Iconic actor Soumitra Chatterjee passes away

Legendry Bangali cinema actor Soumitra Chatterjee has died in Kolkata on Sunday noon. He was 85. He was taken to the hospital on October 6, a day after he tested positive for the coronavirus. His condition at the time was described as stable. Chatterjee, who received plasma therapy to fight the virus, was attended by a team of 10 doctors in the hospital. He was suffering from Covid encephalopathy. His six decade long journey in movies and plays that were influenced by Bengal’s history, creation of Bangladesh, the Emergency and rise of Marxism and shaped by the works of immortal writers.

Soumitra Chatterjee was Bengal's most celebrated actor. He and film maker Satyajit Ray made 14 movies together. He made his debut in  Ray's 1959 film Apur Sansar, part of the acclaimed Pather Panchali trilogy. Soumitra was also directed by Satyajit Ray in Charulata, Devi, Teen Kanya, Ghare Baire, Ganashatru and other films. He was the first actor to play the role of Feluda, the detective created by Satyajit Ray. Soumitra Chatterjee starred as Feluda in two films directed by Ray - Sonar Kella and Joy Baba Felunath. Soumitra Chatterjee was also directed by other Bengali cinematic greats, including Mrinal Sen in Akash Kusum. His last big screen outing was 2019's Sanjhbati.

Soumitra Chatterjee's extensive list of awards and honours includes the Padma Bhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna. He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award - India's top film honour - in 2012. Soumitra was the winner of three National Awards for his performances in the films Antardhan, Dekha and Padokkhep. In 2018, he received the Legion of Honour by France, the country's top civilian award. In 1989, Satyajit Ray had also received the same award.