The First Superstar of Indian Cinema Sengupta, Mekhala. creator text xx New Delhi HarperCollins Publishers India 2015 9999 First edition. monographic und xx, 208 p. : , 12 pages of plates illustrations (some colour) ; 22 cm Kanan Devi: The First Superstar of Indian Cinema is a detailed biography of Kanan Devi, one of the pioneering actresses and singers of Indian cinema. Written by Mekhala Sengupta, the book traces Kanan Devi's remarkable journey from a childhood marked by poverty and hardship to becoming one of the highest-paid and most celebrated film stars of the 1930s and 1940s. It highlights her extraordinary achievements in both silent films and the early era of sound cinema. The book explores her collaborations with legendary artists such as K. L. Saigal, Ashok Kumar, Pankaj Mullick, R. C. Boral, and Kazi Nazrul Islam, as well as her contribution to popularizing the musical works of Rabindranath Tagore and Nazrul. Beyond her artistic accomplishments, it examines her pioneering role as a film producer, her financial independence, and her efforts to improve the welfare of women working in the Indian film industry. Combining meticulous historical research with engaging narrative, the biography provides valuable insights into the evolution of Indian cinema, women's changing social roles, and the cultural history of twentieth-century India. It is an important resource for students and researchers of film studies, media studies, gender studies, cultural history, and modern Indian history. Mekhala Sengupta. Kanan Devi, 1916–1992 Motion picture actors and actresses—India—Biography Singers—India—Biography Women in the motion picture industry—India 270 SEN 9789351365365 260630 20260630154615.0