Anjan Das

Anjan Das Biography

Anjan Das is a popular film director from Bengali cinema. Though he started his film career in 1976 movie, Sainik, it was Saanjhbatir Roopkathara released after 26 years that put him back to ‘movie track’. The movie Saanjhbatir Roopkathara was released in the year 2002 and after that he directed 6 more movies. He made his first film while doing post graduation. But the movie was a failure at box office. The film of 80 minutes was too short too, at a time when films of Indian cinema had at least 2 hour running time. Due to less experience, he couldn’t market it effectively or could find good distributors. Then he returned in a bang in the year 2002 making movies, winning audience’ hearts.

Anjan Das’ career began with documentary films during middle 1970’s. 'The art of Anant Malakar' and 'Tripura' were those noted works. Though his first movie ‘Sainik’ was a big failure, the movie was shown in various International Film festivals including Mannheim, Tehran, Cracow, Mongolia, Yugoslavia and Berlin in 1976. It participated in San Remo Film Competition in Italy also. After that Anjan Das made several documentary films on Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Lever, ONGC, Bengal Emta Coal Mines and Industrial Development Corp. of Orissa Ltd.

For the movie, Iti Sreekanta released in the year 2004, he received Bengal Film Journalist Association Award. This movie was also praised as ‘classic comeback’ and critically well acclaimed movie received many awards as well. Based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s work written in 1917, screenplay was written by Rajarshi Roy and Shantasree Sarkar. Central roles of this triangular love story were played by Adil Hussain, Soha Ali Khan and Reema Sen. Other movies directed by Anjan Das include – Faltu (2005), Jara Brishtitey Bhije Chilo (2007), Achin Pakhi (2010), Banshiwala (2010) and Bedeni (2011). He wrote the script of Baanshiwala and has also produced the short film, Disarray in 2012. In 2006, ‘Faltu’ won National Award for The Best Feature Film On Welfare.

‘Jara Brishtitey Bhije Chilo' won Special Director's Award at Almaty, Kazakhstan and two awards from Madrid. This film also was an entry in the Indian Panorama of International Film Festival Of India 2007. He has won 11 BFJA awards also. Recently, he made a documentary on the great rebel poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam. His movie, Swarger Nichey Manush' is to release very soon.

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Updated: January 08, 2014