Molina Devi
Introduction
Molina Devi (1917 —13 August 1977) was an Indian actress of Bengali and Hindi film and theatre personality.
Early life
Molina Devi was born in 1917.
Career
Molina Devi started her career as trainee under Aparesh Chandra Mukhopadhyay. She debuted in a silent film while at the age of 8. Thereafter worked as dancer in mythological and historical plays in the Bengali theatre in the 1920s, and later sometimes played roles as a young boy, such as the role of Dara in Jahangir (1929), and later played roles as a heroine. She also performed some memorable roles in Hindi films. She took various roles, even vamps in her early career such as in Pramathesh Barua's Rajat Jayanti in 1939.
In 1954 she got a break through in Puran Bhagat and in 1955, Molina played the title role in the film Rani Rasmani. She also directed a Kolkata based theatre troupe, M. G. Enterprises. Molina worked in Rangana theatre as chief artist. She performed as a singer on radio and contributed for formation of Mahila Silpi Mahal, a welfare association for female artists of Bengal. For her contribution in the field of drama she receives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Actor Gurudas Banerjee was her husband, and they started their own touring theatre, M.G. Enterprises, which created its niche with commercial productions of devotional drama.
Molina Devi died on 13 August 1977 in Kolkata.
Partial filmography
- Chirakumar Sabha
- Kapalkundala (1933 film)
- Rajrani Meera
- Puran Bhagat (film)
- Dulari Bibi
- Abhagin
- Manzil (1936 film)
- Karodpati
- Rani Rasmani (film)
- Bardidi
- Matir Ghar
- Mane Na Mana
- Nandita
- Ramer Sumati
- Srinkhal
- Baikunther Will
- Shesh Nibedan
- Sharey Chuattor
- Mantra Shakti
- Saat Number Kayedi
- Nabin Jatra
- Annapurnar Mandir
- Ora Thake Odhare
- Nilachaley Mahaprabhu
- Ekti Raat
- Indranath Srikanta O Annadadidi
- Saat Paake Bandha
- Bon Palashir Padabali
- Debi Choudhrani
- Fuleswari
- Moyna