 27 Down'' (1974) * ''

Pratidwandi ''Pratidwandi'' ( en, The Adversary, Siddharta and the City, italic=yes) is a 1970 Indian Bengali drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray based on the novel by Sunil Gangopadhyay. It is the first part of the Calcutta Trilogy. ''Pratid ...

'' (1972) directed by

* ''

Seemabaddha ''Seemabaddha'' ( bn, সীমাবদ্ধ ''Shimabôddho''; English title: ''Company Limited'') is a 1971 social drama Bengali film directed by Satyajit Ray. It is based on the novel ''Seemabaddha'' by Mani Shankar Mukherjee. It stars Bar ...

'' (1971) directed by Satyajit Ray * '' Aranyer Din Ratri'' (1970) directed by Satyajit Ray * '' The Guru'' (1969) directed by

* ''

Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne ''Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne'' (Bengali: গুপী গাইন বাঘা বাইন ''Gupi Gain Bagha Bain'') is a 1969 Indian fantasy adventure comedy film written and directed by Satyajit Ray and based on a story by his grandfather Upend ...

'' (1968) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

Chiriyakhana ''Chiriakhana'' or ''Chiriyakhana'' ( en, The Zoo) is a 1967 Indian Bengali-language crime thriller film, based on the story of the same name by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, directed by Satyajit Ray starring Uttam Kumar as Byomkesh Bakshi. The scr ...

'' (1967) directed by Satyajit Ray * '' Nayak'' (1966) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

Akash Kusum ''Akash Kusum'' is a 1965 Bengali film directed by noted Indian parallel film director Mrinal Sen. The film was remade in 1979 in Hindi as ''Manzil''. Plot It is the story of the longings of a middle class executive to rise in stature and grea ...

'' (1965) directed by Mrinal Sen * ''

Kapurush ''Kapurush'' ( bn, কাপুরুষ), English title ''The Coward'', is a 1965 Indian drama film directed by Satyajit Ray. Plot Amitabha Ray is a Calcutta-based scriptwriter who is driving around in the country to collect material for a ...

'' (1965) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

Mahapurush ''Mahapurush'' ( bn, মহাপুরুষ; ) is a 1965 film directed by Satyajit Ray, based on a short story ''Birinchibaba'' (বিরিঞ্চি বাবা) by Rajshekhar Basu. Plot After the death of his wife, Gurupada Mit ...

'' (1965) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

'' (1964) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

Mahanagar ''Mahanagar'' () is a 1963 Indian Bengali-language drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray. Starring Madhabi Mukherjee in the leading role and based on the short story ''Abataranika'' by Narendranath Mitra, it tells the story of a house ...

'' (1963) directed by Satyajit Ray * '' Abhijan'' (1962) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

Kanchenjungha ''Kanchenjungha'' (''Kanchonjônggha'') is a 1962 Indian film directed by Satyajit Ray. The film is about an upper class Bengali family on vacation in Darjeeling, a popular hill station and resort, near Kanchenjunga. Narrative structure The ...

'' (1962) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Tagore (; bn, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter. He resh ...

'' (1961) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

Teen Kanya ''Teen Kanya'' (English language, English: Three Girls) is a 1961 Indian Bengali language, Bengali anthology film directed by Satyajit Ray, and based upon short stories by Rabindranath Tagore. The title means "Three Girls", and the film's origi ...

'' (1961) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''Baishey Shravana' (1960) directed by Mrinal Sen * ''

Devi Devī (; Sanskrit: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for 'goddess'; the masculine form is ''deva''. ''Devi'' and ''deva'' mean 'heavenly, divine, anything of excellence', and are also gender-specific terms for a deity in Hinduism. The conce ...

'' (1960) directed by Satyajit Ray * '' Apur Sansar'' (1959) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

'' (1958) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''Maya Bazaar'' (1958) * ''

Parash Pathar ''Parash Pathar'' ( bn, পরশ পাথর ''Porosh Pathor''; English: ''The Philosopher's Stone''; French: ''La Pierre Philosophale'') is a 1958 Bengali language Indian fantasy comedy film. It was Satyajit Ray's first film outside of ''The A ...

'' (1958) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

Aparajito ''Aparajito'' ( bn, অপরাজিত ''Ôporajito''; ''The Unvanquished'') is a 1956 Indian Bengali-language drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray (1921–1992), and is the second part of ''The Apu Trilogy''. It is adapted from ...

'' (1956) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

'' (1955) directed by Satyajit Ray

Art Director

* '' Tarang'' (1984) directed by Kumar Sahani * '' 36 Chowringhee Lane'' (1981) directed by

* ''

'' (1981) directed by Rabindra Dharmaraj * '' Kalyug'' (1981) directed by

* '' Umrao Jaan'' (1981) directed by

Muzaffar Ali Muzaffar Ali (born 21 October 1944) is an Indian filmmaker, fashion designer, poet, artist, cultural revivalist, and social worker. Biography Ali was born in Lucknow in 1944. The eldest son of Raja Syed Sajid Husain Ali, the ruling prince of ...

* ''Tumhari Kassam'' (1978) * '' Mukti'' (1977) * ''

'' (1977) * ''Trimurti'' (1974) * ''

Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar ''Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar'' ('')'' is a 1973 Indian comedy film directed by Rajendra Bhatia. Its stars Kiran Kumar and Radha Saluja. This film was adapted from a Gujarati play and later remade in Marathi as ''Pheka Pheki'' (1989) and in Hindi as '' ...

'' (1973) * ''Jangal Mein Mangal'' (1972) * ''

Piya Ka Ghar ''Piya Ka Ghar'' ( My beloved's house) is a 1972 Indian Hindi-language comedy set in Mumbai in the 1970s. It is a remake of Raja Thakur's Marathi film ''Mumbaicha Jawai''. It portrays the difficulties of life in India's biggest city during the ...

'' (1972) directed by Basu Chatterjee * ''

Paraya Dhan ''Paraya Dhan'' () is a 1971 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Rajendra Bhatia. The film stars Balraj Sahni, Rakesh Roshan, Hema Malini in lead roles. Cast * Balraj Sahni as Govindram * Rakesh Roshan as Shankar * Hema Malini as Rajni ...

'' (1971) * '' Balika Badhu'' (1967) * ''

'' (1967) directed by Satyajit Ray * ''

'' (1955) directed by Satyajit Ray * '' The River'' (1951) directed by

Set Decorator

* '' Balika Badhu'' (1967) * ''

'' (1967)

Miscellaneous Crew

Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures ''Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures'' is a 1978 film by Merchant Ivory Productions (written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, directed by James Ivory and produced by Ismail Merchant) set in India, starring UK stage actress Dame Peggy Ashcr ...

(1978)

References

External links

*
Bansi Chanragupta
at Upperstall {{DEFAULTSORT:Chandragupta, Bansi Indian art directors Filmfare Awards winners 1924 births 1981 deaths Indian production designers 20th-century Indian designers People from Sialkot District Male artists from Punjab, India Indian expatriates in the United States 20th-century Indian male artists