Cinema of Bihar

Bihar has a robust cinema industry for the Hindi and Bhojpuri language. There ware also a small Maithili, Angika and Magadhi film industry.

History

Although Bihar has produced a few Hindi films, it specializes in Bhojpuri films. The first Bhojpuri Film was 'Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chhadhaibo' released in 1963, although Bhojpuri and Maghi dialects were used in a few earlier films such as Ganga-Jamuna and Nadiya Ke Paar. This, and a few others that followed, such as Lage Nahin Chhute Ram and Bideshiya were super-hit films in the Bhojpuri belt.(Input by R N Dash,President, Cine Society, Patna) Lagi nahin chute ram" was the all time super hit Bhojpuri film which was released against "Mugle Azam" but was a super hit in all the eastern and northern sector. Bollywood's Nadiya Ke Paar is among the most famous Bhojpuri language movie. The first Maithili movie was Kanyadan released in 1965,^[1] of which a significant portion was made in the Maithili language, where as Bhauji Maay is one of the popular Maithili movie . Bhaiyaa a Magadhi film was released in 1961.^[2] Bhojpuri Poet Manoj Bhawuk is a single person who has written History of Bhojpuri Cinema.

Golden Era

Cinema in Bihar dates back to the early years of 20th Century when J F Madan acquired the then Elphinstone Theatre Co of Bombay in 1902 and converted it into The Elphinstone Bioscope Co. The Elphinstone Theatre of Patna was accordingly converted into Elphinstone cinema, and started showing short silent films. On advent of Talkies, it started showing sound films and continuing till now, although has changed its ownership after collapse of the Madan empire in 1930s. In between, another silent cinema theatre was built in China Kothi, Patna, which withered away after advent of talkies from 1931 onwards. The first talkie of Patna was built in Babu Bazar, South-West Patna, debuting with the Talkie Veer Abhimanyu in 1933 or 1934, But the nitrate films caused a huge fire that destroyed the theatre, which was never re-built.

The first Feature film produced in Bihar was perhaps Punarmilan, produced by the Maharaja of Deo in Aurangabad district, reported to have been directed by Dhirendranath Ganguly (maker of Bilat Ferat). But no trace or confirmed information is available about this film.

After several decades Prakash Jha made his debut Feature film Hip Hip Huray in 1984, a Hindi film, completely shot in Bihar (now Jharkhand) but processed in Bombay. The next producer was Sahay from Gaya, who made the feature film Patang directed by the eminent Gautam Ghose.

The first Bhojpuri film Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chhadhaibo was made in 1962 by Raj Kumar Sahabadi, Directed by Kundan Kumar of Varanasi. The film was certified by the Censors in November 1962 and was released in Varanasi and Patna in early 1963. Acclaimed as a very well made film with many popular artists, this encouraged announcement of production of about 70 films, most of whom did not materialize. Although a large number of films have been produced in Bhojpuri, only a few have been admired, most of them rejected for family viewing. With poor commercial prospects, more than 150 completed films are waiting to be released (by May 2012). We are still waiting for the Golden Era to arrive.

(input by R N Dash, President, Cine society, Patna)

Festival

Patna Film Festival is an international film festival. Participant countries includes Iran, Canada, China, Japan, Sweden, Germany, Russia, USA and India .^[3] "Patna Film Festival" started in 2006. It was jointly organized by of Union ministry of information and broadcasting, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), directorate of film festival, National Film Archive of India, Federation of Film Societies of India and the state government.^[4]

Earlier, Mini Film Festivals (read Film sessions) used to be organized regularly by Cine-Society, Patna during the summer and winter seasons during the year 1973 to 1989, the last being on Charlie Chaplin films during world-wide celebration of his centenary. Cine society also helped Government of India and a few other cultural organizations such as the Bihar Art Theater who organized a few such festivals during this period. But like most film Societies of the world Cine society, Patna also faced its bad days on advent of Video, TV and Satellite Channels from 1980s onwards, compelling to restrict their activities due to sudden downfall of patrons, members and funds (yet the society is active with its fewer members, screening around 12 feature and 4 documentary films from all over the world regularly every month, organizing Film Appreciation Workshops and discussions regularly and bringing out a monthly Newsletter regularly since the last 28 years. It is helping Government and a few other organizations in organizing one or two mini Film Festivals every year).

(Last paragraph inserted by R N Dash, President, Cine Society, Patna)

Industry

language

• Bhojpuri
• Awadhi
• Magahi
• Maithili

See also

• Cinema of the world
• Bhojpuri Film Industry
• Bhojpuri Film Award
• List of Bhojpuri films
• Magahi language films
• Maithili language films
• Maithili Film Industry
• Maithili

History Of Maithili Films: A Bird’s Eye View Of all the languages of India Maithili is considered to be the sweetest and most cultured. It is needless to point out that Maithili is spoken by about 6 -7 crores of the people of not only India but abroad also. The most significant characteristic feature of this sweet language is that it has its own grammar, literature, culture, customs, almanac and geographical area. Maithili language is known all over the world for its sweetness, classical epics, melodious songs of Poet Vidyapati and what not. In the light of all this riches possessed by Maithili that it has been accorded a place in the Constitution of India.

As far as Maithili cinema is considered, it has remained till date at a back foot which is a matter of utter shame and serious concern for all the Maithils. However, some people have tried their best to heip Maithili cinema get its due.

The first released Maithili movie was Kanyadan (released in 1965 & Directed by Phani Majumdar), of which a significant portion was made in the Maithili language. The film's story in which the protagonist doesn't know Maithili language but decided to learn Maithili as his wife knows only Maithili language. It is based on the novel KANYADAAN by Harimohan Jha.

Another maithili movie "Mamta Gaave Geet" directed by C. Parmanand, was released in 1984-85 and became very popular due to the melodious songs and good storyline.

Anand Mishra tried to revive it with his tele film “ Ijot” which depicts the hard reality of the youths of Mithilanchal. But unfortunately this films remained incomplete and could not be released. In this film Udit Narayan also gave his voice. It is to be noted that even before “ Ijot”, Anand Mishra also had come with a Maithili video “ Ena Katay Din”.

Then came yet another superhit film “Sasta Jinagai Mahag Sinur”, released in 1999, which went a long way in revival of Maithili film Industries. Muarli Dhar, a great Director, Music composer, Singer, actor has directed this film. Moreover, Balkrishna Jha’s contribution in this film can also not be ruled out. All the songs of this movie sung by Md Aziz, Sadhana Sargam and Udit Narayan, Deepa Narayan became super hit, breaking all success records. This maithili film's songs are still played in many village fairs and other Maithil gatherings.

Another Maithili film Kakhan Harab Dukh Mor based on life of great Maithil Poet Vidyapati proved yet another milestone in the history of Maithili Cinema with its success and response from the audiences. Thanks to excellent performance by actor Phool Singh who played the role of Vidyapati and great music and soulful songs by Gyaneshwar Dubey the film became a huge hit. Senurak Laaj and Dularua Babu are other great Maithili films. Details of these films will be given in due course.

Aau Piya Hamar Nagari presented by Ashu-Priya Production was released in 2000.Unfortunately the movie could not get success as expected in spite of brilliant plot and narrative technique. 90% of the picturisation of this film was executed in the direction of popular Director Murli Dhar. Dr Manikant Mishra had later declared himself the Director of the film due to a small strife.

In 2007 November another Maithili film Sindurdan was released but the film was quickly withdrawn from theatres due to some sound problem. The feature film, Senuriya, directed by B.D. Prasad Chaudhary, music by Gyaneshwar Dubey, is a two-and-a-half hour film, made by Ayushman Films. Surya and Diva Shree play the lead role as actors with Rami Reddy in a negative role. In fact, it is a film dubbed from Tamil into Maithili.

Garibak Beti - 2005, Banner Dev Kala Arts & A Y Movies, a movie based on dowry system and produced by the young Ajay Yash, aged 22 Years, was a widely viewed successful film. It was a low budget movie but the box office collection was high. Though low budget, technically this movie fulfilled all demands of the audience and attracted attention to maithili cinema. The next production of Ajay Yash Was 'Mayak Karz', 2010, under the banner of Dev Kala Arts & A Y Movies. Ajay Yash has started a new project as producer and director in 'Babujee'. the movie is expected on screen in 2012. Ajay Yash " " is the sole producer and director who is struggling for Maithili Cinema, continuously.

" Ek Chutki Sindur", "Chat Mangani Patt Bhel Biyah","Khurluchchi" are presently in the lab and likely to be released shortly .

The year 2011 witnessed the successful release of two Maithili films ' Sajana Ke Anagana Me Solah Singaar ' Directed by Murli Dhar and Mukhiya Jee directed by Vikash Jha.

By creating Maithili Films Group and maithili cinema blog on various sites Bhaskaranand Jha Bhaskar is doing a commendable job for popularising Maithili films.

Actors

Kamalnath Singh Thakur Murlidhar Lalitesh Jha Rajeev Singh Sanjay Mishra Sanjeev Poonam Mishra Rahul Sinha Romi Thakur Shubh Narayan Jha Vinod Gwaar Bhawanath Jha Dinesh Mishra Dharmendra Morbaita Vijay Mishra Anil Mishra Gaurav Jha Mantu Jha Sunil Jha Shambhu Nath Mishra Usha Paswan Uttam Chaudhary

Actresses Mona Rai Ranju Jha Kalpna Mishra Neetu SIngh Roshani Jha Dolly Sarkar Anurita Jha Sangita Mishra

References

5. http://www.maithilicinema.com/

6. http://www.devkalaarts.com/