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