Premendra Mitra


Premendra Mitra was an Indian poet, writer and film director in the Bengali language. He was also a practitioner of Bengali science fiction. His critique of humanity led him to believe that for it to survive, human beings had to "forget their differences and be united".

Birth and family

Premendra Mitra was born on 4 September 1904 at his father's workplace Varanasi. His ancestral house was at Rajpur in the district of South 24 Parganas of West Bengal. He belonged to the renowned Mitra family of Konnagar. His father's name was Gyanendranath Mitra and his mother was Suhasini Debi. His grandfather's name was Srinath Mitra. He lost his mother at an early age.

Life

Premendra Mitra was born in Varanasi, India where his father Gyanendranath Mitra was an employee of the Indian Railways and because of that he had the opportunity to travel to many places in India. Having lost his mother, who died during his childhood, he was brought up by his grandparents in Uttar Pradesh and spent his later life in Calcutta and Dhaka. He was a student of South Suburban School and enrolled for a BA at the Scottish Church College in Calcutta which he left prematurely to study agriculture in Santiniketan with a friend of Rabindranath Tagore, Leonard Elmhirst. Because it did not hold his interest, he returned to education first on an undergraduate course in Dhaka and in 1925 at Asutosh College in Calcutta where he assisted the research of Dinesh Chandra Sen. In particular, his creation of the character of GhanaDa won him public recognition.

Poems

  • Prothoma
  • Somrat
  • Feraari Fouj Poetries:Fhyan
  • Sagor Theke Fera
  • Horin Cheeta Chil Poetries: Khunt
  • Kokhono Megh
  • Ananya
  • ''Khuda wahid''

    Short story collections

Bengali

  • PonchoShor
  • Benami Bandar
  • Putul O Protima
  • Mrittika
  • Ofuronto
  • Dhuli Dhusor
  • Mohanagar
  • Jol Payra
  • Sreshto Golpo
  • Nirbachita

    English

  • Snake And Other Stories
  • Mosquito and Other Stories
  • ''Adventures of Ghanada''

    For children

  • MayurPankhi
  • SagorDanri
  • MakorMukhi

    Rhymes

  • Hariye
  • Borong
  • Misti Megh
  • Onko
  • Misti
  • Duti Banshi
  • Megher Ghurhi

    Fairy tales, ghost stories and teenager stories

  • Chorui Pakhira Kothay Jay
  • Lighthouse-e
  • Satyabadi Suku
  • Hatir Danter Kaj
  • Golper Swarge
  • Putuler Lorai
  • Ramrajye Bidroha
  • Kurukshetre Bhaja Orfe Brihaddhaja
  • Ratan Panjali
  • Ko-Aai
  • Porira Keno Ase Na
  • KalRakkhos Kothay Thake?
  • Sanu O DudhRajkumar
  • KaluSardar
  • Gopon Bahini
  • Mahuri Kuthite Ek Rat
  • Nishutipur
  • Vuturhe Jahaj

    Ghost stories

  • Golper Sheshe
  • Rajputanar Morute
  • ''Bromhadoityer Math''

    Fun stories

  • Clue
  • Chor
  • Bhupaler Kopal
  • BishwomvorBabur Bibortonbad
  • Niruddesh

    Science fictions

He was among the pioneers of Bengali science fiction. He started writing science fictions to make children and preteens familiar with science.
  • Juddho Jakhan Thamlo
  • Pinpre Puran
  • Prithivir Shatru
  • Kalapanir Atole
  • Mangalbairi
  • Koral Korkot
  • Akasher Atonko
  • Manusher Protidwondi
  • MoyDanober Dweep
  • Shomaoner Ron Sada
  • Shukre Jara Giyechhilo Those Who Went to Venus; previously named as Prithibee Chhariye

    Novels

  • Paank
  • Michhil
  • Uponayon
  • Protishod
  • Kuasha
  • Protidhwoni Fere
  • Haat Baralei Bondhu
  • Ora Thake Odhare
  • Path Bhuley
  • ''Dabi''

    Characters

Ghanada

Ghanada is a middle-aged resident of a mess at 72, Banamali Naskar Lane in Kolkata, West Bengal with the four young members Shibu, Shishir, Gour and Sudhir. He claims himself to be full of thrilling experience all over the globe to tackle conspiracies. Also, some of the stories are about Ganado in South America, and Bachanram Das in Agra at Medieval India, his ancestors. First Ghanada story was মশা published in 1945.

Mamababu

Mamababu lived in Burma on account of his service. Original name of this middle-aged man is never stated. His expeditions are written in many novels and short-stories, such as:
  • Kuhoker Deshe
  • Dryagoner Nishwas
  • Mamababur Protidan
  • Abar Sei Meyeti
  • Paharer Nam Korali
This character inspired Sunil Gangopadhyay to write his famous Kakababu series.

Parashor Barma

is a detective but he tries to be a poet. First Parashor story is Goyenda Kobi Parashor in 1932. Some other stories are:
  • Hippie Songe Parashor Barma
  • Cluber naam kumati
  • Nilem daklo parashor Barma
  • Premer Chokhe Parashor
  • Parashor Barma O Bhanga Radio
  • Parashor Barma O Ashlil Boi
  • Parashor Ebar Johuri
Two Ghanada tales also include Parashar Barma : Parasharey Ghanaday and Ghanada Phirlen.

Mejokorta

is a ghost-hunter. Books featuring Mejokorta are collected in an anthology named ''Bhoot Shikari Mejokorta Ebong...''

Publishers of Mitra's writings

translated several Ghanada tales in a volume called Adventures of Ghanada.
The latest English translation of his Ghanada stories was published by Penguin Books India in 2004.

Filmography

Direction

  • Samadhan Bengali,1943
  • Bideshini Bengali, 1944
  • Path Bendhe Dilo Bengali, 1945.
  • Rajlakshmi Hindi, 1945.
  • Notun Khobor Bengali, 1947: Starred by Dhiraj Bhattacharya. Story, Screenplay by Mitra.
  • Kalo Chhaya Bengali, 1948: Starred by Dhiraj Bhattacharya.
  • Kuasha Bengali, 1949: Based on his own novel, starring Nripati Chattopadhyay.
  • Kankantala Light Railway 1950
  • Setu 1951
  • Hanabari Bengali, 1952: A Dhiraj Bhattacharya and Nabadwip Halder starred film, where the mystery of a terrible creature in a haunted building was solved by a detective in disguise of a beggar. This movie was also produced by Mitra.
  • Dui Biye Bengali, 1953: Nripati Chattopadhyay and Dhiraj Bhattyacharya acted.
  • Moyla Kagaj Bengali, 1954: Cast by Anil Chatterjee and Nripati Chattopadhyay.
  • Dakinir Char Bengali, 1955
  • Chupi Chupi Aashey Bengali, 1960; an uncredited adaptation of Agatha Christie's 'The Mousetrap'.

    Story, screenplay, lyrics and dialogues

  • Janaiko Kapuruser Kahini,Kapurush,Directed by Satyajit Ray.
  • Bhabikaal Bengali, 1945 – Story: Directed by Niren Lihiri.
  • Avijog Bengali, 1947 – Story, Screenplay, Lyrics: Directed by Shushil Majumder.
  • Digvranto Bengali, 1950 – Story, Screenplay: Directed by Shushil Majumder.
  • Ora Thake Odhare Bengali, 1954 – Story, Screenplay, Lyrics: This funny movie is based on contemporary Ghati and Bangal বাঙাল disputes of fifties. Starred by Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Bhanu Bandyopadhyay, Tulsi Chakrabarti, Chhabi Biswas and Dhiraj Bhattacharya. Directed by Sukumar Dashgupta.