Remembering pioneering film director Phani Majumdar

Born: 28 December 1911, Faridpur Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh
Died: 16 May 1994
Phani Majumdar was a pioneering Indian film director, who worked in Hindi cinema, most known for his film Street Singer (1938) starring K.L. Saigal noted for its song, Babul Mora Naihar Chhooto Jaye, Meena Kumari classic Aarti (1962) and Oonche Log (1965). He also worked in Singapore, where he notably made Hang Tuah (1955) in Malay, which was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival.

Starting in 1930s, with leading film director P.C. Barua at New Theatres Studio of Calcutta founded by B. N. Sircar, who during this period made classics like Devdas (1935). He moved to Bombay in 1941 and worked with Bombay Talkies studio, he made Tamanna (1942) with Suraiya and Mohabbat (1943) with Shanta Apte and Andolan (1951). He made films in Punjabi, Magadhi (Bhaiya, 1961) and Maithili (Kanyadaan, 1965). His Oonch Log was actor Feroz Khan's first hit and won the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film .

Noted film director-producer Shakti Samanta assisted Majumdar in Tamasha, Baadbaan and Dhobi Doctor at Bombay Talkies before working independently.

He was married to Monica Desai, sister of actress, Leela Desai.

Select Filmography
Year Film Director Writer Notes
1938,Street Singer,director,K.L. Saigal, Hindi
1938,Sathi,director, K. L. Saigal, Bengali version of Street Singer
1943,Mohabbat,director
1948,Hum Bhi Insaan Hain,director
1952,Goonj,director,Suraiya (Heroine), Suresh(Hero)
1954,Baadbaan,director & story
1956,Hang Tuah,director,Malay language
1958,Doktor,director & story,Malay language
1961,Bhaiyaa,director & story,Magahi
1962,Aarti,director, Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar
1965,Kanyadan,Maithili language
1978,Badalte Rishtey,director
1986,Ek Chadar Maili Si,director
Awards
National Film Awards
1961: All India Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Children's Film - Savitri
1965: Second Best Feature Film: Oonch Log