Phani Sarma Explained

Phani Sarma
Birth Date:1910
Death Date:1970
Occupation:stage actor, theatre actor, film actor, director
Language:Assamese
Nationality:Indian

Phani Sarma (1910–1970) was an Indian theatre actor, playwright, film actor and director. Beginning as a stage actor, he appeared in the first film ever made in Assamese cinema, Joymati, in 1935. Sarma was conferred with the title "Natasurya" for his contribution towards Assamese drama.[1]

He acted in and directed Siraj in 1948 and Piyoli Phukan in 1955.

Film career

In 1933 Phani Sarma starred in the first Assamese film, Joymati, directed by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala. Sarma went on the star in Agarwalla's second picture Indramalati.

In 1955 he directed and starred in Piyoli Phukan, also playing the film's protagonist Pioli Phukan. His last film was Ito Sito Bahuto in 1963 where he appeared as an actor rather than taking the director's helm.

Playwright work

Inspired by his own experiences as an actor and the death of his son whilst stage acting, Phani Sarma wrote the social drama Kiya, a tale of an artist entertained other people with very little compensation from society. Sarma again addressed issues of isolation and corruption in his later drama Nag-Pas. However he often incorporated humour into such dramas, and the drama Kola-Bazar, he incorporated elements of comedy with more serious issues of social injustice and inequality.

Sarma also translated J. B. Priestley's famous drama An Inspector Calls into the Assamese language.

Filmography

YearFilmRole(s)
1935 Joymati Gathi Hazarika
1937 Devdas Devdas
1939 Indramalati Lalit
1948 Siraj Siraj
1955 Piyoli Phukan Piyoli Phukan
1956 Era Bator Sur Haran
1961 Lachit Borphukan Rashid Khan
1963 Ito Sito Bahuto Retired Major
1964 Maniram Dewan Maniram Dewan

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Natasurya Phani Sarma. assaminfo.com. 17 June 2021.