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{{Short description|Indian film producer (1901–1980)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = B. N. Sircar (Birendranath Sircar)
| image = Birendranath Sircar 2013 stamp of India.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Sircar on a 2013 stamp of India
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 5 July 1901
| birth_place = [[Bhagalpur]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1980|11|28|1901|7|5}}
| death_place = [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], India
| parents = [[Nripendra Nath Sircar]] (father)
| citizenship = India
| relatives = [[Peary Charan Sarkar]] (great-grandfather)
| education = [[University of London]]
| occupation = [[film producer]]
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]] (1972) [[Dada Saheb Phalke Award]] (1970)
| years_active =
}}

'''Birendranath Sircar''' (also '''Sarkar'''; 5 July 1901 – 28 November 1980) was an Indian [[film producer]] and the founder of [[New Theatres Calcutta]]. He made [[Bengali language|Bengali-language]] films that were noted for introducing many film directors who later became famous. He was awarded the [[Dada Saheb Phalke Award]] in 1970 and the third highest civilian award in India, the [[Padma Bhushan]], in 1972.<ref name=Cine>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cinemanthan.info/index.php/2011/03/bnsircar/ |title=B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की नींव के एक निर्माता {{!}} Cine Manthan |access-date=8 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416023142/http://www.cinemanthan.info/index.php/2011/03/bnsircar/ |archive-date=16 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Early life==
B. N. Sircar was born in [[Bhagalpur]] to the then [[Advocate-General of Bengal]], [[Nripendra Nath Sircar|Sir Nripendra Nath Sircar]]. He was the grandson of Nagendra Nath Sircar, and great-grandson of [[Peary Charan Sarkar]], the principal of [[Hare School]], Calcutta. After completing his study at [[Hindu School, Kolkata]], he studied Engineering at the [[University of London]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Engineering's loss, cinema's gain: BN Sircar and his New Theatres |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/engineerings-loss-cinemas-gain-bn-sircar-and-his-new-threatres/cid/2060084 |first=Trinanjan |last=Chakraborty |date=2024-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210083856/https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/engineerings-loss-cinemas-gain-bn-sircar-and-his-new-threatres/cid/2060084 |archive-date=2024-12-10 |access-date=2025-01-09 |newspaper=The Telegraph|location=Kolkata |language=en}}</ref> and on returning to India he was asked to build a cinema. The project caused him to develop a keen interest in film and he proceeded to build a cinema for the screening of Bengali-language films. Called Chitra, this was opened in Calcutta by [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] on 30 December 1930 and was followed by the construction of New Cinema, which showed Hindi films.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Gulzar|editor1-link=Gulzar|editor2-last=Nihalani|editor2-first=Govind|editor2-link=Govind Nihalani|editor3-last=Chatterjee|editor3-first=Saibal|title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema|year=2003|publisher=Popular Prakashan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC|isbn=978-81-7991-066-5|page=632}}</ref> He then decided to involve himself in making of two silent films.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}

==Career==
On 10 February 1931,{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} he founded [[New Theatres Calcutta]]. He was the President of the [[Diptendu Pramanick#Career|BMPA]] in the late 1940s<ref name=Cine/><ref>Bagiswar Jha : B.N. Sircar : A monograph; Seagull Books, Calcutta (1990)</ref>

==Filmography==
Sircar's films include:<ref>{{cite book|last=Sur|first=Ansu|title=[[Bengali film directory]]|editor=Ansu Sur|publisher=Nandan, Calcutta|year=1999|page=319}}</ref><ref name=Mukherjee>{{cite web|last1=Mukherjee|first1=Partha, Priyanka|title=New Awakening|url=http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=18495&index1=1|website=harmonyindia.org|publisher=harmonyindia.org|access-date=24 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120750/http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=18495&index1=1|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=34em}}
* ''[[Dena Paona(Film)|Dena Paona]]'' (Released 30 December 1931) – Directed by [[Premankur Atarthi]]
* ''[[Natir Puja]]'' (Released 22 March 1932)
* ''[[Punarjanma (1932 film)|Punarjanma]]'' (Released 2 April 1932) – Directed by [[Premankur Atarthi]]
* ''[[Mohabbat Ke Ansu]]'' Urdu, (Released 1932) – Directed by [[Premankur Atarthi]]
* ''[[Zinda Lash (1932 film)|Zinda Lash]]'' Urdu, (Released 1932) – Directed by [[Premankur Atarthi]]
* ''[[Chirakumar Sabha]]'' (Released 28 May 1932) – Directed by [[Premankur Atarthi]]
* ''[[Pallisamaj]]'' (Released 1 July 1932) – Directed by [[Sisir Bhaduri]]
* ''[[Chandidas (film)|Chandidas]]'' (Released 24 September 1932) – Directed by [[Debaki Bose]]
* ''[[Kapalkundala (1933 film)|Kapalkundala]]'' (Released 20 May 1933) – Directed by [[Premankur Atarthi]]
* ''[[Mastuto Bhai]] (short)'' (Released 20 May 1933) – Directed by [[Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay]]
* ''[[Sita (bangla film)|Sita]]'' (Released 26 October 1933) – Directed by [[Sisir Bhaduri]]
* ''[[Mirabai (bangla film)|Mirabai]]'' (Released 11 November 1933) – Directed by [[Debaki Bose]]
* ''[[Excuse Me Sir]] (short)'' (Released 30 March 1934) – Directed by [[Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay]]
* ''[[Ruplekha (film)|Ruplekha]]'' (Released 14 April 1934) – Directed by [[P.C. Barua]]
* ''[[P.Brothers]] (Cartoon)'' (Released 23 June 1934) – Directed by [[Raichand Boral]]
* ''[[Mahua (bangla film)|Mahua]]'' (Released 31 August 1934) – Directed by Hiren Bose
* ''[[Devdas (1935 film)|Devdas]]'' (Released 30 March 1935) – Directed by [[Nitin Bose]]
* ''[[Abaseshe]] (short)'' (Released 24 August 1935) – Directed by Dineshranjan Das
* ''[[Bhagyachakra]]'' (Released 3 October 1935) – Directed by [[Nitin Bose]]
* ''[[Grihadaha]]'' (Released 10 October 1936) – Directed by [[P.C. Barua]]
* ''[[Mando Ki]] (short)'' (Released 21 October 1936) – Directed by [[Tulsi Lahiri]]
* ''[[Maya (1936 film)|Maya]]'' (Released 23 December 1936) – Directed by [[P.C. Barua]]
* ''[[Didi (1937 film)|Didi]]'' (Released 3 April 1937) – Directed by [[Nitin Bose]]
* ''[[Mukti (1937 film)|Mukti]]'' (Released 18 September 1937) – Directed by [[P.C. Barua]]
* ''[[Arghya]] (short)'' (Released 25 September 1937)
* ''[[Bidyapati]]'' (Released 2 April 1938) – Directed by [[Debaki Bose]]
* ''[[Abhignan]]'' (Released 11 June 1938) – Directed by [[Prafulla Ray]]
* ''[[Desher mati]]'' (Released 17 August 1938) – Directed by [[Nitin Bose]]
* ''[[Achinpriya]]'' (Released 29 October 1938) – Directed by [[Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay]]
* ''[[Sathi (1938 film)|Sathi]]'' (Released 3 December 1938) – Directed by [[Phani Majumdar]]
* ''[[Adhikar (1939 film)|Adhikar]]'' (Released 12 January 1939) – Directed by [[P.C. Barua]]
* ''[[Baradidi]]'' (Released 7 April 1939) – Directed by Amar Mullik
* ''[[Sapure]]'' (Released 27 May 1939) – Directed by [[Debaki Bose]]
* ''[[Rajat Jayanti]]'' (Released 12 August 1939) – Directed by [[P.C. Barua]]
* ''[[Jiban Maran]]'' (Released 14 October 1939) – Directed by [[Nitin Bose]]
* ''[[Parajoy]]'' (Released 22 March 1940) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra
* ''[[Daktar (film)|Daktar]]'' (Released 31 August 1940) – Directed by [[Phani Majumdar]]
* ''[[Abhinetri (1940 film)|Abhinetri]]'' (Released 30 November 1940) – Directed by Amar Mullik
* ''[[Nartaki (1941 film)|Nartaki]]'' (Released 18 January 1941) – Directed by [[Debaki Bose]]
* ''[[Parichoy]]'' (Released 25 April 1941) – Directed by [[Nitin Bose]]
* ''[[Pratishruti]]'' (Released 14 August 1941) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra
* ''[[Shodhbodh]]'' (Released 28 March 1942) – Directed by Soumen Mukhopadhyay
* ''[[Minakshi (1942 film)|Minakshi]]'' (Released 12 June 1942) – Directed by Madhu Bose
* ''[[Priyo Bandhabi]]'' (Released 23 January 1943) – Directed by Soumen Mukhopadhyay
* ''[[Kashinath (1943 film)|Kashinath]]'' (Released 2 April 1943) – Directed by [[Nitin Bose]]
* ''[[Dikshul]]'' (Released 12 June 1943) – Directed by [[Premankur Atarthi]]
* ''[[Udayer Pathey]]'' (Released 1 September 1944) – Directed by [[Bimal Roy]]
* ''[[Dui Purush (1945 film)|Dui Purush]]'' (Released 30 August 1945) – Directed by Subodh Mitra
* ''[[Biraj Bou]]'' (Released 5 July 1946) – Directed by Amar Mullik
* ''[[Nurse Sisi]]'' (Released 27 April 1947) – Directed by Subodh Mitra
* ''[[Ramer Sumati]]'' (Released 24 December 1947) – Directed by Kartik Chattopadhyay
* ''[[Pratibad (1948 film)|Pratibad]]'' (Released 19 June 1948) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra
* ''[[Anjangarh]]'' (Released 24 September 1948) – Directed by [[Bimal Roy]]
* ''[[Mantramugdha]]'' (Released 14 January 1949) – Directed by [[Bimal Roy]]
* ''[[Bishnupriya]]'' (Released 7 October 1949) – Directed by Hemchandra Chandra
* ''[[Rupkatha (film)|Rupkatha]]'' (Released 13 October 1950) – Directed by Soren Sen
* ''[[Ami Aadu|Aadur Prem]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=The NEW THEATRES is Back with ADUR PREM Bengali Movie {{!}} CalcuttaTube |first=Shoma A. |last=Chatterji |url=http://calcuttatube.com/the-new-theatres-is-back-with-adur-prem-46847/46847/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227145904/http://calcuttatube.com/the-new-theatres-is-back-with-adur-prem-46847/46847/ |archive-date=2011-02-27 |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=calcuttatube.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 2011 – Directed by Somnath Gupta
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[Cinema of India]]
* B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की बुनियाद के एक सर्जक<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cinemanthan.com/2013/10/04/bnsircar/|title=B.N. Sircar : भारतीय सिनेमा के विकास की बुनियाद के एक सर्जक|date=4 October 2013|accessdate=24 January 2026}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071216181737/http://www.kundanlalsaigal.com/ www.kundanlalsaigal.com – Comprehensive Resource Website, offering preview of all his songs.]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190508142530/http://pankajmullick.com/ www.pankajmullick.com – Comprehensive Resource Website, offering preview of his songs.]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170702031948/http://www.krishnachandradey.com/ www.krishnachandradey.com – Comprehensive Resource Website, offering preview of his songs.]
*[http://www.kanandevi.com www.kanandevi.com]
* {{IMDb name|0086351}}
* [http://members.tripod.com/oldies_club/new_theatres_calcutta.htm Musicians]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080204210951/http://www.calcuttaweb.com/cinema/cinema.shtml A short history] of [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali cinema]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090530020703/http://www.ultraindia.com/movies/awards/bnsin.htm A Biography of B N Sircar]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212014/http://www.cssaame.com/issues/23/variorum.pdf An article on New Theatres by Sharmistha Gooptu]

{{Dadasaheb Phalke Award}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1970–79}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sircar, B. N.}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindus]]
[[Category:Bengali film producers]]
[[Category:Film producers from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipients]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]

Birendranath Sircar - Revision history

BanglaBlog at 08:16, 24 January 2026