San Banarje
Encyclopedia
San Banarje is an award-winning American independent filmmaker, cinematographer, producer, screenwriter, editor and an actor. He was born in Kolkata
, India
and now lives in Houston
, Texas
.
Banarje was born in refugee camp in Calcutta and studied under street lights during his school years. While studying for his masters, he decided to pursue filmmaking which was his passion. Banarje was introduced to Hollywood Film by his father who took him to the movies especially Westerns. Banarje's father got a Law degree and a degree in medicine both of which he acquired after the age of fifty, his father never practiced law but ran a charitable medical clinic in the same refugee camp in Calcutta where Banarje was born. Banarje's mom worked for Health Department of West Bengal, where she has to work in the under privileged area of Calcutta giving vaccination and medicine to people suffering from diseases like Tuberculosis, Cholera, Chicken Pox etc. She has a masters degree in Arts and a Doctorate in Alternative medicine.In his teens and early twenties Banarje worked many odd jobs in London and later in U.S.A to build a house for his parents and get them out of the slums, during this time he put his Filmaking career on hold. Banarje worked with Bengali film actor Soumitra Chatterjee
in his feature "Bodhisattva" which he shot in his native India in Bengali language in 2009.
In 2005, Banarje worked with one of his favorite actors Lou Diamond Phillips
when he got cast alongside the La Bamba actor in Sony Pictures' action feature "Striking Range".
"Bodhisattva" is now an official selection at the Marbella International Film Festival in Spain and Washougal Film Festival in Vancouver, Washington.
Currently San is shooting his new feature "The Nowhere Son" in Calcutta, New Orleans, Madrid and Kashi with Soumitra Chatterjee
.
Bodhisattva won Platinum Remi at Worldfest Houston 2010, and received nominations for Best screenplay, direction, feature at Hoboken International Film Festival in 2010.
In 2008, San's short film "The Enemy Inside" received Honorable mention at the Bayou City International Film Festival.
In 2011, San's dogma feature "Money" shot in Houston and Paris got the Silver Remi in the experimental/dogma category at the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival.
In 2011, San's thriller Bodhisattva shot in Calcutta, India got Bronze Palm at the Mexico International Film Festival.
In 2011, San won the "Indie Auteur Award" at the Bare Bones Film Festival for his film Bodhisattva. The film has also won Best Foreign Film at this festival.
In 2011, San's thriller Bodhisattva got nominated for 'Best Screenplay' and 'Best Thriller' at Staten Island International Film Festival in New York.
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and now lives in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Banarje was born in refugee camp in Calcutta and studied under street lights during his school years. While studying for his masters, he decided to pursue filmmaking which was his passion. Banarje was introduced to Hollywood Film by his father who took him to the movies especially Westerns. Banarje's father got a Law degree and a degree in medicine both of which he acquired after the age of fifty, his father never practiced law but ran a charitable medical clinic in the same refugee camp in Calcutta where Banarje was born. Banarje's mom worked for Health Department of West Bengal, where she has to work in the under privileged area of Calcutta giving vaccination and medicine to people suffering from diseases like Tuberculosis, Cholera, Chicken Pox etc. She has a masters degree in Arts and a Doctorate in Alternative medicine.In his teens and early twenties Banarje worked many odd jobs in London and later in U.S.A to build a house for his parents and get them out of the slums, during this time he put his Filmaking career on hold. Banarje worked with Bengali film actor Soumitra Chatterjee
Soumitra Chatterjee
Soumitra Chatterjee or Soumitra Chattopadhyay is an iconic Bengali actor from India, known among other things for his frequent collaborations with the great Bengali film director Satyajit Ray and his constant comparison with the Bengali screen idol Uttam Kumar.-Background:Soumitra graduated from...
in his feature "Bodhisattva" which he shot in his native India in Bengali language in 2009.
In 2005, Banarje worked with one of his favorite actors Lou Diamond Phillips
Lou Diamond Phillips
Lou Diamond Phillips is an American film, television, and stage actor and director. His breakthrough came when he starred in the film La Bamba. He earned a supporting actor Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in Stand and Deliver and a Tony Award nomination for his role in The King and I...
when he got cast alongside the La Bamba actor in Sony Pictures' action feature "Striking Range".
"Bodhisattva" is now an official selection at the Marbella International Film Festival in Spain and Washougal Film Festival in Vancouver, Washington.
Currently San is shooting his new feature "The Nowhere Son" in Calcutta, New Orleans, Madrid and Kashi with Soumitra Chatterjee
Soumitra Chatterjee
Soumitra Chatterjee or Soumitra Chattopadhyay is an iconic Bengali actor from India, known among other things for his frequent collaborations with the great Bengali film director Satyajit Ray and his constant comparison with the Bengali screen idol Uttam Kumar.-Background:Soumitra graduated from...
.
Awards
Banarje's foreign film Bodhisattva won the Best Foreign Film at Alexandria Film Festival,Bodhisattva won Platinum Remi at Worldfest Houston 2010, and received nominations for Best screenplay, direction, feature at Hoboken International Film Festival in 2010.
In 2008, San's short film "The Enemy Inside" received Honorable mention at the Bayou City International Film Festival.
In 2011, San's dogma feature "Money" shot in Houston and Paris got the Silver Remi in the experimental/dogma category at the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival.
In 2011, San's thriller Bodhisattva shot in Calcutta, India got Bronze Palm at the Mexico International Film Festival.
In 2011, San won the "Indie Auteur Award" at the Bare Bones Film Festival for his film Bodhisattva. The film has also won Best Foreign Film at this festival.
In 2011, San's thriller Bodhisattva got nominated for 'Best Screenplay' and 'Best Thriller' at Staten Island International Film Festival in New York.