Tapan Sinha (তপন সিন্‌হা), born in Kolkata on 2nd October 1924, is a well respected Bengali Indian film director. He is arguably the most uncompromising filmmaker outside the orbit of parallel cinema. His awe-inspiring body of work can possibly be matched by only a Mrinal Sen or a Satyajit Ray. Tapan Sinha’s works have won 19 National Film Awards in various categories. His films have also won laurels in International Film Festivals of Berlin, Venice, London, Moscow, San Francisco, Locarno, Cork Festival in Ireland Kampuchea and Seoul. He has also served as a member of the jury in film festivals at Tashkent and San Francisco among others. Although he is primarily based in the Bengali film industry, he has also made films in different languages like Hindi and Oriya in the past. His wife was another famous Bengali Indian actress Arundhati Devi. Their son is notable Indian scientist Professor Anindya Sinha.

Awards

Some important awards won by his films are:

• Kabulliwalaah(1956), based on a story by Rabindranath Tagore, won the Music Award at the Berlin Film Festival, demonstrating his sharp sensitivity.
• Ek Doctor Ki Maut(Death of a Doctor)(1991), won National Award for Second Best Film, Best Director, 1991/ Special Jury Award for Best Actor, 1991/ BFJA Awards - Best Film, Best Director, 1991/ 37th Film Fare Award for Best Screenplay, 1991/ Red Cross Film Festival, Sofia (Bulgaria), 1991
• He has been selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2008 for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema on 21 July 2008.

Filmography

A list of movies directed by Tapan Sinha are:

• Ankush (1954)
• Upahaar (1955)
• Tonsil (1956)
• Kabuliawala (1957)
• Lauha Kapat (1958)
• Kala Mati (1958)
• Khaniker Atithi (1959)
• Khudhito Pashan (1960)
• Jhinder Bandi (1961)
• Hansuli Banker Upakatha (1962)
• Nirjan Saikate (1963)
• Jatugriha (1964)
• Arohi (1964)
• Atithi (1965)
• Galpo Holeo Satti (1966)
• Hate Bazare (1967)
• Aapan Jon (1968)
• Sagina Mahato (1970)
• Sasina (1970)
• Ekhani (1971)
• Zindagi Zindagi (1972)
• Aandhar Periye (1973)
• Raja (1975)
• Harmonium (1976)
• Ek Je Chhilo Desh (1977)
• Safed Haathi (1978)
• Sabuj Dwiper Raja (1979)
• Banchharamer- Bagan (1980)
• Adalat O Ekti Meye (1982)
• Admi Aur Aurat (1982)
• Manush (1983)
• Didi (1984)
• Baidurya Rahasya (1985)
• Atanka (1986)
• Aaj Ka Rabinhood (1987)
• Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1991)
• Antardhaan (1992)
• Wheel Chair (1994)
• Satabdir Kanya (1996)
• Ajab Gnayer Ajab Katha (1999)
• Anokhi Moti (2000)

External links

• Tapan Sinha at the Internet Movie Database
• Tapan Sinha: Saluting The Indomitable Human Spirit
• The Films of Tapan Sinha
• Tapan Sinha at calcuttaweb.com