Eminent theatre personality Shaoli Mitra no more
Eminent stage actress Shaoli Mitra, daughter of legendary theatre personalities Sambhu Mitra and Tripti Mitra, died at her residence in South Kolkata today of heart ailments at the age of 74.
As per Shaoli's wishes, she was cremated without much fanfare and that the news of her demise should be made public only after her cremation, her close friend and theatre personality Arpita Ghosh said citing a copy of the late actress.
Shaoli passed away at 3:40pm local time, reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting Arpita.
Shaoli was suffering from heart-related ailments but had refused to be hospitalized when her condition worsened today, Arpita said.
Arpita Ghosh, the "Posukhamar" director, recalled how she became Shaoli's own daughter and how she had stayed away from media glare about her illness.
A recipient of prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2003, Padma Shri in 2009, and Banga Bibhusan in 2012, Shaoli would be remembered most by her admirers for her solo performance as Draupadi in "Naathvati Anaathbat", which she also wrote and directed, and as Sita on "Sitakatha" or "Bitata Bitangso".
Essentially a stage actress, Shaoli also acted as "Bangabala" in Ritwik Ghatak's film "Jukti Takko Aar Gappo".
After spending years in the well-known theatre group "Bohurupi" founded by her parents Sambhu Mitra and Tripti Mitra, Shaoli immortalized the character of Amal in Rabindranath Tagore's play "Dakghar"
Saoli founded "Pancham Baidik" which established a trail blazer repertoire by introducing widely acclaimed plays on women's emancipation.
Theatre personality Bibhas Chakraborty recalled his long association with Shaoli since her younger days in "Bohurupi".
"She was ill for many years but never knew she would leave us so early," Chakraborty said.
Veteran theatre personality Rudraprasad Sengupta said Shaoli had been away from public view due to ailments but she had mesmerized audiences with her stellar performances through the years.
Among other stage productions in which Shaoli left an indelible mark as an actress are "Putulkhela", "Ekti Rajnaitik Hatya", "Hajabarala", "Pakhi", "Galileor Jiban", and 'Jodi Aar Ek Bar".
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