Dhirendranath Gangopadhyaya or Dhiren Ganguly as he was affectionately called, was born in 1893 and is regarded as one of the founders of the Bengal film industry. He had served as headmaster at Nizam`s Art College, Hyderabad before turning to film making.
The political scene was volatile when Ganguly entered the world of films. In 1919, the Jalianwala Baug massacre took place. After, which a string of events like Rabindra Nath Tagore returning his knighthood and the Britishers jailing Mahatma Gandhi, clamped down upon the media, effecting the films to heavy censoring. The Calcutta Board of Censors thus, denied certificates to 13 of the 49 films up before it, severely cutting the rest.
Ganguly and Nitish Chandra Laharry set up Indo-British Film Company in 1921 relaesing the film Bilet Pherat or England Returned, a comedy on the assumed mannerisms and confusion of an England-returned Indian was released. The film was very successful, and remains their biggest hit.
Then in 1922 came the movie Sadhu Ke Shaitan. But in the coming year, both of thier partnership broke. Thus, Ganguly returned to Hyderabad, and under the Nizam`s patronage, formed the Lotus Film Company. He remained lucky with the comedies - Lady Teacher and The Marriage Tonic.
In 1924 - Razia Begum was released at Ganguly`s theatre. The film dealt with Razia Sultana, the daughter of Iltutmish and her love for an Abyssinian slave. However, this theme had enraged the Nizam. Thus, Ganguly was ordered to leave Hyderabad within a day.
In 1928, Ganguly returned to Calcutta and set up British Dominion Film Company.And In 1930, Flames of Flesh was released. The film was on the life of the celebrated beauty, Rani Padmini of Chittor, was shot in Amber Palace, Rajasthan.
|
