Tapan Sinha
Tapan Sinha (2 October 1924 – 15 January 2009) was one of the most prominent Indian film directors of his time who made more than 40 feature films in Bengali, Hindi and Oriya in a career spanning nearly half a century. A contemporary of West Bengal's cinema icons - Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen - Sinha was an equally powerful storyteller who, like his favourite novelist, Charles Dickens, won a large and appreciative audience by dealing with the problems that confront ordinary people. Born in Kolkata, Sinha was the fifth child of Tridibesh and Pramila Sinha. He attended schools in Bhagalpur and Bankura. As a student at Patna University, Bihar, Sinha responded sympathetically to Mahatma Gandhi's Quit Indiamovement, launched against the British in 1942. However, when he moved to Kolkata University, where he was studying for an MSc in physics, he fell under the spell of British and American film-makers, particularly John Ford, Billy Wilder, Frank Capra and Carol Reed. He later claimed that it was Jack Conway's 1935 version of Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities that motivated him to become a film-maker. After gaining his master's in 1946, Sinha joined the New Theatres studios, Kolkata, as a trainee sound engineer. Two years later, he moved to the Kolkata Movietone studio and, in 1950, he received an invitation to the London film festival and an opportunity to work at Pinewood studios, near London, where he took a job in the director Charles Crichton's ...
Galpa Holeo Satyi
(1966)
In a family where relations have deteriorated to the worst level, even affecting professional lives, an outsider tries to rebuild the lost love and compassion. (more)
In a family where relations have deteriorated to the worst level, even affecting professional lives, an outsider tries to rebuild the lost love and compassion. (more)
One's Own People
(1968)
Set against the backdrop of the political violence that rocked India, and West Bengal in particular, in the late 1960s, it tells the story of an aged widow in a village who goes to Calcutta to stay with relatives, but faces only exploitation. She moves to a slum, ... (more)
Set against the backdrop of the political violence that rocked India, and West Bengal in particular, in the late 1960s, it tells the story of an aged widow in a village who goes to Calcutta to stay with relatives, but faces only exploitation. She moves to a slum, ... (more)
Hungry Stones
(1960)
A tax collector posted to a small town puts up at a mansion feared by the locals because it is haunted. As time passes he grows more consumed by the mansion and its air of romance, and the spirits that haunt it, especially a beautiful woman. Adapted from a ... (more)
A tax collector posted to a small town puts up at a mansion feared by the locals because it is haunted. As time passes he grows more consumed by the mansion and its air of romance, and the spirits that haunt it, especially a beautiful woman. Adapted from a ... (more)
Hatey Bazarey (1967)
The story of Dr. Mukherjee, a highly respected civil surgeon in a small tribal district headquarters. He is the beloved of the local people, and often comes in conflict with Laxman Lal, the tyrannical son of a local aristocrat. Laxman Lal lusts after a local widow ... (more)
The story of Dr. Mukherjee, a highly respected civil surgeon in a small tribal district headquarters. He is the beloved of the local people, and often comes in conflict with Laxman Lal, the tyrannical son of a local aristocrat. Laxman Lal lusts after a local widow ... (more)
Wheel Chair (1994)
Sushmita is paralysed below her neck while escaping a rape attempt. She is admitted to a private nursing home for neurological handicapped patients run by Dr. Mitra, himself a paraplegic. Here she meets a wide variety of patients. Her case is handled by a young ... (more)
Sushmita is paralysed below her neck while escaping a rape attempt. She is admitted to a private nursing home for neurological handicapped patients run by Dr. Mitra, himself a paraplegic. Here she meets a wide variety of patients. Her case is handled by a young ... (more)
Jhinder Bondi
(1961)
Gauri Shankar Roy looks much like the king of Jhind. When the actual king, Shakar Singh, goes missing, a person from the kingdom approaches Gauri to pretend to be the king. (more)
Gauri Shankar Roy looks much like the king of Jhind. When the actual king, Shakar Singh, goes missing, a person from the kingdom approaches Gauri to pretend to be the king. (more)
The Desolate Beach
(1963)
A writer meets five widows on a train to Puri. As the six lives begin to intertwine, the theme of the taboos of widowhood emerge; but so, too, does a philosophy of life and hope for the future. The performers collectively won Best Actress at India's National Film ... (more)
A writer meets five widows on a train to Puri. As the six lives begin to intertwine, the theme of the taboos of widowhood emerge; but so, too, does a philosophy of life and hope for the future. The performers collectively won Best Actress at India's National Film ... (more)
Zindagi Zindagi (1972)
This movie revolves around a village hospital that was built by a generous hearted man, Choudhury Ramprasad (Ashok Kumar) who is also a patient in the hospital. The other patients include Isamil (Iftekhar), Dayaram (Anwar Hussain), Ratan (Jalal Agha), and the ... (more)
This movie revolves around a village hospital that was built by a generous hearted man, Choudhury Ramprasad (Ashok Kumar) who is also a patient in the hospital. The other patients include Isamil (Iftekhar), Dayaram (Anwar Hussain), Ratan (Jalal Agha), and the ... (more)
Safed Haathi (1977)
Unsuccessful film-maker (Vijay Arora) chronicles the story of two orphaned children, Shibu (Ashwani), and his elder sister, Rani (Gayetri Sharma), who live with their abusive maternal uncle (Sadhu Meher), and aunt (Mala Jaggi). Things take a turn for the better ... (more)
Unsuccessful film-maker (Vijay Arora) chronicles the story of two orphaned children, Shibu (Ashwani), and his elder sister, Rani (Gayetri Sharma), who live with their abusive maternal uncle (Sadhu Meher), and aunt (Mala Jaggi). Things take a turn for the better ... (more)
Man and Woman (1984)
A 1984 Hindi-language telefilm directed by Tapan Sinha. (more)
A 1984 Hindi-language telefilm directed by Tapan Sinha. (more)
Kabuliwala
(1957)
Rahmat, a middle-aged fruit seller from Afghanistan, comes to Calcutta to hawk his merchandise and befriends a small Bengali girl called Mini who reminds him of his own daughter back in Afghanistan. One day Rehmat receives news of his daughter’s illness and decides ... (more)
Rahmat, a middle-aged fruit seller from Afghanistan, comes to Calcutta to hawk his merchandise and befriends a small Bengali girl called Mini who reminds him of his own daughter back in Afghanistan. One day Rehmat receives news of his daughter’s illness and decides ... (more)
A Burnt House (1964)
Madhuri cannot bear a child yet her husband Shatadal is fond of children. They decide to part ways but years later when they meet in a railway station they realize their fondness for each other hasn't died. (more)
Madhuri cannot bear a child yet her husband Shatadal is fond of children. They decide to part ways but years later when they meet in a railway station they realize their fondness for each other hasn't died. (more)
Iron Door (1958)
Based on a story of the Bengali writer Jorasandho, this film takes a sympathetic view of hardened criminals, and was notable in its time for its unsentimental and realistic depiction of the daily grind behind bars and the complex relationships that develop between ... (more)
Based on a story of the Bengali writer Jorasandho, this film takes a sympathetic view of hardened criminals, and was notable in its time for its unsentimental and realistic depiction of the daily grind behind bars and the complex relationships that develop between ... (more)
Hansuli Banker Upakatha (1962)
Film starring Kali Bannerjee, Ranjana Bannerjee and Robin Bannerjee (more)
Film starring Kali Bannerjee, Ranjana Bannerjee and Robin Bannerjee (more)
The Garden of Bancharam (1980)
The story of an old peasant,Bancharam (Mitra),who defeats the tyrannical landlord Chhakari (Dey).Inheriting a dry patch of land, Bancharam converts it into a fabulous garden.The British magistrate supports him when Chhakari attempts to acquire the garden, after ... (more)
The story of an old peasant,Bancharam (Mitra),who defeats the tyrannical landlord Chhakari (Dey).Inheriting a dry patch of land, Bancharam converts it into a fabulous garden.The British magistrate supports him when Chhakari attempts to acquire the garden, after ... (more)
Baidurya Rahasya (1985)
An invaluable emerald was stolen from a Lord Krishna's temple in an island. A detective agency investigates. (more)
An invaluable emerald was stolen from a Lord Krishna's temple in an island. A detective agency investigates. (more)
Terror (1986)
A teacher witnesses a murder committed by his ex-student, who restricts him from giving his statement to the police. An atmosphere of terror ensues and the teacher must decide if to muster courage and approach the police at a personal loss. (more)
A teacher witnesses a murder committed by his ex-student, who restricts him from giving his statement to the police. An atmosphere of terror ensues and the teacher must decide if to muster courage and approach the police at a personal loss. (more)
Ek Doctor Ki Maut
(1990)
After years of painstaking research at the cost of his domestic pleasure, Dr. Dipankar Roy discovers a vaccine for leprosy. The news is flashed over television and overnight, an insignificant junior doctor receives international recognition. Professional jealousy ... (more)
After years of painstaking research at the cost of his domestic pleasure, Dr. Dipankar Roy discovers a vaccine for leprosy. The news is flashed over television and overnight, an insignificant junior doctor receives international recognition. Professional jealousy ... (more)
Ajab Gayer Ajab Katha (1998)
Set in the imaginary village of Ajab Gaon (Strange Village) , the story revolves around several characters. Raja Birchandra, is a king without a kingdom who whiles away his time singing songs by Tagore. Dukkharam is a school teacher who lives in a house haunted by ... (more)
Set in the imaginary village of Ajab Gaon (Strange Village) , the story revolves around several characters. Raja Birchandra, is a king without a kingdom who whiles away his time singing songs by Tagore. Dukkharam is a school teacher who lives in a house haunted by ... (more)
Atithi (1965)
This is the story of the wanderlust in a teenage boy, Tarapada, who often ran away from his home for days to join groups of wandering players, musicians and acrobats. Based on a story by Rabindranath Tagore. (more)
This is the story of the wanderlust in a teenage boy, Tarapada, who often ran away from his home for days to join groups of wandering players, musicians and acrobats. Based on a story by Rabindranath Tagore. (more)