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Kali Films/ Technicians’ Studio

Kali Films/ Technicians’ Studio


Address: Tollygunje

Years Active: 1934-present

First Film: Sabitri (under the banner of India Film Industries)

Language: 
Bengali

Director: 
Naresh Mitra

Released on:
 04.11.33 at Crown

It was indeed a long journey from India Film Industries to Kali Films and then to Technicians’ Studio. Priyanath Gangopadhyay was not satisfied even after forming the East India Studio when he severed ties with the Madans. Subsequently, he quit East India to form India Film Industries. This studio was located on the left-hand side of the road, if one walked a little ahead of the Tollygunje tram depot towards Karunamoyee. Gangopadhyay did not have the financial backing to build a full-fledged studio. Yet, he did not give up on his dreams. Instead, he started work and the first film was released in April of 1933. It was called Sabitri. The next production was Bilwamangal. It was released in December, 1933. 
Tragedy struck Gangopadhyay just when the affairs at the studio were starting to look bright. Son Kalidhan, who was preparing to go abroad, suddenly passed away in February 1934. It was in his memory that India Film Industries was named as Kali Films. Reenmukti, Taruni, Tulsidas and Patalpuri — came one after another. The likes of Jyotish Mukhopadhyay, Sushil Majumdar and Sukumar Dasgupta came to make films. Editor Jyotish Mukhopadhyay’s directorial debut happened at this studio. Of course, Gangopadhyay was already there. Along with Bengali films, Hindi (Modern Lady, Ashiana), Odiya (Prasha, Sitar Bibaha), Urdu (Amina), Tamil (Gul Bakawali) films were also made.
Kali Films was turned into a limited company in 1939. The next year, Gangopadhyay left Kolkata on health grounds after relinquishing his responsibility of running the studio. During his absence, Kali Films lost out on strengthening its home productions. The studio was mostly given out on rent to other productions. However, this did not continue for long and the studio had to down its shutters. An elderly Gangopadhyay had to get the High Court to intervene and regain his access to the studio. But the future of the studio became uncertain. That is when a few young technicians came forward. In 1951, Ashutosh Nag, Durgadas Mitra, Kalyan Maitra and Ramananda Sengupta jointly bought over the studio from the receiver. The property was renamed as Technicians’ Studio. Sound recordist Satyen Chattopadhyay joined in with assistants Debesh Ghosh and Mrinal Guhathakurta. Technicians’ Studio started its new journey thereafter.
The situation changed again in the 1970s. The expenses for electricity and other overheads led to a financial crisis. The amount of loans increased. The owner of the land on which the studio was built went to court. He wanted to evict the cinemawallahs. Answering the pleas of the technicians, the Left Front government took over the studio in 1979. It has been renovated by the TMC government and is still running well.

Selected Bengali Filmography
These movies were produced by Kali Films and shot at Kali Films Studio:Sabitri (1933, India Film Industries’ banner), Bilwamangal (1933, India Film Industries’ banner), Reenmukti (1934), Taruni (1934), Patalpuri (1935), Prafulla (1935), Bidyasundar (1935), Biraha (1935), Annapurnar Mandir (1936), Kalparinoy (1936), Kachi Sangsad (1937), Muktisnan (1937), Talkie of Talkies (1937), Sarbojanin Bibahotsab (1938), Chanakya (1939), Banglar Meye (1941).

These movies were shot in Kali Films Studio:Mantrashakti (1935), Panditmasai (1936), Imposter (1937), Rajagi (1937), Chokher Bali (1938), Debi Fullara (1938), Parineeta (1942), Swamir Ghar (1943), Bideshini (1944), Nandita (1944), Abhinoy Noy (1945), Path Bendhe Dilo (1945), Mouchake Dhil (1946), Saat Number Bari (1946), Tumi Aar Ami (1946), Burmar Pathe (1947), Swapno O Sadhana (1947), Samapika (1948), Baikunther Will (1950), ’42 (1951).

These films were shot at Technicians’ Studio:Nagarik (1952, wasn’t released then), Bindur Chhele (1952), Natun Ihudi (1953), Debatra (1955), Shapmochan (1955), Ajantrik (1958), Indrani (1958), Parash Pather (1958), Rajlakshmi O Srikanta (1958), Apur Sansar (1959), Chao Paoa (1959), Debi (1960), Ganga (1960), Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960), Shesh Paryanta (1960), Komal Gandhar (1961), Teen Kanya (1961), Benarasi (1962), Kancher Swarga (1962), Nishithe (1963), Palatak (1963), Subarnarekha (1965), Shudhu Ekti Bachchar (1966), Chowrangee (1968), Panchashar (1968), Tin Bhubaner Pare (1969), Ekhane Pinjar (1971), Memsaheb (1972, jointly with NT2), Nagar Darpane (1975), Dadar Kirti (1980), Mohonar Dike (1983, jointly with Indrapuri Studio), Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985, jointly with NT1), Parama (1985, jointly with Indrapuri Studio), Jar Je Priyo (1987), Sujan Sakhi (1995), Paromitar Ekdin (2000), Alo (2003).

Did You Know?

Most of Ritwik Ghatak’s films were shot here. The list includes Nagarik, Ajantrik, Meghe Dhaka Tara, Komal Gandhar, Subarnarekha and Jukti Takko Aar Gappo. It was the early days Technicians' Studio when Nagarik was being shot there. Some equipment sold by Kali Films were  again bought at an auction. A camera and a few lights were arranged to shoot Nagarik. That camera was later taken on rent to shoot Pather Panchali.

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