Sudhendu Roy

Sudhendu Roy (1921–1999) was a noted Indian film director, art director and production designer in Hindi cinema, most known for his realistic art direction in auteur Bimal Roy's films, like Sujata, Madhumati (1959) and Bandini (1963), and glitzy work in films Subhash Ghai's Karz (1980) and Karma (1986) to Yash Chopra's Silsila (1981), Chandni (1989) and Lamhe (1991). He won the Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction thrice for, Madhumati (1959), Mere Mehboob (1964) and Sagina (1975).

He also directed Hindi films like Uphaar (1971) and Saudagar (1973), both of which were India's official entry to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Early life Sudhendu Roy was born and brought up in Pabna (now in Bangladesh), where his father Puranchandra Roy was a lawyer by profession from eastern Bengal, who was also a writer and even took part in the freedom movement, and wanted his son to study law, young Roy had other plans, so he took his admission fees to join a law college in Kolkata, and ran away from home, never to go back.

At the peak of his career as an art director, he was offered, Uphaar (1971) by Tarachand Barjatya of Rajshri Productions, the film was based on Rabindranath Tagore's story Samapti and had Jaya Bachchan in her first solo lead. Later it was chosen India's entry to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This was followed by Saudagar (1973), based on Bengali story, Ras by Narendranath Mitra and starring Nutan, Amitabh Bachchan and Padma Khanna as leads, the film was not a commercial success, but received much critical acclaim, and also became India's entry to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His two others films, based on his own stories, Sweekar (1973) and Jeevan Mukt (1977). Lastly, he made a romantic comedy, Aap Ki Khatir (1977) with Vinod Khanna and Rekha as lead, featuring hit song, Bombai se Aaya Mera Dost. Later Roy married his sister Krishna. Sharmishta Roy is also an art director in Hindi cinema, and assisted him in her early career, before starting independently, receiving Filmfare Award for Dil To Pagal Hai (1998), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1999), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2002). and the National Film Award for Best Production Design for Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (2003). His son Krishnendu runs an animation studio, and one daughter, Sumona, lives in Canada.

Filmography Director Uphaar (1971) Saudagar (1973) Sweekar (1973) Jeevan Mukt (1977) Aap Ki Khatir (1977)

Art Director

Anjangarh (1948) Biraj Bahu (1954) Madhumati (1958) Yahudi (1958) Sujata (1959) Parakh (1960) Memdidi (1961) Aas Ka Panchhi (1961) Kabuliwala (1961) Mujhe Jeene Do (1963) Mere Mehboob (1963) Bandini (1963) Arzoo (1965) Aankhen (1968) Brahmachari (1968) Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969) Sawan Bhadon (1970) Safar (1970) Pavitra Paapi (1970) Heer Raanjha (1970) Aan Milo Sajna (1970) Dastak (1970) Saudagar (1973) Sagina (1974) Aap Ki Kasam (1974) Bidaai (1974) Laila Majnu (1976) Don (1978) Trishna (1978) Kali Ghata (1980) Aasha (1980) Karz (1980) Kudrat (1981) Rocky (1981) Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981) Silsila (1981) Shakti (1982) Sawaal (1982) Himmatwala (1983) Swarag Se Sunder (1986) Dharm Adhikari (1986) Swati (1986) Naache Mayuri (1986) Karma (1986) Samundar (1986) Sansar (1987) Hifazat (1987) Himmat Aur Mehanat (1987) Joshilaay (1989) Kasam Suhaag Ki (1989) Rakhwala (1989) Chandni (1989) Kanoon Apna Apna (1989) Bhrashtachar (1989) Agneepath (1990) Benaam Badsha (1991) Akayla (1991) Lamhe (1991) Parampara (1993) Sahibaan (1993) Aaina (1993) Darr (1993) Anjaam (1994) Pehla Pehla Pyar (1994) Aag (1994) English Babu Desi Mem (1996) Vijeta (1996) Majhdhaar (1996)

Writer Paraya Dhan (1971) Saudagar (1973)

Awards Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction 1959: Madhumati 1964: Mere Mehboob 1975: Sagina