Phani Majumdar

(1911 - 1994)

Phani Majumdar (28 December 1911 - 16 May 1994) was a pioneering Indian film director, who worked in Bengali & Hindi cinema. 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 the 1930s, leading film director P.C. Barua at New Theatres Studio of Calcutta was 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.