Devika Rani Chaudhuri, usually known as Devika Rani, was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. She was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and was awarded the Padma Shri. Widely acknowledged as the First Lady of Indian cinema, Devika Rani is regarded as one of the greatest actresses. One of the highest-paid actress of the 1930s early 1940s, she appeared in Box Office India's "Top Actresses" list in 1940 and 1941.
Ashok Kumar, was an Indian actor who attained iconic status in Indian cinema. He was considered the first big star of Indian cinema as well as the first lead actor to play an anti-hero. He also became the first star to reinvent himself, enjoying a long and hugely successful career as a character actor. He was a member of the cinematic Ganguly family. He was honoured in 1988 with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest national award for cinema artists, by the Government of India. He received the Padma Shri in 1962 and Padma Bhushan in 1999 for his contributions to Indian cinema.
Uttam Kumar, widely known as Mahanayak, was an Indian film actor, producer, director, screenwriter, composer, and playback singer who predominantly worked in Bengali cinema. His career spanned three decades, from the late 1940s until his death in 1980. Kumar is regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema and also the most popular and successful film star in Bengal.
Sashadhar Mukherjee was an Indian filmmaker in Hindi cinema. He started his career with Bombay Talkies in the 1930s, and later established Filmistan Studio with Rai Bahadur Chunilal, Ashok Kumar and Gyan Mukherjee in 1943. In the 1950s, he went on to start his independent studio, Filmalaya. He is noted for films like Dil Deke Dekho (1959), Love in Simla (1960), Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962) and Leader (1964). He is part of the distinguished Mukherjee clan of Bollywood.
Vyjayanthimala Bali, known mononymously as Vyjayanthimala, is an Indian parliamentarian, dancer and former actress. Regarded as one of Hindi cinema's finest actresses and dancers, she is the recipient of several accolades, including five Filmfare Awards and two BFJA Awards. Considered the first female superstar of Indian Cinema, she made her screen debut at the age of 16 with the Tamil film Vaazhkai (1949), and followed this with a role in the Telugu film Jeevitham (1950). Her first work in Hindi cinema was the social guidance film Bahar (1951), which she headlined, and achieved her breakthrough with the romance Nagin (1954).
Supriya Devi was an Indian actress who is known for her work in Bengali cinema for more than 50 years. She is best known for her portrayal of Neeta in Ritwik Ghatak's Bengali film Megha Dhaka Tara (1960). She was conferred the Filmfare Award and the BFJA Award twice. In 2011, she received the Banga-Vibhushan, the highest civilian honour in West Bengal. In 2014, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India, the fourth highest civilian award in India, for her contributions to the entertainment industry.
Shashikala Saigal, better known by her first name, was an Indian film and television actress, who played supporting roles in hundreds of Bollywood films beginning in the 1940s.
Jeevan Mrityu is a 1970 Hindi-language crime thriller film produced by Tarachand Barjatya for Rajshri Productions. The film starred Dharmendra, Raakhee, Ajit, Rajindernath and Leela Chitnis. The film was a remake of a 1967 Bengali film Jiban Mrityu starring Uttam Kumar and Supriya Devi in lead roles. The film's music was composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal while Anand Bakshi penned the lyrics. The film was dubbed in Malayalam as Jeevitha Samaram.
Lal Patthar is a 1971 Indian Hindi-language drama film, produced by F. C. Mehra, and directed by Sushil Majumdar. The film is a remake of the Bengali film, Lal Pathar which was released in 1964 starring Uttam Kumar and Supriya Devi. The film stars Raaj Kumar, Hema Malini, Raakhee, Vinod Mehra, Ajit. The film is one of the rare films where lead actress Hema Malini played a negative role, being a jealous mistress of a zamindar who tries to frame his young wife as an adultress. Her performance received accolades. The music of the film was composed by Shankar–Jaikishan.
Amanush is a 1974 Indian bilingual action film simultaneously shot in Bengali and Hindi languages, co-written, produced and directed by Shakti Samanta, under his banner of Shakti Films. Based on Shaktipada Rajguru's novel Naya Basat, which was written being plotted on the Sundarbans, the film stars Uttam Kumar in the titular role, alongside Sharmila Tagore, Utpal Dutt, Anil Chatterjee and Prema Narayan in lead roles, while Abhi Bhattacharya, Amarnath Mukherjee and Asit Sen play other pivotal roles, with Shambhu Bhattacharya in a special appearance. The soundtrack and background score was composed by Shyamal Mitra, with Bengali and Hindi lyrics penned by Gauriprasanna Mazumder and Indeevar respectively. The Bengali and Hindi screenplay was written by Shaktipada Rajguru himself and Kamleshwar respectively, while the dialogues for the former and latter version were written by Prabhat Roy, who was also the assistant director of the film, and Kamleshwar respectively.
Ananda Ashram(Hindi: Anand Ashram, English: The Ashram of joy) is a 1977 Indian bilingual romantic drama film made in Bengali and Hindi language simultaneously, co-written and directed by Shakti Samanta. Based on a story by film director and novelist, Sailajananda Mukhopadhyay, it stars Ashok Kumar, Uttam Kumar, Sharmila Tagore, Moushumi Chatterjee and Rakesh Roshan in lead roles. The same story was earlier filmed as 'Doctor' in 1940 starred by Pankaj Mullick, Ahindra Choudhury and Bharati Devi.
Agni Pariksha is a 1954 Indian Bengali-language romantic drama film directed by Agradoot and starring Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen. The film was adapted from Asha Purna Devi's novel of the same name. The film became an overwhelming success critically and commercially. The movie was remade in Hindi in 1967 as Chhoti Si Mulaqat also starring Uttam Kumar. Before that, the movie was simultaneously made into a 1959 Telugu - Tamil bilingual titled Mangalya Balam in Telugu and Manjal Mahimai in Tamil.
Miss Mary is a 1957 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by L. V. Prasad. The movie is an AVM Production and directed by L. V. Prasad. A remake of Prasad's 1955 Telugu-Tamil bilingual film Missamma / Missiamma, the film stars Meena Kumari in the titular role, Kishore Kumar and Ganesh(Gemini Ganesan). The music was by Hemant Kumar with the lyrics and dialogue written by Rajendra Krishan. The songs were sung by Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt and Mohammed Rafi.
Nishi Padma is a 1970 Indian Bengali language action drama film directed by Arabinda Mukhopadhyay and produced by Shantimoy Banerjee. It is based on a short story Hinger Kochuri by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay and released under the banner of Chirantan Chitra.
Tarun Kumar Chatterjee was an Indian actor who is known for his exclusive work in Bengali cinema. In most of his films, his role as a supporting actor gave him huge appreciation from critics and audience.
Tamasha is a 1952 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by Phani Mazumdar, starring Meena Kumari, Dev Anand and Ashok Kumar. One of the big hits of the year from Bombay Talkies produced by Ashok Kumar and Savak Vacha, "Tamasha" had a narrative far ahead of its times, its action spread over 16 eventful days. This movie is a copy of the Hollywood movie It Started with Eve
Saheb Bibi Golam is a 1956 Bengali film directed by Kartik Chatterjee. It is based on a Bengali novelist Bimal Mitra's 1953 novel of the same name. The film explores the tragic fall of feudalism in Bengal during the British Raj. The title of the movie and the story is a reference to the plot simultaneously exploring a platonic relationship between a beautiful, forlorn wife of an aristocrat and a career-driven clerk. The film stars Sumitra Devi, Uttam Kumar, Chhabi Biswas, Pahari Sanyal.
Daadi Maa (transl. Grandmother) is a 1966 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by L. V. Prasad and starring Ashok Kumar, Bina Rai, Mumtaz, Tanuja and Durga Khote.
Basu Poribar is a 1952 Bengali film directed by Nirmal Dey under the banner of M.P Productions. Uttam Kumar, Sabitri Chatterjee, Supriya Devi, Bhanu Banerjee and Jiben Bose play lead roles. The film was released on 11 April 1952. It was the debut film of legendary Bengali actress Supriya Devi. It was the first successful film starring Uttam Kumar and it became a superhit at the box office. After seven back to back flop films he was called 'flop master general', and he considered to leave the film industry. The success of this film saved his career. The film was remade in Hindi as Hum Hindustani in 1960.
Indrani is a Bengali romantic drama film directed by Niren Lahiri based on a story of Achintya Kumar Sengupta. This film was released in 1958 under the banner of H.N.C. Productions. Nachiketa Ghosh was the music director of the movie. The film stars Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen in lead role. This was the first Bengali film where the legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi was featured. Later he worked with Uttam Kumar in 1967 film Chhoti Si Mulaqat. The film became a blockbuster hit at the box office and ran over 70 days in theaters.
