I want to phone my death an accidental present of life
An icon of Bengali cinema and probably the most venerated actors, Soumitra Chatterjee had immortalized a plethora of characters over the period of a career spanning around six decades.Practically six decades ago, in the summertime of 1962, Soumitra Chatterjee was shooting for Satyajit Ray's 'Abhijan' in the scorching 45-degree-celsius heat of Birbhum in West Bengal. The small actor was visibly struggling with exhaustion, fatigue, and the hefty makeup that he had to wear to play Narsingh, the lead. The production manager Anil Chowdhury told the director, "Soumitra is definitely struggling, and can we finish off?" Ray responded to this with a softly voiced, "Very well, you cannot become a good actor without struggle".
A few days after, through the shooting of an essential indoor scene, an abrupt dizziness manufactured Soumitra fumble. Ray noticed this, and asked him with a direct face, "What happened, happen to be you feeling unwell?" Out of satisfaction, Soumitra replied with a curt "No." After looking at him for a few seconds, Ray said, "Finish off".
An icon of Bengali cinema and the most venerated actors, Soumitra Chatterjee recalled this story on his publication 'The Master and I' and he explained how this incident will make him crave for learning to be a great actor till the finish of his lifestyle. Lovers of Bengali cinema require no introduction to Soumitra Chatterjee. Born on January 19, 1935 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India, Soumitra Chatterjee was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan by the federal government of India in 2004 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2012. He turned down the honorary Padma Shri award from the Indian government in the 1970s.
Soumitra Chatterjee can be the 1st Indian film personality to end up being conferred with the Commandeur de l' Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France's highest award for artists. Though he had given numerous stellar performances through the years, it had been in the fifth decade of his career that the veteran actor won his maiden National Film Award for Best Actor; for his effectiveness in the 2006 film 'Podokkhep'.
Besides this, he in addition has won multiple Bengal Film Journalists` Association Awards for his work in movies like 'Baghini' (1968), 'Agni Sanket' (1988) and 'Krantikaal' (2005). In 2013, IBN LIVE known as him as you of "The men who improved the facial skin of the Indian Cinema". In 2014, he received the introductory Filmfare Awards East for Very best Male Actor (Critics) for his role in Rupkatha Noy.
Since his debut in the titular part in the 1959 classic 'Apur Sansar' directed by Satyajit Ray, Soumitra has appeared in over 250 movies: an illustrious filmography that encompasses a number of the greatest titles in Bengali cinema. A few of his best works involves Ray films like 'Charulata' (1964), 'Ashani Sanket'(1973), 'Joi Baba Felunath' (1979) and 'Ghare Baire' (1984); Mrinal Sen`s 'Akash Kusum' (1965); and Tapan Sinha`s 'Kshudhita Pashan' (1960).
Different significant acting credits in more recent instances include Angshumaner Chhobi (2009), Hemlock Society (2012), the family drama 'Posto' (2017), 'Sesh Chithi' (2017), 'Basu Paribar' (2018), 'Flat Not any 609 '(2018) and 'Abak Kando' (2018). Celebrity Farida Akhtar Babita had the rear opportunity to focus on Ashani Sanket the legendary duo Satyajit Ray and Soumitra Chatterjee.
"I must say Soumitra Chatterjee was a personality filled with energy and spirit. Alternatively, I was little and naïve and utilized to ask a whole lot of unnecessary questions," Babita remembered. "I keep in mind the train journey whenever we were returning again after capturing the film. The crew members had been playing cards and I did not know how to enjoy cards. Dada educated me to play cards" Babita farther recalls.
Actress Rumana Rashid Eshita had the privilege to utilize Soumitra Chatterjee in a good telefilm 'Kathpencil.' Recalling the memories of Soumitra Chatterjee Eshita thought to THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE Standard, "I was surprised to find that even at this age he prioritizes the script and memorized it. He was an optimist and it was indeed a great knowledge for me to access work with an artist like him."
Actor Tarik Anam Khan is found in shock by hearing the demise of Veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee. "I keep in mind, once he performed at level a drama - titled 'Tiktiki'. I was mesmerized by his functionality. From then on show, I got lucky to get a conversation with him and there I asked how and why he's acting for such a long time years. He replied that he's doing work as his grandson provides cancer and he must bear all of the medical expenses. His remedy made me realize that because the beginning he possessed been honest to his job," Tarik Anam Khan recalls.
Actor Mamunor Rashid met Soumitra Chatterjee while working on level drama named 'Iblish'. "Many people would share their memory space with Soumitra and his virtues. But what I liked about him was his immense enthusiasm for literature. I would say that Soumitra carried some incredible liveliness and complete heartedly entertained us with that spirit," Rashid said.
In the 1960s he acted in a lot more than 40 films such as seven Satyajit Ray films, three by Mrinal Sen, two directed by Tapan Sinha and three by Asit Sen. It was a rare luxury for a fresh actor to work with so various talented directors of that time period.Later in his career, he smoothly transited to identity roles which were commensurate with his natural, graceful ageing.
