Charu Roy
Charu Roy (6 September 1890 – 28 September 1971) was an Indian film director, actor, painter, and cultural figure active during the silent and early sound eras of Indian (especially Bengali) cinema. Charu Roy was born in Berhampore (now in West Bengal), Roy studied geology and graduated from Presidency College, Calcutta. He was also a painter, cartoonist, and writer, deeply involved in the Bengal School of Art.
Charu Roy
Emil Schünemann · http: silentfilmlivemusic.blogspot.in/2011/07/scoring-throw-of-dice-1929-in-wilton-nh.html · Public domain
- Name
- Charu Roy
- Born
- 6 September 1890
- Birthplace
- Berhampore, Bengal Presidency, British India
- Died
- 28 September 1971
- Place of death
- Calcutta, West Bengal, India
- Occupation
- Film director, actor, painter
- Known for
- Bangalee (1936), Shiraz (1928)
- Nationality
- British Raj · India · Dominion of India
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Documentary summary
Charu Roy (6 September 1890 – 28 September 1971) was an Indian film director, actor, painter, and cultural figure active during the silent and early sound eras of Indian (especially Bengali) cinema. Charu Roy was born in Berhampore (now in West Bengal), Roy studied geology and graduated from Presidency College, Calcutta. He was also a painter, cartoonist, and writer, deeply involved in the Bengal School of Art.
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Charu Roy (1890–1971) was an actor and film director and a national of the British Raj and the Dominion of India. The actor died in Kolkata.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q22212814 · wikipedia · Charu Roy
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Charu Roy • Born — 6 September 1890 • Birthplace — Berhampore, Bengal Presidency, British India • Died — 28 September 1971 • Place of death — Calcutta, West Bengal, India • Occupation — Film director, actor, painter • Years Active — (लगभग) 1920s–1930s (silent & early sound) • Known for — Bangalee (1936), Shiraz (1928)
Career
Career
Roy worked as an actor, director, costume designer, and art director. As actor, he acted in the silent film Shiraz (1928) playing Prince Khurram (later Emperor Shah Jahan). As director: He directed many films, including Bigraha, Kuhu-o-Keka, Bangalee (1936), and Pathik (1939). Beyond cinema, Roy was a painter trained in the Kalighat style and contributed to Bengali modern art. He was also a cartoonist for prominent Bengali publications.
Personal life
Personal life
He married Maya Roy in 1919, and they had at least one son, Mukul. Later in life, he continued his artistic work despite financial challenges, and passed away in Calcutta in 1971.
As director
As director
• Loves of a Mughal Prince (1928) • Bigraha (1930) • Swami (1931) • Chorekanta (1931) • Rajnati Basantsena • Diljani (1935) • Daku Ka Ladka (1935) • Kuhu-o-Keka (1936) • Graher Pher (1936) • Bangalee (1936) • Pathik (1939)
As actor
As actor
• Shiraz film (1928) • A Throw of Dice (1929) • Loves of a Moghul Prince (1928)
Legacy
Charu Roy is remembered as a pioneer in blending visual art with early Indian cinema. His film Bangalee is noted for its realist portrayal of middle-class Bengali life.
Charu Roy et Himansu Rai jouant aux dés dans Prapancha Pash (1929)
Prapancha Pash (alt. Schicksalswürfel) movie still (1929)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Wikidata. Charu Roy – Wikidata.
- 2.Bradshaw, Peter. Shiraz: A Romance of India review – 90-year-old epic stands test of time. The Guardian. February 2018.
- 3.Charu Roy. British Film Institute.
- 4.Moore, Roger. Silent Film Review: "Shiraz: A Romance of India (1928)". Movie Nation. 9 August 2020.
- 5.Stimpson, Mansel. Shiraz: A Romance of India. Film Review Daily.
- 6.Rajadhyaksha, Ashish. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. Oxford University Press. 174. 2009.
- 7.Charu Roy Filmography. IndianCine.ma.
- 8.Restoring the romance of India. The Hindu.
- 9.Datta, Rahul. Early Masters of Indian Silent Cinema. Journal of South Asian Film History. 45–52. 2011.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
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