 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(December 2022) |
| Cinema of Bihar | |
|---|---|
 The emblem of Bihar | |
| No. of screens | 269 |
| Produced feature films (2019) | |
| Total | 150 |
| Part of a series on the |
| Culture of Bihar |
|---|
 |
| Society |
| Topics |
| Symbols |
The cinema of Bihar, a state in eastern India, primarily consists of films in the Bhojpuri language. Bihar also has smaller Maithili- and Magahi-language film industries. Cinema in the state began during the early 20th century.
Bihar's film industry began during the early years of the 20th century, when Jamshedji Framji Madan acquired the Elphinstone Theatre Company of Bombay in 1902 and converted it into the Elphinstone Bioscope Company. The Elphinstone Theatre in Patna (Bihar's capital) became the Elphinstone Cinema, screening short silent films until the advent of sound. The cinema exists under different ownership after the Madan family's economic collapse during the 1930s. Another silent-film cinema in Patna closed in 1931, early in the sound era. The city's first sound theatre, in the southwestern Babu Bazar, opened with Veer Abhimanyu in 1933 or 1934. The theatre was destroyed by a fire caused by flammable nitrate film, and was never rebuilt.
The first Bihari film was the silent Punarjanma (Life Divine) with Arati Devi, A. K. Prosad, Pratima Devi, and N. G. Bhattacharya. It was produced by Raja Rana Jagarnnath Prasad Singh. [1] Arati Devi, who was Jewish, was 19 years old when she made the film. Born Rachel Sofaer in Rangoon in 1912, she moved with her family to Calcutta c. 1923. Devi had made only one other film a year before (1930's A Man Condemned), and her career ended when she married Sassoon Jonah in 1933. She died in childbirth in April 1948.
Prakash Jha made his feature-film debut with 1984's Hip Hip Hurray, a Hindi film shot in Jharkhand (then part of Bihar) and produced in Bombay. Patang was directed by Goutam Ghose. By May 2012, more than 150 completed films were awaiting release.
Bhaiyaa , the first film of Bihar with sound was a Magahi-language film, was released in 1961 directed by Phani Majumdar.[ citation needed ] The first Bhojpuri-language film, Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chhadhaibo, was made in 1962 and released the following year. Bhojpuri and Maghi were spoken in earlier films such as Gunga Jumna and Nadiya Ke Paar, however. Films such as Laagi Nahi Chhute Ram and Bideshiya were popular in Bhojpur district.
Bollywood's Nadiya Ke Paar is one of the best-known Bhojpuri-language films. The first Maithili-language film was 1965's Kanyadan ,[ citation needed ] directed by Phani Majumdar. The film, about a man who decides to learn Maithili because it is his wife's only language, is based on Harimohan Jha's novel Kanyadaan. Bhauji Maay and Mamta Gaave Geet (directed by C. Parmanand) were also popular; the latter is noted for its music and plot. Sasta Jingi Mahag Senur (directed by Muarli Dhar and released in 1999) was a successful Maithili film, with songs by Md. Aziz, Sadhana Sargam, Udit Narayan and Deepa Narayan.
Another successful Maithili film, Kakhan Harab Dukh Mor , was based on the life of the Maithil poet Vidyapati. Phool Singh played the lead role, with music by Gyaneshwar Dubey. Other Maithili films include Senurak Laaj and Dularua Babu. Ashu-Priya Productions' unsuccessful Aau Piya Hamar Nagari was released in 2000. Murli Dhar directed 90 percent of the film, and Manikant Mishra completed it.
The Maithili film Sindurdan was released in November 2007, but was withdrawn from theatres due to sound problems. Senuriya, directed by B.D. Prasad Chaudhary with music by Gyaneshwar Dubey, is dubbed from Tamil into Maithili. Surya and Diva Shree starred, and Rami Reddy played the antagonist.
Banner Dev Kala Arts and A. Y. Movies' 2005 Garibak Beti, directed by Manoj Jha and produced by Ajay Yash, was a low-budget Maithili success; Jha's next film was 2010's Mayak Karz, for the same producers. Two successful Maithili films were released in 2011: Sajana Ke Anagana Me Solah Singaar (directed by Murli Dhar) and Mukhiya Jee (directed by Vikash Jha). Another successful Maithili film, An Ideal Lady - Ramaulwali (directed by Niraj Yadav and Randhir Singh), was released in November 2014.
The Maithili film Gamak Ghar premiered at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in October 2019, the first Maithili film selected for the festival. Cited as the region's first art film from the region, it had a positive reception at the festival and on the streaming service Mubi. [2]
The Patna Film Festival is an international film festival with participants from Iran, Canada, China, Japan, Sweden, Germany, Russia, the U.S. and India. Since 2006, it has been organized by of Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the National Film Archive of India, the Federation of Film Societies of India and the state government.
Mini-film festivals were organized by Patna's Cine-Society during the summer and winter from 1973 to 1989; the last festival featured Charlie Chaplin films to celebrate his centenary. Cine-Society aided the government of India and cultural organizations such as the Bihar Art Theater. Facing competition from video, broadcast and satellite television, the society screens about twelve feature and four documentary films from around the world each month, organizes film-appreciation workshops and discussions, publishes a monthly newsletter and continues assisting governmental and non-governmental groups in organizing one or two mini-film festivals annually.
Two film cities were proposed in 2014: Rajgir Film City and a second film city in Valmikinagar. [3] In 2017, Rajgir project was still in development. [4]
| 2021 Indian feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification [5] Note: The actual number of films produced may be less. | |
| Language | No. of films |
|---|---|
| Bhojpuri | 104 |
| Maithili | 2 |
| Total | 106 |
Bhojpuri language films, targeting residents of western Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, also have a large audience in Delhi and Mumbai due to the migration of Bhojpuri speakers to these cities. In addition to India, markets for these films developed among the Bhojpuri-speaking populations of the West Indies, Oceania and South America. [6]
Bhojpuri cinema began in 1962 with Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (Mother Ganges, I Will Offer You a Yellow Sari), directed by Kundan Kumar.[ citation needed ] Although few films were produced over the next two decades, Bidesiya (Foreigner, 1963, directed by S. N. Tripathi) and Ganga (Ganges, 1965, directed by Kumar) were successful.
The 2001 film Saiyyan Hamar (My Sweetheart, directed by Mohan Prasad), made Ravi Kissan a star. [7] This was followed by several other successes, including 2005's Panditji Batai Na Biyah Kab Hoi (Priest, Tell Me When I Will Marry, directed by Prasad) and Sasura Bada Paisa Wala (My Father-in-Law, the Rich Guy). Both did better in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar than mainstream Bollywood hits, and earned more than ten times their production costs. [8] Although smaller than other Indian film industries, the success of Bhojpuri cinema spawned an awards show [9] and the trade magazine Bhojpuri City. [10]
Kanyadan released in 1965, was the first full-length Maithili-language film. [11] A number of Maithili-language films have been made, [12] and Mithila Makhaan received a Best Maithili Film award in the language section of the 2017 National Film Awards. [13]
Sabrang Film Awards is held annually recognising films made in Bhojpuri language.
Bihar is a state in Eastern India. It is the third largest state by population, the 12th largest by area, and the 15th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West Bengal to the east, and Jharkhand to the south. Bihar is split by the river Ganges, which flows from west to east. On 15 November 2000, southern Bihar was ceded to form the new state of Jharkhand. Only 11.27% of the population of Bihar lives in urban areas as per a 2020 report. Additionally, almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, giving Bihar the highest proportion of young people of any Indian state. The official language is Hindi, which shares official status alongside that of Urdu. The main native languages are Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri. But there are several other languages being spoken at smaller levels.
Magahi, also known as Magadhi, is a Indo-Aryan language spoken in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal states of eastern India, and in the Terai of Nepal. Magadhi Prakrit was the ancestor of Magahi, from which the latter's name derives.
Sheikhpura is a town and a municipality in Sheikhpura district in the Indian state of Bihar. Sheikhpura is also an administrative headquarter of Sheikhpura district.
Shahabad district or Arrah district, headquartered at Arrah was a Bhojpuri speaking district in western Bihar, India, making the western border of Bihar with Uttar Pradesh. In 1972, the district was split into two districts: Bhojpur and Rohtas. Kaimur District was carved out from Rohtas in 1991 and Buxar District from Bhojpur in 1992.
Media in Bihar started with Bihar Bandhu, the first Hindi newspaper published in Bihar.
Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo is a Bhojpuri film released in 1963 directed by Kundan Kumar. It was the first-ever Bhojpuri film, and starred Kumkum, Ashim Kumar and Nazir Hussain. It had music by Chitragupta, lyrics by Shailendra and songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi. The film is based on author Acharya Shivpujan Sahay's short story Kahani Ka Plot.
Laagi Nahi Chhute Rama is a 1963 Bhojpuri film, directed by Kundan Kumar and produced by R. Tiwari. This was third Bhojpuri film after Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo and Bidesiya. The film stars Sujit Kumar and Kumkum in the lead roles.
Patna Film Festival is an international film festival in Patna, India. Participant countries include Iran, Canada, China, Japan, Sweden, Germany, Russia, the United States, and India. Patna Film Festival started in 2006. It was jointly organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), directorate of the film festival, National Film Archive of India, Federation of Film Societies of India, and the state government.
Bihari culture refers to the culture of the Indian state of Bihar. Bihari culture includes Angika culture, Mithila culture, Bhojpuri Culture and the culture of Magadha.
Bhojpuri cinema, also known as Bhojiwood, and the Bhollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Bhojpuri language widely spoken in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Its major production centres are Patna. Bhojpuri cinema has grown in recent years. Bhojpuri cinema also caters to second and third generation emigrants who still speak the language in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Fiji, Mauritius and South Africa.
Bihar has produced a number of poets and writers in its languages like Bhojpuri Maithili language, Magahi language, Angika and Bajjika including Bhikhari Thakur, Heera Dom, Viveki Rai, Satishwar Sahay Verma, Pandey Kapil etc. are writers of Bhojpuri, Vidyapati in Maithili. Besides its regional languages, Bihar has also produced writers in English such as Anilchandra Thakur Raj Kamal Jha, Amitava Kumar, Tabish Khair, Abdullah Khan, Abhay K, Siddhartha Chowdhury; and Hindi including Raja Radhika Raman Prasad Sinha, Acharya Ramlochan Saran, Acharya Shivpujan Sahay, Divakar Prasad Vidyarthy, Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar', Ram Briksh Benipuri, Phanishwar Nath 'Renu', Gopal Singh "Nepali", Ramesh Chandra Jha and Baba Nagarjun. Writer and Buddhist scholar Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan was born in Uttar Pradesh but spent his life in the land of Buddha, i.e., Bihar.
Kumkum,, was an Indian actress.
Leela Mishra was an Indian actress. She worked as a character actor in over 200 Hindi films for five decades, and is best remembered for playing stock characters such as aunts. She is best known for her role of "mausi" in the blockbuster Sholay (1975), Dil Se Mile Dil (1978), Baton Baton Mein (1979), Rajesh Khanna films such as Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein, Aanchal, Mehbooba, Amar Prem and Rajshri Productions hits such as Geet Gaata Chal (1975), Nadiya Ke Paar (1982) and Abodh (1984). Her career's best performance was in Naani Maa in 1981, for which she received Best Actress award at the age of 73.
Deswa is a 2011 Indian Bhojpuri social drama-crime thriller film written and directed by Nitin Chandra. It is the debut production of actress Neetu Chandra and features newcomers Ajay Kumar, Deepak Singh, and Kranti Prakash Jha, alongside seasoned actors Pankaj Jha and Ashish Vidyarthi. Deswa is recognized for its ambitious goal of transcending the typical Bhojpuri film market by incorporating multilingual dialogue in Bhojpuri, English, Telugu, and Hindi, and being dubbed into Tamil and Marathi.
Nazir Hussain was an Indian actor, director and screenwriter. He was famous as a character actor in Hindi cinema and was a pioneer of Bhojpuri cinema. He acted in almost 500 films, with Dev Anand starring in a large proportion of the films he acted in.
Mithila Makhaan is a Maithili language film directed by Nitin Chandra that stars Anurita Jha, Kranti Prakash Jha and Pankaj Jha.
Sadhana Singh is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi films and television. Her first magazine shot was done by Pardeep Mishra. She started her film career with the 1982 film Nadiya Ke Paar, by writer-director Govind Moonis.
Raja Jagannath Prasad Singh Kinkar was an Indian ruler of Deo Raj, a princely estate in present day Aurangabad district of Bihar. He was noted for producing Bihar's first film, Chhat Mela, in 1930. It was a silent documentary film on the Chhath festival of Deo.
Bishwanath Prasad Shahabadi,, also known as B.P. Shahabadi, was an Indian film producer and businessperson known for producing Bhojpuri and Hindi films. He is known as the father of Bhojpuri cinema. He gained prominence by producing the first black-and-white Bhojpuri film, Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo, in 1962. Shahabadi's notable works include Solaho Singar Kare Dulhaniya (Bhojpuri) and Hindi films like Rootha Na Karo, Ganga Dham, Geet Ganga, Sasural and Tulsi and Ghar Jamai. He passed away on July 13, 2000.
