Bidhayak Bhattacharya

Bidhayak Bhattacharya was a renowned Indian novelist, playwright, and actor whose major contributions were in the Bengali language. At the time of birth, he was named Bagalaranjan. He was born on 7th February 1907 in Ziaganj in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal under the British Raj. His father was Hariharan Bhattacharya. It was the Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore who gave him the new name ‘Bidhayak’ in 1937. He cleared the entrance exam of Raja Bijoy Singh Vidyamandir of Ziaganj. Later, he came to Calcutta in 1929. He joined as a journalist in the popular daily Amrita Bazar Patrika.

He also participated in theatre plays and rose to fame after the release of Meghmukti in 1938. Meghmukti was first shown at Rangmahal Theatre in Calcutta. His other notable works and plays included Matir Ghar (1939), Bish Bachhar Age (1940), Rakter Dak (1941), Tumi o Ami (1941), Chirantani (1942), Rajpath (1949), Khabar Balchhi (1950), Ksudha (1956), Anthony Kaviyal (1966), Nati Vinodini (1969), Khelaghar, Tahar Namti Ranjana, Ujan Yatra, and Kanna Hasir Pala. Also, he adapted several novels by the renowned author Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay like Baikunther Will (1944), and Bipradas into plays.

Bidhayak Bhattacharya went on to join the All India Radio, Kolkata division under the guidance of the Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam is a Bengali Poet, Musician, Wri >> Read More... . In his career as a writer, he has written many Bengali films such as Krishna Kaveri, Akash Ar Mati, Dhuli, Matir Ghar, and Prithibi Amare Chay. He also directed the movie Krishna Kaveri which was released in 1949. As a playwright, he had written and published Bengali novels and short stories in various magazines. Moreover, he had written over thirty successful plays during his career.

He is credited with the creation of the famous Bengali character Amaresh. In 1967, Calcutta University awarded him the Sudhangshubala Award for his literary works. He also received several accolades, such as 'Madhusanglapi' from Bhatpara and 'Sahitya Mahasnatak' from Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan (1961). His filmography includes Bhranti Bilas(1963 Bengali comedy film), Deya Neya(released in 1963), Tridhara, Abak Prithibi(released in 1959), Uttar Megh(released in 1960), Abasheshe, Gayer Meye, and Sudha. Bidhan Bhattacharya died on 15th November 1986 in Kolkata, West Bengal. He was 79 at the time of his demise.