Chandrabati Devi

Actor · born 19 October 1909 · Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India

Chandrabati Devi defied societal norms, pursuing a career in Hindi and Bengali cinema. Born on 19th October 1909, in Muzaffarpur, she moved to Kolkata, where she graduated in Bengali literature and trained in music under the guidance of Dinendranath Tagore. Her entry into the silent film industry was facilitated by her husband, Bimal Pal, with whom she founded 'Movie Pictures', making her debut in the silent film "Piyari" ' (1929), being catapulted to stardom and possibly becoming the first female film producer in Bengal. Despite challenges, she earned acclaim for roles like Meera in Debaki Bose's cult classic "Meerabai" (1933), Chandramukhi in the 1935 cult classic "Devdas", and "Dakshayagna", with her portrayal of Saratchandra Chattopadhyay’s heroines leaving a lasting impact.

As her career progressed, she transitioned to character roles, with memorable performances in "Agni Pariksha" and "Ami Sirajer Begum". A talented writer and editor, Chandrabati remained committed to the purity of art throughout her life. She died on 22nd April, 1992.

Where to start: Jiban Jigyasa (1971).