Noorjehan
(1903-93)
Hindi director born as Edwin Myers in Calcutta.
Actor on the Madan stage (played Khusro in
Noorjehan and later filmed the play) and in two
silent Madan films (1922-3). Sailed to New York
in 1924 and worked as extra in Rudolph
Valentino’s A Sainted Devil (1924). Worked in
editing and story departments of Universal
(1925-7) and moved to United Artists (1927-9).
Made short film, The Symbolesque. Returned in
1930 to Imperial and made Noorjehan (he had
acted in a 1923 version). Moved to Sagar
(1932-4) where he made e.g. the Zubeida film
Zarina, adapting Niranjan Pal’s play, before
returning to Madan (1935). Their Kajjan starrers
helped delay the studio’s demise. After a
European voyage, he went to Bombay to make
the Kidar Sharma-scripted Rickshawala for
Ranjit Studio. Set up Everest Pics in 1939
(Sitara). During the war, inspired by the
March of Time series, turned to documentary:
Road to Victory used newsreel material lent by
Universal and 20th Century-Fox. Joined the
Film Advisory Board (1940-1) and produced
over 175 films for its successor Information
Films of India 1942-6. Took over Films
Division in 1956 and was chief producer until
1961, moulding that institution into its current
shape. Also ran the CFS (1962-4).