Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was a prominent Assamese playwright, songwriter, poet, and filmmaker from Assam, India. He was born on 17 June 1903 in Dhaka, British India (now in Bangladesh), and died on 17 January 1951.

Agarwala is considered the father of Assamese cinema and is credited for making the first Assamese language film, Joymoti, in 1935. He wrote the story, produced and directed the film, which was based on the legend of the Ahom princess, Joymoti Konwari. The film attained critical and commercial success and is considered a classic in Indian cinema.

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was an accomplished artist and a multi-faceted personality. He was not only a filmmaker, playwright, and poet, but also a journalist, songwriter, and social reformer. He was a prominent figure in the cultural and literary scene of Assam in the early 20th century. Agarwala was also a prolific playwright and wrote many plays in the Assamese language, many of which were later made into films. Some of his famous plays include Sonit Kunwori, Rupalim, Nimati Kanya, Lobhita, Karengor Ligiri, Siraj, etc. His plays were known for their strong social and political themes and were very popular in Assam.

As a poet, Agarwala wrote many poems in the Assamese language. His poetry was known for its simplicity, beauty, and for depiction of the life of the common people. He was also a songwriter and wrote many songs that are still popular in Assam. Agarwal's songs are known as 'Jyoti Sangeet'.

Agarwala was a true visionary and his contributions to Assamese cinema, literature, and music have had a lasting impact on the culture and society of Assam. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1950, a year before his death.

He was also a freedom fighter and actively participated in India's struggle for independence. His legacy lives on through his films, plays, poems, and songs, which continue to inspire and entertain people in Assam and beyond.