New Theatres is an Indian

film studio A film studio (also known as movie studio or simply studio) is a major entertainment company or motion picture company that has its own privately owned studio facility or facilities that are used to make films, which is handled by the productio ...

. It was formed in

Calcutta Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, commer ...

by producer B. N. Sircar (Birendranath Sircar, the recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award of 1970). It was formed on 10 February 1931. Motto of this company was– ''Jivatang Jyotiretu Chhayam'' (Light infusing shadows with life). Sircar preferred to function roughly analogous to what in USA was known as an

executive producer Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights ...

. He built a processing laboratory... and got around him a devoted band of people.... Having decided on or approved a story or a subject for a film and the team to make it ircarensured that adequate funds were provided... but refrained from interfering with its execution. He made New Theatres a symbol of Bengali cinema's artistic good taste and technical excellence. Dena Paona, a Bengali talkie, was produced by New Theatres and released in 1931. It was directed by Premankur Atarthi, with music composed by

Raichand Boral Rai Chand Boral (19 October 1903 – 25 November 1981) was an Indian composer, considered by music connoisseurs to be the Bhishma Pitamah, the father of film music in India. He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in India ...

. According to Kironmoy Raha, "New Theatres made its reputation secure with '' Chandidas'' directed by Debaki Bose in 1932," after the studio had produced five talkies. In 1935, P.C. Barua directed and acted in

Devdas ''Devdas'' ( bn, দেবদাস, transliterated as ''Debdās'') is a Bengali romance novel written by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee. The story pivots a tragic triangle linking Devdas, an archetypal lover in viraha (separation); Paro, his forbidd ...

, based on

Saratchandra Chatterjee Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, alternatively spelt as Sarat Chandra Chatterjee ( bn, শরৎচন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায়; 15 September 1876 or ৩১ শে ভাদ্র ১২৮৩ বঙ্গাব্দ � ...

's novel

, and this film became phenomenally successful in the industry. In 1935,

playback singing A playback singer, also known as a ghost singer, is a singer whose singing is pre-recorded for use in films. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras; the actual singer does not app ...

was first used in India in the Bengali film ''

Bhagya Chakra ''Bhagya Chakra'' (''Wheel of Fate'') is a 1935 Indian Bengali-language film directed by Nitin Bose. The film was remade in Hindi in the same year, titled '' Dhoop Chhaon''. Cast * Biswanath Bhadhuri as Shamlal * Haricharan Bandyopadhyay as H ...

'' by Nitin Bose. The singers were

K C Dey Krishna Chandra Dey (24 August 1893 – 28 November 1962), better known as K.C. Dey, was an Indian music director, music composer, musician, singer, actor, and music teacher born in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He was S.D. Burman's first musical te ...

Parul Ghosh Parul Ghosh (; 1915–13 August 1977) was an Indian playback singer. Career Ghosh sang in Hindi and Bengali movies from 1935 to 1951. Hailing from Barisal (now in Bangladesh), she was introduced to playback singing by her brother Anil Biswa ...

and Suprabha Sarkar. '' Dhoop Chhaon'', Hindi remake of this film, was the first Hindi film to use playback singing. 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 Kundan Lal Saigal, often abbreviated as K. L. Saigal (11 April 1904 – 18 January 1947), was an Indian singer and actor who is considered the first superstar of the Hindi film industry, which was centred in Kolkata during Saigal's time, but is ...

, K. C. Dey, Prithviraj Kapoor,

Chhabi Biswas Chhabi Biswas (''Chabi Biśbās'') (13 July 1900 – 11 June 1962) was an Indian actor, primarily known for his performances in Tapan Sinha's '' Kabuliwala'' and Satyajit Ray's films '' Jalshaghar'' (''The Music Room'', 1958), '' Devi'' ...

Bikash Roy Bikash Roy (16 May 1916 – 16 April 1987) was an Indian actor and filmmaker who is known for his work in Bengali cinema. He is well known for his character roles and for his own style of acting in Bengali films from the late 1940s until the mi ...

Pahari Sanyal Pahari Sanyal (22 February 1906 – 10 February 1974) was an Indian actor and singer who is known for his work in Bengali cinema. Sanyal acted in many Bengali films, such as '' Harano Sur'', ''Bhanu Goenda Jahar Assistant'', and ''Shilpi''. ...

, Basanta Choudhury. Directors like Premankur Atarthi, P.C. Barua, Debaki Bose, Phani Majumdar and Nitin Bose worked in New Theatres films. Musicians who worked there included

R. C. Boral Rai Chand Boral (19 October 1903 – 25 November 1981) was an Indian composer, considered by music connoisseurs to be the Bhishma Pitamah, the father of film music in India. He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Ind ...

, Pankaj Mullick, Timir Baran and Mani Bardhan.

Filmography

New Theatres produced films in its own studios at Tollygunge in Kolkata, founded on 10 February 1931. From 1931 to 1955, 150 films were shot in these studios. New Theatres made comeback with the 2011 film Aadur Prem. New Theatres films include: * '' Dena Paona'' (Released 30 December 1931) - Directed by Premankur Atarthi * ''

Natir Puja ''Natir Puja'' (English:the dancing girl's worship) is the only film where Rabindranath Tagore is credited as director. This film is a recording of Tagore's 1926 stage dance-drama of the same name. Background The dramatized version of Tagore' ...

'' (Released 22 March 1932) * '' Punarjanma'' (Released 2 April 1932) - Directed by Premankur Atarthi * '' Chirakumar Sabha'' (Released 28 May 1932) - Directed by Premankur Atarthi * '' Pallisamaj'' (Released 1 July 1932) - Directed by

Sisir Bhaduri Shishir Kumar Bhaduri or Sisir Kumar Bhaduri (2 October 1889 – 30 June 1959) was an Indian stage actor and theatre founder, who commonly referred to as the pioneer of modern Bengali theatre, where he was an actor, director, playwright and eve ...

* '' Chandidas'' (Released 24 September 1932) - Directed by Debaki Bose * ''

Mohabbat Ke Ansu ''Mohabbat Ke Ansu'' () is a 1932 Indian Urdu-language social romantic film. It was directed by Premankur Atorthy for New Theatres Ltd. Calcutta. The music for the film was directed by R. C. Boral. The film starred K. L. Saigal in his debut ...

'' (Released 1932) - Directed by Premankur Atorthy * '' Zinda Lash'' (Released 1932) - Directed by Premankur Atorthy * ''

Subah Ka Sitara ''Subah Ka Sitara'' is a 1932 Urdu/Hindi romantic costume film from India. It was directed by Premankur Atorthy for New Theatres Ltd. Calcutta. Subah Ka Sitara was the third of the three films with which K. L. Saigal started his acting career i ...

'' (Released 1932) - Directed by Premankur Atorthy * ''

Kapalkundala ''Kapalkundala'' ( bn, কপালকুণ্ডলা) is a Bengali romance novel by Indian writer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Published in 1866, it is a story of a forest-dwelling girl named Kapalkundala, who fell in love with and marrie ...

'' (Released 20 May 1933) - Directed by Premankur Atarthi * '' Mastuto Bhai (short)'' (Released 20 May 1933) - Directed by Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay * '' Dulari Bibi'' (short comedy) (Released 1933) - Directed by Debaki Bose * ''

Puran Bhagat Puran Bhagat (later became Sri Chauranginatha) was a Punjabi Nath Saint and prince of Sialkot. As per unauthenticated history, he had been exiled and lived the last days of his life in a village located in the suburbs of Sialkot city. His temple ...

'' (Released 1933) - Directed by Debaki Bose * ''

Sita Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...

'' (Released 26 October 1933) - Directed by

* '' Rajrani Meera'' (Released 1933) - Directed by Debaki Bose * '' Mirabai'' (Released 11 November 1933) - Directed by Debaki Bose * ''

Daku Mansoor ''Daku Mansoor'' (Mansoor The Dacoit) also called ''Karishma-E-Kudrat'' is a 1934 Hindi/Urdu costume action drama film directed by Nitin Bose. The film was produced by New Theatres Ltd. Calcutta and the music director was R. C. Boral. The cast o ...

'' (Released 1934) -Directed by Nitin Bose * '' Excuse Me Sir (short)'' (Released 30 March 1934) - Directed by Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay * '' Ruplekha'' (Released 14 April 1934) - Directed by P.C. Barua * '' P.Brothers (Cartoon)'' (Released 23 June 1934) - Directed by

* '' Mahua'' (Released 31 August 1934) - Directed by Hiren Bose * '' Chandidas'' (Released 1934) - Directed by Nitin Bose * ''

'' (Released 30 March 1935) - Directed by P.C. Barua * '' Abaseshe (short)'' (Released 24 August 1935) - Directed by Dineshranjan Das * '' Bhagyachakra'' (Released 3 October 1935) - Directed by Nitin Bose * '' Manzil'' (1936) - Directed by P.C. Barua * '' Grihadaha'' (Released 10 October 1936) - Directed by P.C. Barua * ''

Karodpati ''Karodpati'' (also called ''Millionaire'') is a Hindi 1936 comedy film directed by Hemchander Chunder. The film was produced by New Theatres Ltd. Calcutta, and the music was composed by R. C. Boral with the assistance of Pankaj Mullick. The ...

'' a.k.a. ''Millionaire'' (Released 1936) - Directed by Hemchander Chunder * '' Mando Ki (short)'' (Released 21 October 1936) - Directed by

Tulsi Lahiri Tulsi Lahiri (7 April 1897 – 22 June 1959) was a Bengali actor, director and play writer. Early life Lahiri was born in 1897 in a zamindar family of Naldanga village, Rangpur of British India. He passed B.A and B.L and started his lawyer care ...

* ''

Maya Maya may refer to: Civilizations * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Maya language, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (Ethiopia), a popul ...

'' (Released 23 December 1936) - Directed by P.C. Barua * ''

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

'' (Released 1 Jan 1937) - Directed by Nitin Bose * '' Didi'' (Released 3 April 1937) - Directed by Nitin Bose * ''

Mukti Mukti () is the concept of spiritual liberation ( Moksha or Nirvana) in Indian religions, including jivan mukti, para mukti. Mukti may also refer to: Film * ''Mukti'' (1937 film), a Hindi- and Bengali-language Indian film * ''Mukti'' (1960 ...

'' (Released 18 September 1937) - Directed by P.C. Barua * '' Arghya (short)'' (Released 25 September 1937) * ''

Vidyapati Vidyapati ( – 1460), also known by the sobriquet ''Maithil Kavi Kokil'' (the poet cuckoo of Maithili), was a Maithili and Sanskrit polymath-poet-saint, playwright, composer, biographer, philosopher, law-theorist, writer, courtier ...

'' (Hindi) (Released 1937) - Directed by Debaki Bose * '' Abhagin'' (Released 11 June 1938) - Directed by Praflla Roy * '' Bidyapati'' (Released 2 April 1938) - Directed by Debaki Bose * '' Abhignan'' (Released 11 June 1938) - Directed by Prafulla Ray * '' Desher mati'' (Released 17 August 1938) - Directed by Nitin Bose * '' Achinpriya'' (Released 29 October 1938) - Directed by Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay * '' Sathi'' (Released 3 December 1938) - Directed by Phani Majumdar * '' Street Singer'' (Released 1938) -Directed by Phani Majumdar * '' Adhikar'' (Released 12 January 1939) - Directed by P.C. Barua * '' Dushman'' (Released 1 Jan 1939) - Directed by Nitin Bose * '' Baradidi'' (Released 7 April 1939) - Directed by Amar Mullik * '' Sapure'' (Released 27 May 1939) - Directed by Debaki Bose * '' Rajat Jayanti'' (Released 12 August 1939) - Directed by P.C. Barua * '' Jiban Maran'' (Released 14 October 1939) - Directed by Nitin Bose * '' Parajoy'' (Released 22 March 1940) - Directed by Hemchandra Chandra * '' Daktar'' (Released 31 August 1940) - Directed by Phani Majumdar * '' Abhinetri'' (Released 30 November 1940) - Directed by Amar Mullik * '' Nartaki'' (Hindi) (Released 24 December 1940) - Directed by Debaki Bose * '' Nartaki'' (Bengali) (Released 18 January 1941) - Directed by Debaki Bose * '' Parichoy'' (Released 25 April 1941) - Directed by Nitin Bose * '' Pratishruti'' (Released 14 August 1941) - Directed by Hemchandra Chandra * '' Shodhbodh'' (Released 28 March 1942) - Directed by Soumen Mukhopadhyay * ''

Minakshi Meenakshi (Sanskrit: ; Tamil: ; sometimes spelled as Minakshi; also known as , and ), is a Hindu goddess and tutelary deity of Madurai who is considered an avatar of the Goddess Parvati also referred to as Durga. She is the divine consort of ...

'' (Released 12 June 1942) - Directed by Madhu Bose * '' Priyo Bandhabi'' (Released 23 January 1943) - Directed by Soumen Mukhopadhyay * '' Kashinath'' (Released 2 April 1943) - Directed by Nitin Bose * ''

Dikshul ''Dikshul'' is a 1943 Indian Bengali film directed by Premankur Atorthy. The film was produced by New Theatres Ltd, Calcutta. Its music direction was by Pankaj Mullick and the cinematographer was Rabi Dhar. The lyricist for the film was Kazi ...

'' (Released 12 June 1943) - Directed by Premankur Atarthi * '' Udayer Pathey'' (Released 1 September 1944) - Directed by

Bimal Roy Bimal Roy (12 July 1909 – 8 January 1966) was an Indian film director. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films such as '' Do Bigha Zamin'', '' Parineeta'', '' Biraj Bahu'', ''Devdas'', ''Madhumati'', '' Sujata'', '' ...

* '' Hamrahi'' (1945) - Directed by

* '' Dui Purush'' (Released 30 August 1945) - Directed by Subodh Mitra * '' Biraj Bou'' (Released 5 July 1946) - Directed by Amar Mullik * '' Nurse Sisi'' (Released 27 April 1947) - Directed by Subodh Mitra * '' Ramer Sumati'' (Released 24 December 1947) - Directed by Kartik Chattopadhyay * '' Pratibad'' (Released 19 June 1948) - Directed by Hemchandra Chandra * ''

Anjangarh ''Anjangarh'' is a 1948 Bollywood drama film, directed by Bimal Roy Bimal Roy (12 July 1909 – 8 January 1966) was an Indian film director. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films such as ''Do Bigha Zamin'', '' Par ...

'' (Released 24 September 1948) - Directed by

* '' Mantramugdha'' (Released 14 January 1949) - Directed by

* ''

Bishnupriya Vishnupriya Devi ( bn, বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া) , was the daughter of Raj Pandit Sanatan Mishra and second wife of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. She is believed to be the reincarnation of the Goddess Satyabhama, the third consort of Kris ...

'' (Released 7 October 1949) - Directed by Hemchandra Chandra * '' Rupkatha'' (Released 13 October 1950) - Directed by Soren Sen * '' Yatrik'' (Released 1952) - Directed by Kartick Chatterjee * '' Bhagaban Shree Shree Ramkrishna'' (1955) - Directed by Prafulla Chakravarty"The film - Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna - revised file" (on YouTube)
English subtitles give credits for Kanu Banerji (

Sri Ramakrishna Ramakrishna Paramahansa ( bn, রামকৃষ্ণ পরমহংস, Ramôkṛṣṇo Pôromohôṅso; , 18 February 1836 – 16 August 1886),——— — also spelled Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, born Gadadhar Chattopadhyaya,, was an In ...

, 0:08), Bibhuti Chakravarty (photography, 0:11), Baidyanath Chaterji (producer, 0:30), Pulin Ghosh (stage setting, 0:44), New Theatre Studio (production location, 0:53), Officials of

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a Hindu navaratna temple in Dakshineswar, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, a form of Parashakti Adya Kali, otherwi ...

(thanks, 1:05), Chabi Bishwas (Mathur, 1:23),

Shobha Sen Shobha Sen (17 September 1923 – 13 August 2017) (also known as Sova Sen) was Bengali theatre and film actress.Anit Mukerjea (28 June 2004)"A Woman of Grit"Asia Africa Intelligence Wire (From The Statesman (India)) Career After graduating from ...

( Sri Ma Saradadevi, 1:23), Kalyani Films (production, 1:38), Prafulla Chakravarty (script writer and director, 1:43) (accessed 14 January 2013) * '' Aadur Prem'', 2011New Theatres Is Back
/ref> - Directed by Somnath Gupta

References

External links

www.kundanlalsaigal.org - Comprehensive Resource Website, offering preview of all his songs.www.pankajmullick.com - Comprehensive Resource Website, offering preview of his songs.www.krishnachandradey.com - Comprehensive Resource Website, offering preview of his songs.www.kanandevi.com
* {{IMDb name, 0086351

A short history
of Bengali cinema
A Biography of B N Sircar

An article on New Theatres by Sharmistha Gooptu
Indian film studios Cinema of Bengal Film production companies based in Kolkata 1931 establishments in India