Who is Hiralal Sen?
Many of us watch
Bengali films. But never asked myself who is the creator of Bengali film? Most
of our young generations do not know about him. Let's know anything important
about Hiralal Sen.
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| Hiralal Sen: The Father of Bengali Film |
Today is Hiralal Sen's
birthday (August 2, 1868). He is the creator of Bengali film. Hiralal Sen was
an independent Bengali filmmaker. He was born in the village called Bogjuri in Manikganj.
In fact, he is the first Bengali filmmaker in the Indian subcontinent. The
first time when scientist Thomas Alva Edison invented the kinetoscope in
1889, several years after Edison's kinetoscope was spread across the world
under different names. News of the first film exhibition was published in the
Indian subcontinent on December 27 1895, in the Indian Daily News. At that
time, film technology is spreading all over the world. For example, in
November, the bioscope was shown in Germany and the cinematoscope
was shown on December, 1895. In India, kinetoscope, bioscope and cinematograph
instruments continue to emerge slowly. Hiralal Sen made his first film in 1896.
He founded the Royal Bioscope Company in 1898. Hiralal Sen started photography
in Dhaka and later went to Calcutta and got the gold medal for the first time
in the photography exhibition competition 'Rampat to Hooghly at sunset'.
The news was then published in the Times of India. In 1903, he directed films
like 'Alibaba and the Forty Thor', 'Coronation Durbar',
documentary, 'Moner Moton' and 'Sonar Swapan'. Then it took a lot
of labor to shoot because one reel would end soon. Each reel could hold for 8
minutes. In 1904, he produced films like 'Bengali Dhivar' and 'Prison
Boy'. Hiralal Sen made a documentary on the indigenous movement against the
partition of Bengal in 1905. In 1909, Hiralal Sen made a film called ‘Vagabond’,
based on the story of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay. When the Royal Bioscope
Company was dissolved in 1910, Motilal took charge of the company. Hiralal Sen
established a theater called 'Show House'. In 1911, he produced a
documentary. But in 1913, Hiralal Sen suffered from cancer. During this time
crisis came down in his life. He was in dire financial crisis. On May 19, 1917,
all the prints of Hiralal Sen were destroyed in the fire. He breathed his last
in Kolkata on October 26, 1917. Currently, there are no copies of Hiralal Sen's
film. There is no writing about him. Today is August 2, his birthday. But on
his birthday there is no commemoration ceremony; Bangla Academy or Film
Institute or Bangladesh Film Development Corporation does not seem to be
organizing any event with his memory. No one remembers him. He is the father of
film in Bangladesh. But there is no writing or research about him. If you want
to describe the history of Bangladeshi film, you have to name his first. Yet,
he has no existence in us.
'Birthday wishes! Wherever
you are, be at peace, the father of Bengali cinema '.
Source: Internet, Daily Prothom-Alo and Filmfree
Source: Internet, Daily Prothom-Alo and Filmfree
