Shishir Kumar Bhaduri or Sisir Kumar Bhaduri (2 October 1889 – 30 June 1959) was an Indian stage actor and theatre founder, commonly referred to as the pioneer of modern

Bengali theatre Bengali theatre primarily refers to theatre performed in the Bengali language. Bengali theatre is produced mainly in West Bengal, and in Bangladesh. The term may also refer to some Hindi theatres which are accepted by the Bengali people. Be ...

. He was an actor, director, playwright and scenic designer. After

Girish Chandra Ghosh Girish Chandra Ghosh (28 February 1844 – 8 February 1912) was a Bengali actor, director, and writer. He was largely responsible for the golden age of Bengali theatre.Kundu, Pranay K. ''Development of Stage and Theatre Music in Bengal.'' Publi ...

, he introduced realism and naturalism in

Indian theatre Theatre of India is one of the most ancient forms of theatre and it features a detailed textual, sculptural, and dramatic effects which emerged in mid first millennium BC. Like in the areas of music and dance, the Indian theatre is also defin ...

Life

Born in

Midnapore Medinipur or Midnapore is a city known for its history in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the West Medinipur district. It is situated on the banks of the Kangsabati River (variously known as ''Kasai'' and ''Cossye''). ...

West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...

, he studied at

Scottish Church College Scottish Church College is a college affiliated by Calcutta University, India. It offers selective co-educational undergraduate and postgraduate studies and is the oldest continuously running Christian liberal arts and sciences college in Asia. ...

Kolkata, where he began participating in theatre. He was also a professor of Metropolitan College (today's

Vidyasagar College Vidyasagar College is a state government-aided public college, affiliated to the University of Calcutta, located in North Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The college offers both post-graduate and under-graduate courses in a number of subjects ...

). In 1921, he left his job to become a full-time stage actor. He was awarded the

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 Januar ...

, India's third highest civilian honour by the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...

in 1959. He refused the award, saying that if he accepted it would send a wrong signal that the Government has helped to promote theatre culture in the country. The 2013 play ''Nihsanga Samrat,'' directed by

Debesh Chattopadhyay Debesh Chattopadhyay (also Chatterjee) is an Bengali language, Indian Bengali film & theatre director and actor. He has also acted in a few Bengali films. Career Chattopadhyay is associated with theatre since 1984. At that time he was 18 ye ...

, is based on the 2005 Bengali novel of the same name, written by

Sunil Gangopadhyay Sunil Gangopadhyay or Sunil Ganguly (September 7, 1934 – October 23, 2012) was an Indian poet, novelist, short story writer, and critic. He played a key role in modernizing Bengali poetry and co-founded the 1953 Avant-garde, avant-gra ...

, on the life of Bhaduri.

Filmography

Director

Chanakya Chanakya (ISO 15919, ISO: ', चाणक्य, ), according to legendary narratives preserved in various traditions dating from the 4th to 11th century CE, was a Brahmin who assisted the first Mauryan emperor Chandragupta Maurya, Chandragup ...

(1939) * Talkie of Talkies (1937)... a.k.a. Dasturmoto Talkie * Seeta (1933) * Palli Samaj (1932) * Bicharak (1929)... a.k.a. The Judge * Andhare Alo (1922)... a.k.a. The Influence of Love * Barer Bazar (1922)... a.k.a. Marriage Market (India: English title) * Kamale Kamini (1922)... a.k.a. Maid of the Lotus *

Mohini Mohini (Sanskrit: मोहिनी, ') is the Hindu goddess of enchantment. She is the only female avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. She is portrayed as a ''femme fatale'', an enchantress, who maddens lovers and demons, sometimes leading them ...

(1921)... a.k.a. Ekadashi... a.k.a. Triumph of Fate

Actor

(1939) .... Chanakya *Talkie of Talkies (1937) (as Sisir Bhaduri) .... Prof. Digambar Majumdar... a.k.a. Dasturmoto Talkie * Seeta (1933) .... Ram *Palli Samaj (1932) .... Ramesh * Bicharak (1929)... a.k.a. The Judge * Andhare Alo (1922) .... Satyendra... a.k.a. The Influence of Love *Kamale Kamini (1922)... a.k.a. Maid of the Lotus *

(1921)... a.k.a. Ekadashi... a.k.a. Triumph of Fate

Bibliography

*
The Lonely Monarch
', by

. tr. by Swapna Dutta, Hachette UK, 2013. .

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bhaduri, Sisir 1889 births 1959 deaths Film directors from West Bengal People from Howrah Male actors in Bengali cinema Indian male stage actors Scottish Church College alumni University of Calcutta alumni Academic staff of the University of Calcutta Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts Bengali theatre personalities Indian theatre directors Academic staff of Presidency University, Kolkata 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights