
Tapan Sinha was born in
Kolkata on 2nd October 1924. A well-respected Bengali Indian film director, Tapan Sinha is arguably the most uncompromising filmmaker outside the domain of parallel cinema. His awe-inspiring collection of work can in all probability be matched with directors like
Mrinal Sen and
Satyajit Ray.
Tapan Sinha's directorial works have won 19 National Film Awards in diverse categories. His films have also won immense success in International Film Festivals of Berlin, Moscow, London, Venice, San Francisco, Locarno, Cork Festival in Ireland Kampuchea and Seoul.
Early Life of Tapan Sinha
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 India movement, 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 Movie tone 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 unit as a sound engineer. While in London, he was exposed to the works of Italian directors Federico Fellini, Vittorio De Sica and Roberto Rossellini.
Tapan Sinha has also served as a member of the jury in the popular film festivals at Tashkent and San Francisco among others. Although Tapan Sinha is basically focused in the Bengali film industry, he made films in different languages like Hindi and Oriya in the past. Arundhati Devi is his wife who has been a famous Bengali Indian actress. Their son is a noteworthy Indian scientist Professor Anindya Sinha.
Tapan Sinha was conferred with several awards for the superb film Kabulliwalaah (1956), based on a story by
Rabindranath Tagore. The film mainly received the Music Award at the Berlin Film Festival, demonstrating his prominent sensitivity. His another film Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1991), won National Award for Second Best Film, 1991/ Special Jury Award for Best Actor, Best Director, 1991/ Red Cross Film Festival, 1991/ BFJA Awards - Best Film, 1991/ 37th Film Fare Award for Best Screenplay and award from Sofia (Bulgaria). Tapan Sinha was honoured with the
Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 2008 for his exceptional contribution to Indian cinema on 21 July 2008. Tapan Sinha, 84, legendary filmmaker from Bengal, passed away on Thursday morning at a city hospital after prolonged illness. He was suffering from bronchopneumonia, electrolyte imbalance and several other age-related problems. He is survived by his son Anindya Sinha. Sinha's death marks the end of an era in Bengali film.
Filmography of Tapan Sinha
Ankush -1954 |
Galpo Holeo Satti -1966 |
Adalat O Ekti Meye -1982 |
Upahaar -1955 |
Hate Bazare -1967 |
Admi Aur Aurat -1982 |
Tonsil -1956 |
Aapan Jon -1968 |
Manush -1983 |
Kabuliawala -1957 |
Sagina Mahato -1970 |
Didi -1984 |
Lauha Kapat -1958 |
Sasina -1970 |
Baidurya Rahasya -1985 |
Kala Mati -1958 |
Ekhani -1971 |
Atanka -1986 |
Khaniker Atithi -1959 |
Zindagi Zindagi -1972 |
Aaj Ka Rabinhood -1987 |
Khudhito Pashan -1960 |
Aandhar Periye -1973 |
Ek Doctor Ki Maut -1991 |
Jhinder Bandi -1961 |
Raja -1975 |
Antardhaan -1992 |
Hansuli Banker Upakatha -1962 |
Harmonium -1976 |
Wheel Chair -1994 |
Nirjan Saikate -1963 |
Ek Je Chhilo Desh -1977 |
Satabdir Kanya -1996 |
Jatugriha -1964 |
Safed Haathi -1978 |
Ajab Gnayer Ajab Katha -1999 |
Arohi -1964 |
Sabuj Dwiper Raja -1979 |
Anokhi Moti -2000 |
Atithi -1965 |
Banchharamer- Bagan -1980 |
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(Last Updated on : 08-09-2014)