P. C. Barua was an Actor, Director, Script Writer, Photograph Composition, Editing of Indian films. Before independence Barua started his film career in 1926 as a member of British Dominion Films Ltd. He appeared for the first time on the Silver Screen in a film name Panchashar which was directed by Debaki Kumar Bose.

He went to Paris with the letter of introduction from Rabindranath Tagore. He received training in Cinematography in Paris. He learned a lot about lighting in studios at the Fox Studio. He also observed the production of Elstress Studios in London. He purchased lighting equipment. He set up Barua Film Unit and Barua Studio in his own residence in Calcutta.

Then he made the first film Apradhi. He was the main lead role. Film directed by Debaki Kumar Bose. Apradhi was the first Indian Film which was shot under artificial lights. While using artificial lights, he also made necessary changes in the makeup process to suit the lighting. Apradhi brought changes to the technical environment for Directors in Indian Cinema.

In 1933 he was invited by B. N. Sarkar to join New Theatres. He directed Rooplekha the first talkie of New Theaters. He played lead role opposite Umashshi. In this film first time flashback was used for storytelling.

Barua directed Devdas both the Bengali and Hindi versions. He played lead role in the Bengali version. Barua’s portrayal of Devdas was so lively that the made the tragic hero a Legend. Devdas was released in 1935. It was an instant commercial success. It was the first successful social film in India. It changed the entire outlook of Indian social pictures. This film use of flashback, closeup, montage, wipe, fade-in and fadeout. Devdas introduced technique of “intercut telepathy shot”.

Barua followed up Manzil, Mukti, Rajat Jayanti, Zindagi. Phani Majumdar started his film career with Barua at New Theaters. Barua’s films were photographed by Bimal Roy.