Remembering Soumitra Chatterjee, our beloved Apu | The Daily Star
Skip to main content
T
Friday, September 29, 2023
The Daily Star
E-paper Today's News বাংলা
  • Home
  • News
    • Bangladesh
      • Investigative Stories
    • Investigative Stories
    • Asia
    • World
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Culture
  • Life & Living
  • Youth
  • Tech & Startup
  • Multimedia
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Rising Star
    • Showbiz
    • My Dhaka
    • Satireday
    • Campus
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Shift
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Star Holiday
    • weekend read
  • More
    • Environment
    • NRB
    • Supplements
    • Law & Our Rights
  • E-paper
  • বাংলা
Search Epaper T
  • Today's News
  • Home
  • News
    • Bangladesh
    • Investigative Stories
    • Asia
    • World
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Culture
  • Life & Living
  • Youth
  • Tech & Startup
  • Multimedia
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Rising Star
    • Showbiz
    • My Dhaka
    • Satireday
    • Campus
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Shift
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Star Holiday
    • weekend read
  • More
    • Environment
    • NRB
    • Supplements
    • Law & Our Rights

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
TV & Film
Zahid Akbar
Zahid Akbar
Thu Jan 19, 2023 06:55 PM
Last update on: Thu Jan 19, 2023 07:08 PM

Most Viewed

  • BB moves to stem slide in reserve

  • Shakib likens Tamim's behaviour to a child's antics

  • Bashundhara seeks to invest in Teletalk

  • ‘Nasty game, not injury, behind my exclusion’

TV & Film

Remembering Soumitra Chatterjee, our beloved Apu

Zahid Akbar
Zahid Akbar
Thu Jan 19, 2023 06:55 PM Last update on: Thu Jan 19, 2023 07:08 PM

Today marks the birthday of the person who immortalised the character of Apu in the film "Apur Shangshar", with his ardent acting and expressions on-screen. He is none other than one of the brightest stars in the Bengali film industry, Soumitra Chatterjee. 

Soumitra Chatterjee, a legendary actor of Bangla cinema, was born in Krishnanagar, West Bengal. Chatterjee's father and grandfather were actively involved in theatre.

For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

Later, he moved on to Kolkata, and completed his graduation in Bangla Literature from Calcutta University. While doing his post-graduation, Chatterjee developed a fascination for theatre, and appeared in a cameo role in a theater production. 

Read more

In remembrance of Soumitra Chatterjee

Later, while Soumitra Chatterjee was working as an announcer for All India Radio, she met "Aparajito" director Satyajit Ray while the movie was being cast. Ray was on the lookout for new faces, and believed Chatterjee had the perfect look, but was too old to play the teenage Apu. Ray was so charmed by Chatterjee that two years later, he asked him to portray the older version of Apu. After that, Soumitra Chatterjee made his film debut "Apur Sangsar" in 1959, which made him a star overnight. 

Although Uttam Kumar rose to prominence in the '60s and '70s, but Soumitra Chatterjee was the relatable hero of the industry, who brilliantly personified the average Bengali middle-class — sensitive, vulnerable, and intellectual — throughout his six-decade-long career.

His collaborations with Ray are often regarded as the actor's best work. There are, however, an equal number of other critically acclaimed films that are as popular as the Ray films. Many of them become cult icons throughout the years.

Chatterjee was featured as Feluda in "Sonar Kella" and "Joy Baba Felunath", and was the lead actor in "Ghare Baire".

Some of his notable films are: "Debi", "Tin Konna", "Abhijan", "Charulota", "Ashani Songket", "Arannyer Din Ratri", "Hirok Rajar Deshe", and "Shakha Proshakha" among others. 

Read more

Delving deep into a legend’s mind

Soumitra's story does not end there. As an actor he kept on inspiring succeeding generations. He has a whopping number of credits in his bag with the contemporary directors. 

He has acted in Rituporno Ghosh directorial "Oshukh", Srijit Mukherjee directorial "Hemlock Society", Gautam Ghosh directorial "Dekha" and Nandita Roy and Shibprosad Mukherjee directorial "Bela Sheshe". 

Soumitra Chatterjee always played and experimented with different characters in his long acting career. 

Like in the film, Ashutosh Bandyopadhyay classic "Teen Bhuboner Parey" depicted Soumitra from a new angle. His character is first shown as a loafer, singing and dancing on the streets while teasing girls. He then transforms into a kind lover, rebuilding his image for his unconditional love for Tanuja.

In "Basanta Bilap," which released in 1973, Soumitra plays a supremely comic role. In this comic classic, the renowned actor shared the screen together with stunning actress Aparna Sen.

Besides films, Chatterjee continued acting in Kolkata-based Bengali theatre, and even published over 12 poetry books.

Read more

Revisiting Soumitra Chatterjee’s iconic roles

Soumitra received the Dadasaheb Phalke Honor in 2011, which is the highest film award from the government of India for his contribution in the film industry. Soumitra was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2014. In 2018, he was awarded the Legion of Honour, France's highest civilian honor.  

The veteran actor passed away on November 15, 2020, after his nearly month-long hospitalisation at a private hospital in Kolkata at the age of 85. 

 

Related topic:
Soumitra ChatterjeeSoumitra ChattopadhyayVeteran West Bengal actor Soumitra ChatterjeeSoumitra apur shanshar
Apple Google
Click to comment

Comments

Comments Policy

Related News

‘Abar Aranye’: A continuation you can't miss

‘Abar Aranye’: A continuation you can't miss

2w ago

“Krishnakali” screened at IGCC

50 years of Satyajit Ray’s 'Ashani Sanket': An enduring masterpiece

50 years of Satyajit Ray’s ‘Ashani Sanket’: An enduring masterpiece

Soumitra Chatterjee

Shoumitra Chatterjee awarded the Légion d'Honneur

|রাজনীতি

খালেদা জিয়ার বিদেশে যাওয়ার অনুমতির আবেদন বিষয়ে মতামত শিগগির: আইনমন্ত্রী

মঙ্গলবার স্বরাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় আবেদনটি আইন মন্ত্রণালয়ে পাঠিয়েছে

৬ ঘণ্টা আগে
|রাজনীতি

বিএনপি অংশ না নিলেও নির্বাচন থেমে থাকবে না: সালমান এফ রহমান

৫ ঘণ্টা আগে
Please Click on allow
The Daily Star
Journalism without fear or favour
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
© 2023 thedailystar.net | Powered by: RSI LAB
Copyright: Any unauthorized use or reproduction of The Daily Star content for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement liable to legal action.
X