Photos: The aura of Aurora, India’s oldest film production house

Established in 1906 in Kolkata, Aurora Film Corporation is an old name in the film business. But in the new digital age, present-day owner Anjan Bose is attempting to reinvent it in a bid to stay relevant, and keep with the times.

Updated on: Jan 29, 2018 5:42 PM IST

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Anjan Bose, owner of Aurora Film Corporation Pvt Ltd checks film stocks at his Lenin Sarani office. Established in 1906 in Kolkata, this film corporation has set many landmarks. It produced the country’s first film for children (Hate Khori, 1939) and the first Bengali film that became tax-free (Raja Rammohan, 1965). But in today’s digital age, owner Anjan Bose is attempting a revamp to stay relevant, and keep the film rolling. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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Bose’s grandfather Anadinath (pictured above), set Aurora up in 1906 and his father, Ajit, took it to greater heights. The production house came at a time when films were shown in Calcutta in makeshift tents on the maidan and private lawns. In 1955, Anjan’s father came forward to distribute Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali when no one was willing to take the risk. He also distributed Ray’s Aparajito (1956) and Jalsaghar (1958). (Aurora Film Corporation)

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An employee at the Aurora Film Corporation reads the newspaper. Bose is now betting big on short films. “They are the future. The trend is clear globally and is bound to catch on in India,” he asserts. He wants to produce films mostly under 15 minutes, though he is not ruling out feature films and documentaries. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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Vintage equipment stored at Aurora Film Corporation. Aurora’s office on Lenin Sarani unlocks the doors to a world bygone. The one-storeyed building is well over 100 years old, where Anadinath Bose shifted office in the 1920s. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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In the office, among other antique equipment, an old cine camera is kept, and a modern computer, mostly used to watch films, appears strangely out of place here. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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A film still of Sadanander Mela featuring Uttam Kumar (L) and Suchitra Sen. During the company’s initial years it was a travelling cinema unit, and exhibited films, magic and drama shows in different parts of Bengal. It later expanded into producing newsreels for British troops and also imported feature films to India. (Aurora Film Corporation)

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Posters of various films like Raja Rammohan, Prahlad, Sadanander Mela, Aparajito, Harishchandra, Jalsaghar and Bhagini Nibedita that had Aurora associated with them. Among these it produced the Bhagini Nibedita which was the first Bengali film to be shot abroad, party funded and distributed Ray’s Aparajito and produced and distributed Ray’s Jalsaghar. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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An appetite for risk has prompted Bose to demolish a profit-making studio in Salt Lake, and build a 20-storeyed structure (graphic above) to accommodate studios for film shoots and provide post-production facilities. At least 10 floors are being sold or leased out to companies that will provide Bose the funds for his films. (Aurora Film Corporation)