Pramathesh Barua returned to Kolkata after his stint of learning filmmaking in France. The Barua Film Unit on 12 Mullen Street came up adjacent to his residence on 14, Ballygunje Circular Road.
Those days sunlight studios were in vogue. That meant films would be canned in sunlight. But by then, Barua had already learnt that it was not possible to shoot objects by only lighting them up with the sun’s rays. That is why, from the very beginning, he had started thinking about using artificial lights. Accordingly, reflectors were made. Artificial lights of different wattage were repeatedly used to experiment and see what worked best.
It was the Barua Film Unit that first started the used of artificial lights in Bengali cinema. Pramathesh was a perfectionist in case of makeup. As a result, he also did all it takes to get the necessary paraphernalia.
Aparadhi was the first film to have been shot there. It was released on November 21, 1931. Debaki Kumar Bose was in charge of directing this thriller. Nishir Daak (1932) was his next film. Sushil Majumdar made his debut as an actor in this film. Ekada (1932) was the third film. It was helmed by Pramathesh Barua as director. This film also had director Niren Lahiri in the cast.
By then the silent era had reached its fag end. Barua concentrated on setting up a sound studio. Sound equipment was brought in from Mumbai. Barua Film Unit came up with its first talkie film in 1932. It was titled Bengal 1983. Pramathesh Barua was its director. Unfortunately, the film did not work at the box-office. A lot of money was invested to make the studio. His main associate was Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay. He had helped Pramathesh by selling some shares of the Barua Film Unit to the king of Benaras and Gaya. The box-office debacle of the first film could not salvage the situation. Debaki Kumar Bose was supposed to shoot Chandidas at the Barua Film Unit. The screenplay was written. But Debaki took it to New Theatres. Pramathesh himself joined New Theatres later on.
Meanwhile, he had taken Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000 as loan from Aurora’s owner Anadi Bose. Barua Film Unit went over to the Boses when Pramathesh could not repay that loan. Equipment from the Barua Film Unit was used at Aurora Film Studio. This marked the end of Pramathesh own’s studio.