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| Cinema of Bihar | |
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| No. ofscreens | 269 |
| Produced feature films (2019) | |
| Total | 150 |
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| Culture of Bihar |
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Thecinema of Bihar, a state in eastern India, primarily consists of films in theBhojpuri language.Bihar also has smallerMaithili- andMagahi-language film industries. Cinema in the state began during the early 20th century.
Bihar's film industry began during the early years of the 20th century, whenJamshedji Framji Madan acquired the Elphinstone Theatre Company ofBombay in 1902 and converted it into the Elphinstone Bioscope Company. The Elphinstone Theatre inPatna (Bihar's capital) became the Elphinstone Cinema, screening short silent films until the advent of sound. The cinema exists under different ownership after the Madan family's economic collapse during the1930s. Another silent-film cinema in Patna closed in 1931, early in the sound era. The city's first sound theatre, in the southwestern Babu Bazar, opened withVeer Abhimanyu in 1933 or 1934. The theatre was destroyed by a fire caused by flammablenitrate film, and was never rebuilt.
The first Bihari film was the silentPunarjanma (Life Divine) with Arati Devi, A. K. Prosad, Pratima Devi, and N. G. Bhattacharya. It was produced by Raja Rana Jagarnnath Prasad Singh.[1] Arati Devi, who was Jewish, was 19 years old when she made the film. Born Rachel Sofaer inRangoon in 1912, she moved with her family toCalcuttac. 1923. Devi had made only one other film a year before (1930'sA Man Condemned), and her career ended when she married Sassoon Jonah in 1933. She died in childbirth in April 1948.
Prakash Jha made his feature-film debut with 1984'sHip Hip Hurray, a Hindi film shot inJharkhand (then part of Bihar) and produced inBombay.Patang was directed byGoutam Ghose. By May 2012, more than 150 completed films were awaiting release.
Bhaiyaa, the first film of Bihar with sound was a Magahi-language film, was released in 1961 directed byPhani Majumdar.[citation needed] The first Bhojpuri-language film,Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chhadhaibo, was made in 1962 and released the following year. Bhojpuri and Maghi were spoken in earlier films such asGunga Jumna andNadiya Ke Paar, however. Films such asLaagi Nahi Chhute Ram andBideshiya were popular inBhojpur district.
Bollywood'sNadiya Ke Paar is one of the best-known Bhojpuri-language films.[citation needed] The firstMaithili-language film was 1965'sKanyadan, directed by Phani Majumdar.[2] The film, about a man who decides to learn Maithili because it is his wife's only language, is based onHarimohan Jha's novelKanyadaan.Bhauji Maay andMamta Gaave Geet (directed by C. Parmanand) were also popular; the latter is noted for its music and plot.Sasta Jingi Mahag Senur (directed by Muarli Dhar and released in 1999) was a successfulMaithili film, with songs byMd. Aziz,Sadhana Sargam,Udit Narayan and Deepa Narayan.
Another successful Maithili film,Kakhan Harab Dukh Mor, was based on the life of the Maithil poetVidyapati. Phool Singh played the lead role, with music by Gyaneshwar Dubey.Other Maithili films includeSenurak Laaj andDularua Babu. Ashu-Priya Productions' unsuccessfulAau Piya Hamar Nagari was released in 2000. Murli Dhar directed 90 percent of the film, and Manikant Mishra completed it.
The Maithili filmSindurdan was released in November 2007, but was withdrawn from theatres due to sound problems.Senuriya, directed by B.D. Prasad Chaudhary with music by Gyaneshwar Dubey, is dubbed from Tamil into Maithili. Surya and Diva Shree starred, and Rami Reddy played the antagonist.
Banner Dev Kala Arts and A. Y. Movies' 2005Garibak Beti, directed byManoj Jha and produced by Ajay Yash, was a low-budget Maithili success; Jha's next film was 2010'sMayak Karz, for the same producers. Two successful Maithili films were released in 2011:Sajana Ke Anagana Me Solah Singaar (directed by Murli Dhar) andMukhiya Jee (directed by Vikash Jha). Another successful Maithili film,An Ideal Lady - Ramaulwali (directed by Niraj Yadav and Randhir Singh), was released in November 2014.
The Maithili filmGamak Ghar premiered at theJio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in October 2019, the first Maithili film selected for the festival. Cited as the region's firstart film from the region, it had a positive reception at the festival and on the streaming serviceMubi.[3]
ThePatna Film Festival is aninternational film festival with participants fromIran,Canada,China,Japan,Sweden,Germany,Russia, theU.S. andIndia. Since 2006, it has been organized by of Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, theNational Film Development Corporation (NFDC), theNational Film Archive of India, theFederation of Film Societies of India and thestate government.
Mini-film festivals were organized by Patna's Cine-Society during the summer and winter from 1973 to 1989; the last festival featuredCharlie Chaplin films to celebrate his centenary. Cine-Society aided the government of India and cultural organizations such as the Bihar Art Theater. Facing competition from video, broadcast and satellite television, the society screens about twelve feature and four documentary films from around the world each month, organizes film-appreciation workshops and discussions, publishes a monthly newsletter and continues assisting governmental and non-governmental groups in organizing one or two mini-film festivals annually.
Two film cities were proposed in 2014:Rajgir Film City and a second film city in Valmikinagar.[4] In 2017, Rajgir project was still in development.[5]
| 2021 Indian feature films certified by theCentral Board of Film Certification[6] Note: The actual number of films produced may be less. | |
| Language | No. of films |
|---|---|
| Bhojpuri | 104 |
| Maithili | 2 |
| Total | 106 |
Bhojpuri language films, targeting residents of western Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, also have a large audience inDelhi and Mumbai due to the migration of Bhojpuri speakers to these cities. In addition to India, markets for these films developed among the Bhojpuri-speaking populations of theWest Indies, Oceania and South America.[7]
Bhojpuri cinema began in 1962 withGanga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (Mother Ganges, I Will Offer You a Yellow Sari), directed by Kundan Kumar.[citation needed] Although few films were produced over the next two decades,Bidesiya (Foreigner, 1963, directed byS. N. Tripathi) andGanga (Ganges, 1965, directed by Kumar) were successful.
The 2001 filmSaiyyan Hamar (My Sweetheart, directed by Mohan Prasad), madeRavi Kissan a star.[8] This was followed by several other successes, including 2005'sPanditji Batai Na Biyah Kab Hoi (Priest, Tell Me When I Will Marry, directed by Prasad) andSasura Bada Paisa Wala (My Father-in-Law, the Rich Guy). Both did better in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar than mainstream Bollywood hits, and earned more than ten times their production costs.[9] Although smaller than other Indian film industries, the success of Bhojpuri cinema spawned an awards show[10] and the trade magazineBhojpuri City.[11]
Kanyadan released in 1965, was the first full-length Maithili-language film.[12] A number of Maithili-language films have been made,[13] andMithila Makhaan received a Best Maithili Film award in the language section of the 2017National Film Awards.[14]
Sabrang Film Awards is held annually recognising films made inBhojpuri language.
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