Bishwanath Prasad Shahabadi
{{Short description|Indian film producer and businessperson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bishwanath Prasad Shahabadi
| image =
| caption =
| alt =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1912|01|24}}
| birth_place = Arrah, Bihar, India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2000|07|13|1912|01|24}}
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = Film producer, Businessperson
| known_for = Producing the first black-and-white Bhojpuri film, Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo, in 1962
| notable_works = Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo, Solaho Singar Kare Dulhaniya, Rootha Na Karo, Ganga Dham, Geet Ganga, Sasural, Tulsi, Ghar Jamai
| years_active = 1962–1992
| spouse = Swarnmani Devi
}}
Bishwanath Prasad Shahabadi, (also spelled as Vishwanath Prasad Shahabadi), also known as B.P. Shahabadi, was an Indian film producer and businessperson known for producing Bhojpuri and Hindi films. He is known as the father of Bhojpuri cinema.{{cite book|author1=Dr. Manish Rannjan (IAS) |title=Bihar General Knowledge 2024 |date=21 July 2023 |page=136 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQqMEAAAQBAJ&dq=Vishwanath+Prasad+Shahabadi&pg=PA136 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |isbn=9789354884900}}{{Cite news |date=2010-07-07 |title=Ganga ho! |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Ganga-ho/article16188137.ece |access-date=2025-02-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} He is known for producing the first black-and-white Bhojpuri film, Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo, in 1962.{{cite news |title=भोजपुरी सिनेमा की गंगा कब तक रहेगी मैली? |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/how-long-will-the-ganga-of-bhojpuri-cinema-remain/articleshow/66785924.cms |publisher=Navbharat Times |date=28 November 2018 |language=Hindi}}{{cite web |title=Society and Culture |url=https://bhojpur.nic.in/society-and-culture/ |website=bhojpur.nic.in |publisher=National Informatics Centre}} His works include Solaho Singar Kare Dulhaniya (Bhojpuri) and Hindi films like Rootha Na Karo, Ganga Dham, Geet Ganga, Sasural and Tulsi and Ghar Jamai. He died on 13 July 2000.{{cite book |last1=Ranjan |first1=Manish |title=Bihar Samanya Gyan |date=2021 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |isbn=9789386300850 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sq1aDwAAQBAJ&dq=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A5+%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6+%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%80&pg=PT141}}
Biography
He was born on 24 January 1912, in Bandhuchhapra village in Arrah, Bihar. Shahabadi owned mica and coal mines, along with a liquor contract business. Shahabadi owned movie theaters in Dhanbad and Giridih. In 1938, he contributed to the freedom cause by purchasing six yards of khadi from Rajendra Prasad in a special auction for Rs 15,000.{{cite news |last1=Ghosh |first1=Avijit |title=CINEMA BHOJPURI |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wAuTZ6_1XL4C&dq=Bishwanath+Prasad+Shahabadi&pg=PT16 |publisher=Penguin Books |date=2010|isbn=978-81-8475-256-4 }}
In the 1960s, the first President of India, Rajendra Prasad, asked Bishwanath to make a Bhojpuri film. He produced the film Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo in 1963, marking the first Bhojpuri language film, which was well received. The film was produced by Shahabadi under Nirmal Pictures and directed by Kundan Kumar.{{cite news |title=Dr. Rajendra Prasad wanted a Bhojpuri movie |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bhojpuri/movies/did-you-know/dr-rajendra-prasad-wanted-a-bhojpuri-movie/articleshow/13955392.cms |work=The Times of India |date=22 April 2013}}{{cite news |last1=Sultan |first1=Parvez |title=A month ahead of MCD polls, Delhi to host the first ever Bhojpuri film festival |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/a-month-ahead-of-mcd-polls-delhi-to-host-the-first-ever-bhojpuri-film-festival/story-RgYzZTjjwnrYsr9mEzOP9J.html |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=25 January 2017}}
He wrote the story for the 1980 film Ganga Dham. He worked on Geet Ganga Ke, a flop at box office. In 1983, he produced Hamaar Bhauji, a big hit. It was inspired by a famous South Indian film called "Bhabhi" (1957).{{cite book |last1=Ghose |first1=Avijit |title=CINEMA BHOJPURI |date=22 May 2010 |publisher=Penguin Publisher |isbn=978-81-8475-256-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wAuTZ6_1XL4C&pg=PT137}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! Year !! Film | |
| 1992 | Ghar Jamai |
| 1989 | Ustaad |
| 1985 | Tulsi |
| 1984 | Sasural |
| 1982 | Geet Ganga |
| 1979 | Ganga Dham |
| 1970 | Rootha Na Karo |
| 1965 | Solaho Singar Kare Dulhaniya |
| 1962 | Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo |
Personal life
He was the youngest among the five children of father Uttamchand Shah. Bishwanath Prasad Shahabadi was married to Swarnmani Devi. He died at the age of 89 on 13 July 2000.{{cite book |last1=Patel |first1=Raviraj |title=Bhojpuri Filmon Ka Safanama: The Journey of Bhojpuri Cinema |date=2021 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |isbn=9789351862031 |pages=54, 55 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_GZtCwAAQBAJ&dq=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A5+%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6+%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%80&pg=PA54}}
See also
References
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Category:Film producers from Bihar
Category:20th-century Indian people