Kamaleshwar Mukherjee

Kamaleswar Mukherjee is an Indian director and actor in Bengali-language films. Films directed by him include Chander Pahar (2013), Meghe Dhaka Tara (2013) and Amazon Obhijaan (2017).

Early life and education
Kamaleswar Mukherjee is a physician by training, and an alumnus of the St. Lawrence High School, Kolkata, Medical College and Hospital of Kolkata, when it was affiliated with the University of Calcutta. He transitioned from the medical profession first to Group Theatre, then to the advertising world, and then to filmmaking. After working as an advertisement filmmaker, Mukherjee wrote dialogues, screenplays, and songs for the film Natobor Not Out (2010).

Career
His directorial debut, the well acclaimed film Uro Chithi was released in 2011. This film interwove 12 text messages with 12 different characters, combining shades of life spanning across 12 months. His next venture was Meghe Dhaka Tara, inspired by the life and works of Bengali filmmaker, Ritwik Ghatak. The film attempts to portray the period of Ghatak's life when he was admitted into a mental asylum for treatment. Meghe Dhaka Tara was a critically acclaimed film in the Bengali film circuit, and it won the International Film Festival of India Centenary award.

His next film was Chander Pahar (2013), based on a novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. Chander Pahar is the second costliest film made in Bengali language and is still the second biggest blockbuster in the history of Bengali cinema. The adventure film was shot in Africa. Then he made the film Khawto, that deals with the love story of an eminent urban author in self imposed asylum near the sea. In 2017, Mukherjee wrote and directed Amazon Obhijaan, (the sequel to Chander Pahar) - that was the costliest Bengali film ever made and is till date the biggest blockbuster in Bengali film history. Then he made popular and thought provoking films Cockpit - dealing with the life and journey of a pilot, Good Night City based on the conflict between a psychiatrist and a schizophrenic man, Mukhomukhi - a surreal representation of modern day urban angst and living and Password - a story relating to cybercrime.

As an actor he has performed in a lot of films. Mukherjee is also a playwright, director and the founder member of Kolkata‐based theatre group Shailushik. He is also trained in photography and computer graphics.

Awards and nominations

 * Centenary Award at International Film Festival of India, Goa 2013 (Meghe Dhaka Tara)
 * Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Director at International Film Festival of Kerala, 2013 (Meghe Dhaka Tara)
 * NETPAC Award International Film Festival of Kerala, 2013 (Meghe Dhaka Tara)
 * Nominated for Filmfare Awards East for Best Director – Bengali - (Chander Pahar)
 * Zee Bangla Gourab Somman Award for Best Director - (Chander Pahar)
 * Kalakar Awards for Best Director - (Chander Pahar)