Pulin Mitra, a resident of Nawatoli village in Jharkhand's Palamu district, shows that big dreams do not need a big city, just hard work, passion and a constant hunger to learn something new. Even while holding down a bank job, he never let go of his ties to literature and theatre, and today he has carved out a distinct identity as a successful playwright, writer and film director. What began as a journey in literature has now travelled all the way to film direction, and at his own personal expense he has so far made six feature films and more than a dozen short films.
A writing journey that began in the fourth grade
Pulin Mitra says he had a passion for writing stories from childhood itself, one so strong that he wrote his very first story while still in the fourth grade. From then on he never stopped writing, and he kept producing new stories one after another. His efforts paid off, and several of his stories went on to win awards at the national level. This growing attachment to writing gradually pulled him towards playwriting, and it was here that his life found a new direction.
T.N. Verma's advice changed the course of a playwright
Around this time, T.N. Verma, a well-known playwright from Palamu, advised Pulin Mitra to write plays in Hindi and stage them himself. That single piece of advice reshaped his thinking. He went on to start writing and directing Hindi plays. For several years he remained deeply involved in theatre, constantly experimenting on stage, and during this period he built a distinct identity of his own in the world of theatre.
A bank job that never came between him and theatre
After completing his higher education, Pulin Mitra got a job at the State Bank of India in 1986. During his time in the job, he was transferred from Mumbai to Medininagar. Despite the new place and new responsibilities, he did not give up his connection with theatre after moving to Medininagar. He kept working on plays, and it was during this period that some of his theatre associates suggested that he should try making films. He initially had no real knowledge of filmmaking, so he first took formal training in film direction, cinematography and photography to properly understand the technical side of the craft.
A first web series after training kicked off his film journey
Once his training was complete, Pulin Mitra made his first web series, 'Aaha Zindagi'. This first attempt boosted his confidence, and his journey in films kept moving forward from there. He went on to direct his first feature film, 'Different', which gave him recognition as a film director. After that, he made several short films, including 'Sitamgarh', and continued working on new subjects.
Six feature films and more than a dozen short films, all self-funded
Pulin Mitra has so far made six feature films and 12 to 13 short films at his own personal expense. Making this many films without the backing of any major production house is an achievement in itself. This year, he has completed three new short films titled 'Missing Diary', 'Shikari Aayega' and one more film. All three films have already been screened, and audiences have given them good support, something that has further encouraged Pulin Mitra to keep making more films.
25 years of honours, and a hunger to learn that hasn't faded
Over the past 25 years, Pulin Mitra has received several honours in the field of playwriting and direction. He has been felicitated in multiple categories, including best direction, best actor and best script writer. Despite all these achievements, Pulin Mitra believes that the process of learning never truly ends. It is this belief that keeps pushing him to learn something new and keep experimenting. Pulin Mitra's story stands as proof that with strong resolve, it is possible to rise from a small town and achieve big milestones.
