Kanan Devi

Kanan Devi (22 April 1916 – 17 July 1992) was an Indian actress and singer. She was among the early singing stars of Indian cinema, and is credited popularly as the first star of Bengali cinema. Her singing style, usually in rapid tempo, was used instrumentally in some of the biggest hits of New Theatres, Kolkata. Although, her father was financially affluent, having not only a well paid job but also a jewellery shop, but lost all his earnings in vices such as gambling and drinking. She had to travel under constant protection, given her huge fan following. During her years with New Theatres, Calcutta from 1937, she played the lead in Barua's Mukti, which was perhaps her finest performance, making her the studio's top star. Apart from Mukti, she did Vidyapati, Saathi (1938), Street Singer (1938), Sapera (1939), Jawani Ki Reet (1939), Parajay (1939), Abhinetri (1940), Lagan (1941), Parichay (1941) and Jawab (1942). She became known as Kanan Devi from this point.

Kanan married Haridas Bhattacharjee around 1949. Haridas Bhattacharjee was then ADC to the Governor of Bengal. He eventually left the naval service to join Kanan in her filmmaking venture and became a competent director. While raising their son Siddharth in Calcutta, she also formed and worked as the president of Mahila Shilpi Mahal, an organization to help senior female artists and other charitable and community causes, including those for the betterment of Bengali cinema.

Kanan Devi lived in number 13 Kabir Road near Rabindra Sarobar for sometime.

Kanan Devi, as the first lady of the Bengali screen, received many honours for her contribution to Indian cinema. An honorary degree, a D. Litt, was awarded to her from Vishwabharati, the Padma Shree in 1968 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1976.

Death She died on 17 July 1992 in Bellevue Clinic, Calcutta when she was around seventy-six years of age.

Honours and accolades

1942: BFJA Award – Best Actress Award for Parichaya 1943: BFJA Award – Best Actress Award for Shesh Uttar Padma Shri Award – 1968 Dadasaheb Phalke Award – 1976

A postage stamp, bearing Kanan's likeness, was released to honour her by India's Ministry of State for Communication and Information Technology in February 2011.

Filmography Actor

Playback singer

Asha (1956) (playback singer) Debatra (1955) (playback singer) Naba Bidhan (1954) (playback singer) Darpachurna (1952) (playback singer) Mejdidi (1950) (playback singer) Ananya (1949) (playback singer) Anirban (1948) (playback singer) Bankalekha (1948) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. The Crooked Writing Faisla (1947) (playback singer) Chandrashekhar (1947) (playback singer) Arabian Nights (1946) (playback singer) Krishna Leela (1946) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. Radha Krishna Prem ... a.k.a. The Story of Lord Krishna Tum Aur Main (1946) (playback singer) Tumi Aar Aami (1946) (playback singer) Ban Phool (1945) (playback singer) Path Bendhe Dilo (1945) (playback singer) Rajlaxmi (1945) (playback singer) Bideshini (1944) (playback singer) Jogajog (1943) (playback singer) Jawab (1942) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. Shesh Uttar (India: Bengali title) ... a.k.a. The Last Reply Lagan (1941) (playback singer) Parichay (1941) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. Acquaintance ... a.k.a. Marriage Abhinetri (1940) (playback singer) Haar Jeet (1940) (playback singer) Jawani Ki Reet (1939) (playback singer) Parajay (1939) (playback singer) Sapera (1939) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. The Snake-Charmer (India: English title) Sapurey (1939) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. The Snake-Charmer (India: English title) Bidyapati (1937) (playback singer) Mukti (1937/I) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. Freedom ... a.k.a. The Liberation of the Soul Mukti (1937/II) (playback singer) Vidyapati (1937) (playback singer) Bishabriksha (1936) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. The Poison Tree Krishna Sudama (1936) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. Krishna and Sudama Manmoyee Girls School (1935) (playback singer) Maa (1934) (playback singer) Char Darvesh (1933) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. Merchant of Arabia (India: English title) Vishnumaya (1932) (playback singer) ... a.k.a. Doings of Lord Vishnu Jore Barat (1931) (playback singer) Prahlad (1931/I) (playback singer)

Producer Abhaya O Srikanta (1965) (producer) Indranath Srikanta O Annadadidi (1959) (producer) Rajlakshmi O Srikanta (1958) (producer) Andhare Alo (1957) (producer) Asha (1956) (producer) Debatra (1955) (producer) Naba Bidhan (1954) (producer) Darpachurna (1952) (producer) Mejdidi (1950) (producer) Ananya (1949) (producer) Bamuner Meye (1949) (producer)