Birendranath Sircar

Birendranath Sircar Biography

Birendranath Sircar, shortly known as B. N. Sircar was a Bengali film producer and the Founder of New Theatres Calcutta. He has introduced many directors to Bengali cinema. Names of great Bengali directors like Bimal Roy, P.C. Barua, Dhiren Ganguly, Premankor Atharthi, Debaki Bose and Phani Majumdar are associated with B. N. Sircar. He was the second recipient of highest honour of Indian Cinema – Dadasaheb Phalke Award in the year 1971. He has also received Padma Bhushan the following year. He was the President of the BMPA in the late 1940s.

Birendranath Sircar was born in Bhagalpur in the year 1901 as the son of the then Advocate-General of Bengal, Sir N. N. Sircar. When he returned India after his Engineering at London, he was asked to build a cinema hall. He not only built one, but also produced two silent movies. In 1931, he created the legendary New Theatres Calcutta and many leading directors started their careers under him Production Company. Great actors like KL Saigal, Leela Desai, Prithviraj Kapoor, Pahadi Sanyal, Amar Mullick, Kanan Devi and Chandrabati Devi also initiated their careers under this great producer.

New theatre is known for many landmark and revolutionary achievements of Indian cinema. First playback singing (Bengali film Bhagya Chakra by Nitin Bose and its Hindi remake Dhoop chaon), first movie based on the novel Devdas (1935) and Dena Paona (1931) - a Bengali talkie need special mention. One of the earliest leading actresses of yesterdays, Kanan Devi became popular through his movies.  

His production company has produced feature films, short films and cartoons. Major ventures under his production company are - Chirakumar Sabha, Mastuto Bhai, Pratishruti, Parichoy, Priyo Bandhabi, Biraj Bou, Excuse Me Sir, Pallisamaj, Dena Paona, Nartaki, Dui purush, Dikshul, Abhinetri, Natir Puja, Punar janma, Kashinath, Minakshi, Chandidas and Kapalkundala.  

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Updated: October 24, 2013