indian cinema heritage foundation

N R Acharya

Director
  • Born: 1909 (Karachi)
  • Died: 1993 (Bombay)
  • Primary Cinema: Hindi
  • First film: Bandhan (1940)
  • Last film: Dhola Maru (1956)
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An important figure during Bombay Talkies’s transition years after Himanshu Rai’s death, N R Acharya directed successful films like Bandhan (1940), Azad (1940) and Naya Sansar (1941). Born in 1909 in Karachi, he worked as a government contractor before joining East India Film Company in 1934. He later joined Bombay Talkies as a production manager. After Himanshu Rai’s death in 1940, as the control of the studio passed to Devika Rani and Sashadhar Mukherjee, Acharya transitioned to becoming a director. He directed the Ashok Kumar-Leela Chitnis starrers Bandhan and Azad. He was also at the helm for the K Abbas scripted Naya Sansar (1941). He turned producer with Kishore Sahu’s hit Kunwara Baap (1942). Through the 40s, he continued making films under his Acharya Arts Productions banner. Some of his notable films are Uljhan (1942), Aage Kadam (1943), Paribartan (1949), Shohrat (1949) and Dhola Maru (1956). He also made Gujarati films like Lagna Mandap (1950). He passed away in 1993.