Devi had made only one other film a year before (1930's A Man Condemned), and her career ended when she married Sassoon Jonah in 1933.

[citation needed] The first Bhojpuri-language film, Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chhadhaibo, was made in 1962 and released the following year.

The film, about a man who decides to learn Maithili because it is his wife's only language, is based on Harimohan Jha's novel Kanyadaan.

Bhauji Maay and Mamta Gaave Geet (directed by C. Parmanand) were also popular; the latter is noted for its music and plot.

Sasta Jingi Mahag Senur (directed by Muarli Dhar and released in 1999) was a successful Maithili film, with songs by Md.

Another successful Maithili film, Kakhan Harab Dukh Mor, was based on the life of the Maithil poet Vidyapati.

Another successful Maithili film, An Ideal Lady - Ramaulwali (directed by Niraj Yadav and Randhir Singh), was released in November 2014.

Facing competition from video, broadcast and satellite television, the society screens about twelve feature and four documentary films from around the world each month, organizes film-appreciation workshops and discussions, publishes a monthly newsletter and continues assisting governmental and non-governmental groups in organizing one or two mini-film festivals annually.

In addition to India, markets for these films developed among the Bhojpuri-speaking populations of the West Indies, Oceania and South America.

[6] Bhojpuri cinema began in 1962 with Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (Mother Ganges, I Will Offer You a Yellow Sari), directed by Kundan Kumar.

[7] This was followed by several other successes, including 2005's Panditji Batai Na Biyah Kab Hoi (Priest, Tell Me When I Will Marry, directed by Prasad) and Sasura Bada Paisa Wala (My Father-in-Law, the Rich Guy).

Both did better in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar than mainstream Bollywood hits, and earned more than ten times their production costs.