Kamal Ghosh

Kamal Ghosh Biography

Kamal Ghosh is a cine artist from Bengal, who was active in south Indian film industry. He was a film director and cinematographer, who worked in Tamil and Telugu movies. He lived during the period, 1910 - 1983. Famous Bengali filmmaker and actor Debaki Bose was his uncle. Kamal is best known as a cinematographer he joined the industry in the mid-1930s, and later became a renowned artist in the 1950s. He directed two films in 1953 – Paropakaram and Rohini and both the films failed at box office. So he decided to concentrate to work as a cinematographer and his decision proved right. His name was often credited as ‘Kamaal’ in movies, and he worked in the early talkies throughout 1950s and 1960s.

Kamal Ghosh was born in Kolkata, West Bengal in the year 1910. He received training in handling camera from his uncle, Debaki Bose known for his contributions in Hindi as well as Bengali cinema. He worked as an assistant under his uncle at New Theaters, Kolkata and learned various aspects of film making. He was brought to south India by Krishnaswami Subrahmanyam, renowned film director of the 1930s and 1940s. In south Indian film industry he started his career in 1937 as an assistant to Sailen Bose. Balayogini was his first project for which he worked as an assistant cameraman.

First film as independent cinematographer is a Tamil film Anaadhai Penn released the following year. His photography especially the lighting was welcomed with praises. Since then he has done more than 20 films belonging to Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Oonche Log (1965) and Maa bahu (1960) are his Hindi films. Oonche Log is the movie which established the career of Feroz Khan. Anarkali, Harichandra, Kacha Devayani, Apoorva Sagodharargal, Amara Deepam etc are his works in south Indian cinema.

Published: February 15, 2019

Updated: February 15, 2019