Jump to content

Gurudas Banerjee: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 211: Line 211:
| 1955 || ''Thakur Sri Ramakrishna'' || [[Ramakrishna|Sri Ramakrishna]] || [[Minerva Theatre, Kolkata|Minerva Theatre]] (Calcutta) || || || Source;<ref name=calcutheaters/>{{rp|292}} Also Molina Debi ([[Rani Rashmoni]]). Part of a state Congress celebration
| 1955 || ''Thakur Sri Ramakrishna'' || [[Ramakrishna|Sri Ramakrishna]] || [[Minerva Theatre, Kolkata|Minerva Theatre]] (Calcutta) || || || Source;<ref name=calcutheaters/>{{rp|292}} Also Molina Debi ([[Rani Rashmoni]]). Part of a state Congress celebration
|-
|-
| 1975 || ''Nata Nati'' || [[Ramakrishna|Sri Ramakrishna]]|| Rangana Theatre (Calcutta) || [[Ganesh Mukherjee]] || Ganesh Mukherjee || Source;<ref name=calcutheaters/>{{rp|342,688,777}} Kartick Banerjee ([[Girish Chandra Ghosh|Girish Gose]]), Basanti Chaterjee ([[Binodini Das|Binodini]]), Sudhangsu Maiti ([[Swami Vivekananda|Narendranath]]), and others. Over 300 performances
| 1975 || ''Nata Nati'' || [[Ramakrishna|Sri Ramakrishna]]|| Rangana Theatre (Calcutta) || [[Ganesh Mukherjee]] || Ganesh Mukherjee || Source;<ref name=calcutheaters/>{{rp|342,688,777}} Kartick Banerjee ([[Girish Chandra Ghosh|Girish Gose]]), Basanti Chaterjee ([[Binodini Dasi|Binodini]]), Sudhangsu Maiti ([[Swami Vivekananda|Narendranath]]), and others. Over 300 performances
|-
|-
| Oct. 1977 || ''Rajadrohi'' || || Rungmahal || Saradindu Banerjee || || Source;<ref name=calcutheaters/>{{rp|322,688}} [[Dilip Kumar Roy|Dilip Roy]] (hero), Lily Chakraverti (heroine)
| Oct. 1977 || ''Rajadrohi'' || || Rungmahal || Saradindu Banerjee || || Source;<ref name=calcutheaters/>{{rp|322,688}} [[Dilip Kumar Roy|Dilip Roy]] (hero), Lily Chakraverti (heroine)

Revision as of 01:46, 3 February 2013

Gurudas Banerjee
Occupation(s)Actor (theatre and cinema); Head of theatrical company
Years active1940s to 1980s
SpouseMolina Devi
This article is about Gurudas Banerjee, the actor. For the judge, see Gooroodas Banerjee.

Gurudas Banerjee, also known as Gurudas Bandyopadhyay,[1] is a Bengali stage and film actor who was active from the 1940s through the 1980s.[2] As an actor, he commonly played holy men, especially the 19th century Bengali mystic Sri Ramakrishna, a role he was said to "almost monopolize." He acted in more than 80 films, mostly in Bengali. With his wife, actress Molina Devi, he also directed a Calcutta-based theatre troupe, M. G. Enterprises.

Biography

Gurudas Banerjee had his stage debut in 1948 at Calcutta's Kalika Theatre in the role of Sri Ramakrishna in Yugadevata.[3] He continued acting in theatre and cinema until the 1980s. Banerjee married Molina Devi (1917-1977), who has been characterized as "one of the finest actresses of Indian theatre and cinema."[4]: 275  Together, they operated their own touring theatre, M. G. Enterprises,[5]: 688  which "specialized in commercial productions of devotional drama" in which Banerjee played the role of Sri Ramakrishna and other holy men."[4]: 275 

Roles

Photo of Sri Ramakrishna, a role in which by Gurudas Banerjee was a "specialist" and that he "almost monopolized."[5]: 688 

Gurudas Banerjee acted in a variety of roles, very commonly as Sri Ramakrishna, which he played on both stage and in film. Other roles that Banerjee played in film included Sadhak Bamakhyapa (Joy Maa Tara, 1978),[6] Gobinda, Husband Of Chandi (Swayamsiddha, 1947), Ramola's Father (Sare Chuattar, 1953),[7] Jitu, Anita's Father (Ekti Raat, 1956),[7] Pishemashai (Indranath, Srikanta O Annadadidi, 1959), Neepa's Father (Mouchak, 1975),[7] and Agniswar's Father-in-law (Agniswar, 1975).[7]

From the 1950s through the 1970s, Gurudas Banerjee[8] commonly portrayed Ramakrishna in the Bengali Theatre and films. Beginning in the late 1940s, "he almost monopolized this role [as Ramakrishna] as a specialist, both on the stage and on the screen,"[5]: 688  and was still portraying Ramakrishna in the late-1970s.[3] Sushil Mukherjee explained that the drama Jugadevata, which debuted on the Calcutta stage on 19 November 1948,

was a devotional drama... on the life of the Saint of Dakshineswar [Ramakrishna] [that] became immensely popular and established two artistes who became wholly identified with the two characters they represented. These were Gurudas Banerjee who was seen as Sri Ramkrishna and Molina Debi who appeared as Rani Rasmoni, the founder of the famous Bhabatarini (Kali) temple at Dakshineswar. Since their appearance in Jugadevata at Kalika in 1948 Gurudas and Molina have appeared in the characters of these two persons in a number of other plays, both on the stage and on the screen....[5]: 288 

Films in which Banerjee played the role of Ramakrishna included Rani Rashmoni (1955), Mahakavi Girish Chandra (1956), Bireswar Vivekananda (1964), and Jata Mat Tata Path (1979). Theatrical plays in which Banerjee played Ramakrishna included Jugadebata (1948), Thakur Sri Ramakrishna (1955), and Nata Nati (1975).

Reception

Sushil Mukherjee stated that since 1948, in their many screen and stage appearances together as Ramakrishna and Rani Rashmoni, "Gurudas and Molina... have carried the audience with them in every performance."[5]: 288 

In 1966, the The Illustrated Weekly of India mentioned Banerjee's troupe's performance in a review of the 1965-66 theatre season in Delhi.[9] The Weekly stated that

Milan Samity of Delhi sponsored the M. G. Enterprise of Calcutta, who brought two plays, Thakur Shri Ramakrishna and Baskunther Will, and an able company of actors. The credit for composing Thakur Shri Ramakrishna, round the story of Rani Rashmoni, and for bringing this legendary figure to life on the stage, goes to Molina Devi and Gurudas, who headed the company.... It is not easy to put across a religious theme, but Molina and Gurudas did so convincingly, helped greatly by the telling effects of light and music.[9]

Filmography

Gurudas Banerjee acted in more than 80 films, mostly in Bengali, as listed here (including year released, and role if available; all films in Bengali unless otherwise noted):[10]

  • Banglar Meye (1941)[11]
  • Swayamsiddha (1947) (Gobinda, Husband Of Chandi[7])
  • Kalo Chhaya (1948)
  • Ultorath (1949)
  • Paribartan (1949)
  • Mayajaal (1949)
  • Kuasha (1949)
  • Cartoon (1949)
  • Vidyasagar (1950)
  • Sree Tulsidas (1950)
  • Sanchali (1950)
  • Sahodar (1950)
  • Kankantala Light Railway (1950)
  • Jugadebata (1950)
  • Gypsy Meye (1950)
  • Apabad (1950)
  • Ganyer Meye (1951)
  • Bhakta Raghunath (1951)
  • Bhairab Mantra (1951)
  • Anandamath (1951)
  • Vidyasagar (1952, Hindi)[11]
  • Sabitri Satyaban (1952)
  • Nildarpan (1952)
  • Mahishasur Badh (1952)
  • Sanjibani (1952)
  • Sarala (1953)
  • Rami Chandidas (1953)
  • Maharaja Nandakumar (1953)
  • Bhagaban Srikrishna Chaitanya (1953)
  • Sare Chuattar (1953) (Ramola's Father[7])
  • Makarsar Jaal (1953)[12]
  • Shibashakti (1954)
  • Sada Kalo (1954)
  • Naa (1954)
  • Rani Rashmoni (1955) (Sri Ramakrishna[6])
  • Katha Kao (1955)
  • Joy Maa Kali Boarding (1955)
  • Chatujye Banrujye (1955)
  • Atmadarshan (1955)
  • Aparadhi (1955)
  • Sajher Pradip (1955)
  • Debatra (1955)
  • Subholagna (1956)
  • Sadhak Ramprasad (1956)
  • Rajpath (1956)
  • Mahakabi Girishchandra (1956) (Sri Ramakrishna[6])
  • Bhola Master (1956)
  • Asamapta (1956)
  • Abhagir Swarga (1956)
  • Ekti Raat (1956) (Jitu, Anita's Father[7])
  • Tamasa (1957)
  • Nilachale Mahaprabhu (1957)
  • Ami Baro Habo (1957)
  • Sree Sree Maa (1958)
  • Sadhak Bamakshyapa (1958)
  • Purir Mandir (1958)
  • Mejo Jamai (1958)
  • Kangsa (1958)
  • Jonakir Alo (1958)
  • Indranath, Srikanta O Annadadidi (1959) (Pishemashai)
  • Abhishap (1959)
  • Tailangaswami (1960)
  • Nader Nimai (1960)
  • Kono Ek Din (1960)
  • Sadhak Kamalakanta (1961)
  • Carey Saheber Munsi (1961)
  • Taranisen Badh (1962)
  • Bireswar Viveknanda (1964) (Sri Ramakrishna[6])
  • Rup Sanatan (1965)
  • Bharater Sadhak (1965)
  • Debitirtha Kamrup Kamakshya (1967)
  • Adyashakti Mahamayay (1968)
  • Trinayani Maa (1971)
  • Umno O Jhumno (1975)
  • Swayamsiddha (1975)
  • Mouchak (1975) (Neepa's Father[7])
  • Agniswar (1975) (Agniswar's Father-in-law[7])
  • Nagar Darpane (1975)
  • Sree Sree Maa Lakshmi (1977)
  • Baba Taraknath (1977)
  • Jaal Sanyasi (1977)
  • Joy Maa Tara (1978) (Sadhak Bamakhyapa[6]])
  • Balak Saratchandra (1978)
  • Aguner Phulki (1978)
  • Jato Mat Tato Path (1979) (Sri Ramakrishna[6])
  • Dub De Mon Kali Bole (1979)
  • Matribhakta Ramprasad (1980)
  • Abhi (1980)
  • Maa Bhabani Maa Amar (1982)
  • Kshyapa Thakur (1987) (Mohanto baba[7])
  • Bile Naren (1988)

Grid with references

Further details on selected films (some viewable on YouTube), appear in the table below.[13]

Year Film Title Banerjee Role Film Director Notes (+YouTube, Database links)
1950 Jugadebata Sri Ramakrishna {needs confirmation} Bidhayak Bhattacharya Bengali; mentioned in p. 84 of Guptoo (2011) as "based on the [life of... saint Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansa"] CITWF Gomolo IMDB
1950 Vidyasagar Sri Ramakrishna {needs confirmation - Bengali-speaker please check youtube} Kali Prasad Ghosh Bengali; CITWF Gomolo IMDB
YOUTUBE (2:06:46)
1952 Vidyasagar Sri Ramakrishna {needs confirmation} Kali Prasad Ghosh Hindi; CITWF Gomolo IMDB
1955 Rani Rashmoni Sri Ramakrishna Kali Prasad Ghosh Bengali; CITWF Gomolo IMDB Molina Devi as Rani Rashmoni
1955 Swami Vivekananda Sri Ramakrishna {???} Amar Mullick Bengali; CITWF Gomolo IMDB
1956 Sadhak Bamakhyapa {help - Bengali-speaker please check youtube} Banshi Ash Bengali; CITWF Gomolo IMDB

YOUTUBE (Part 1) (Part 2)

1956 Mahakavi Girish Chandra Sri Ramakrishna Madhu Bose Bengali; CITWF Gomolo IMDB Pahadi SanyalIMDB as Girish Chandra Ghosh {Gomolo has story, slightly different title}
1964 Bireswar Vivekananda Sri Ramakrishna Madhu Bose Bengali; CITWF Gomolo IMDB Amaresh Das as Vivekananda
YOUTUBE (Part 1 (1:05:49), Part 2 (1:04:16) no subtitles)
1977 Praner Thakur Ramkrishna Sri Ramakrishna {???} Niranjan Dey Bengali; CITWF Gomolo IMDB {Bengali speaker needed to verify is indeed about SRK}
1979 Jata Mat Tata Path (As Many Views, As Many Ways) Sri Ramakrishna Gurudas Bagchi Bengali; CITWF Gomolo IMDB
YOUTUBE (2:03:38, English subtitles)
1982 Shri Shri Ramakrishna Kathamrita Sri Ramakrishna {???} Bikash Goswami Bengali; CITWF Gomolo IMDB {Gomolo has story}
?? Ramakrishna Paramhansa Bengali;
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
{Is this the same as 1982 Kathamrita film? Bengali-fluent editor needed!}
1983 Jini Ram Tini Krishno Ek-i Dehe Ramkrishna Sri Ramakrishna {???} Niranjan Dey Bengali; CITWF Gomolo IMDB

Theatre roles

The following table chronicles Gurudas Banerjee's stage career. It is not complete.

Opening date Title Role Location
Calcutta unless otherwise specified		 Playwright Director Notes and other cast
19 Nov. 1948 Jugadebata Sri Ramakrishna Kalika Theatre (Calcutta) Tarak Mukherjee Source;[5]: 688  Also Molina Debi (Rani Rashmoni)
1955 Thakur Sri Ramakrishna Sri Ramakrishna Minerva Theatre (Calcutta) Source;[5]: 292  Also Molina Debi (Rani Rashmoni). Part of a state Congress celebration
1975 Nata Nati Sri Ramakrishna Rangana Theatre (Calcutta) Ganesh Mukherjee Ganesh Mukherjee Source;[5]: 342, 688, 777  Kartick Banerjee (Girish Gose), Basanti Chaterjee (Binodini), Sudhangsu Maiti (Narendranath), and others. Over 300 performances
Oct. 1977 Rajadrohi Rungmahal Saradindu Banerjee Source;[5]: 322, 688  Dilip Roy (hero), Lily Chakraverti (heroine)

References

  1. ^ Ananda Lal The Oxford companion to Indian theatre 2004- Page 275 "Trained in acting by Aparesh *Mukhopadhyay, she debuted in a silent movie as an 8- year-old. She began her stage career, like many of ... She teamed up with Gurudas Bandyopadhyay, her second husband, to form a troupe, M. G. Enterprise, which specialized in commercial productions of devotional drama where he enacted Ramakrishna and other holy men. She made quite a stir as the lead in the ..."
  2. ^ Sushil Kumar Mukherjee, Suśīla Mukhopādhyāẏa The story of the Calcutta theatres, 1753-1980 (1982), Page 342: "The cast included Gurudas Banerjee (Ramakrishna), Kartick Banerjee (Girish Ghose), Santosh Dutt (Danakali), ... "
  3. ^ a b Gurudas Banerjee played Ramakrishna in the film Jata Mat Tata Path (1979). Mukherjee's (1982) Story states that Gurudas Banerjee was "a popular actor [who] made his stage debut at Kalika in the late-forties of the [20th] century appearing as Sri Ramakrishna in Yugadevata (1948). Since then he has almost monopolized the role as a specialist, both on the stage and on the screen. His recent appearance in this role was in Nata Nati at Rangana (1975).... He has his own touring theatre, M. G. Enterprise..." (p. 688)
  4. ^ a b Lal, Ananda (2004). The Oxford companion to Indian theatre. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195644468.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mukherjee, Sushil Kumar (1982). The Story of the Calcutta Theatres, 1753-1980. Calcutta: K.P. Bagchi.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Role given by IMDB
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Role given by Gomolo
  8. ^ http://vidgrids.com/gurudas-bandopadhaya
  9. ^ a b G. S. Khosla (1966). "Theatre in the Capital". The Illustrated Weekly of India. 87 (2): 59. ISSN 0019-2430. OCLC 6772824.
  10. ^ Listed in Gomolo except as noted.
  11. ^ a b IMDB only (not Gomolo)
  12. ^ CITWF only (not Gomolo)
  13. ^ Information in the table of selected films is derived, as noted in the final column, from film entries in YouTube, or from Gurudas Banerjee at IMDB, Gomolo, or CITWF.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Gurudas_Banerjee&oldid=536284179"