Legendary Bengali Actor Soumitra Chatterjee breathed his last at 12:15 pm at Belle Vue Clinic in Kolkata on Sunday. He was detected with Covid-19 last month and had been undergoing treatment at the hospital since 6 October.
The 85-year-old Dadasaheb Phalke awardee as well as one of the most celebrated actors in Bengali cinema was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Kolkata’s Belle Vue Hospital. Chatterjee had recovered from the Covid-19 infection, however his health condition did not improve as he struggled with numerous complications. The actor’s health condition deteriorated extremely over the past 2 days.
An official statement confirming Chatterjee’s death stated, “We declare with heavy heart that Shri Soumitra Chattopadhyay breathed his last at 12-15 pm at Belle Vue Clinic today (15 November 2020). We pay our homage to his soul.”
The epic actor’s condition was “very critical and grim” as well as last initiatives to revive him were being made by the teams of doctors treating him at an exclusive hospital in Kolkata.
The actor’s daughter Poulami Bose confirmed the news on her Facebook account as well as asked for privacy, keeping in mind the prevailing coronavirus pandemic and bad health of family members.
Belle Vue Clinic, the Kolkata health center where Chatterjee was admitted, confirmed the moment of fatality as 12.15 pm.
Soumitra Chatterjee– actor, writer, dramatist, poet
Chatterjee symbolized flexibility in Bengal’s film industry– typically referred to as ‘Tollywood’.
Chatterjee’s prolonged association with Satyajit Ray placed the actor on the world map. Born on January 19, 1935, Chatterjee showed up in stage productions as well as functioned as an announcer at All India Radio in Kolkata before starting his film profession. Chatterjee began his journey as an actor at the age of 24 with his debut function as adult ‘Apu’ in Satyajit Ray’s ‘Apur Sansar (The world of Apu)’, the 3rd part of Apu Trilogy, in 1959.
Ever since, his smile has thawed countless hearts, his shrewdness as investigative ‘Feluda’ complemented the Bengali intellect and his impish grin as the ‘good looking’ antagonist made audiences’ blood boil with his Machiavellian persona. Soumitra Chatterjee was all that on-screen and also more.
The actor attracted special praise for his functions in films such as ‘Teen Bhubaner Pare’, which made him the functioning course hero, ‘Jhinder Bandi’, one of his negative role, and ‘Bela Seshe’, in which he represented the aging owner significantly disillusioned with a retired life. But he will be permanently remembered as the sleuth, Feluda also known as Pradosh C Mitter– Satyajit Ray’s immortal production– who used ‘magajastra’ (brain as a weapon) to resolve near-perfect criminal offenses.
Chatterjee’s nuanced performance as well as magnetic display visibility resulted in 13 even more classics with Ray, including Devi (1960 ), Teen Kanya (1961 ), Abhijan (1962 ), Charulata (1964 ), Aranyer Din Ratri (1971 ), Ashani Sanket (1973) as well as Ghare Bhaire (1984 ).
He also worked with Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, Tarun Majumdar and other legendary filmmakers of Bengal. Chatterjee worked with Mrinal Sen (Akash Kusum, 1965) as well as Tapan Sinha (Kshudhita Pashan, 1960 as well as Atanka (1986 ). He generated over 200 acting credit ratings in his long and fruitful job. Among Chatterjee’s other favored films were Baghini (1968 ), Teen Bhuvaner Pare (1969 ), Koni (1984 ), Asookh (1999) and also Dekha (2001 ). The 2015 hit Belaseshe, routed by Nandita Roy as well as Shibhoprasad Mukherjee, reunited him with his Ghare Bhaire co-star Swatilekha Sengupta. In 2019 along, he showed up in four films, including Shesher Golpo. Just before he fell ill, he had wrapped up the shoot of a biopic on him, labelled Abhijaan as well as directed by Parambrata Chattopadhyay. His latest film was Sanjhbati (2019 ).
Chatterjee’s honours included a Padma Bhushan and also the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. In 2017, the French federal government provided Chatterjee its highest possible noncombatant honor, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
The thespian who acted in around 300 films was a dramatist, author, painter as well as poet also, and also was additionally recognized for his poetry recitations.
Actress Sayani Gupta is one among those for whom Soumitra Chatterjee will always be synonymous with Feluda. “Soumitra Chatterjee, Feluda, leaves us. Numb. An era, one generation, a huge legacy gone. Gave 70 years to the Silver Screen,” she tweeted.
Soumitra Chatterjee, Feluda, leaves us. Numb.
An era, one generation, a huge legacy gone.
Gave 70 years to the Silver Screen.
💔💔💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/a0NjOR3QvZ— Sayani Gupta (@sayanigupta) November 15, 2020
What an awful day. You will be missed, Feluda. 🙁 pic.twitter.com/Yc0hBypXZL
— (I'm done)ⁿ (@Shayonnita15) November 15, 2020
Heroes get remembered but LEGENDS never die…….you will always be in our heart Feluda 🥺#SoumitraChatterjee pic.twitter.com/lJUrjR1qre
— Aritra Daspoddar (@AritraDaspoddar) November 15, 2020
The passing of a childhood hero. I know he has acted in many diverse roles throughout his illustrious career but to me, he will always be Feluda. This one really hurt 😞 may he rest in peace 💔 pic.twitter.com/xyVQw9xRXO
— Faruk Abdullah🇧🇩 (@FARUKAB08890589) November 15, 2020
2020 take another Legend, another icon. You are proud of our Bangali Culture. The Indian Film Industry loses one of its Crown Jewels. Wherever you are, stay well Feluda. Rest in Peace.
তুমি রবে নীরবে ❤🙏#SoumitraChatterjee pic.twitter.com/UZbXvh578V
— Raima (@Angryybunnyy) November 15, 2020
While the world grew up with Sherlock Holmes, many of us grew up with Feluda. My love for old Bangla movies is immerse, and they are incomplete without #SoumitraChatterjee….. pic.twitter.com/ldlmZGvMsQ
— Pri C (@SilentSilver05) November 15, 2020
Soumitra Chatterjee's body of work is second to none of any Indian actor. Probably one of the best in World cinema as well. From Apu to Khit Da, from Mayurbahan to Feluda, there was nothing this man couldn't do. pic.twitter.com/qKAcUOJnlj
— MB (@mbthecool19) November 15, 2020
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the hospital soon after Soumitra Chatterjee’s death to be with the actor’s family.
In a series of tweets, she wrote:
Feluda’ is no more. ‘Apu’ said goodbye. Farewell, Soumitra (Da) Chatterjee. He has been a legend in his lifetime. International, Indian and Bengali cinema has lost a giant. We will miss him dearly. The film world in Bengal has been orphaned 1/2
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 15, 2020
Best known for his films with Satyajit Ray, Soumitra Da was conferred with Legion of Honor, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Banga Bibhushan, Padma Bhushan & several National Awards. A great loss. Saddened. Condolences to his family, the film fraternity & his admirers across the world 2/2
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 15, 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets
Shri Soumitra Chatterjee’s death is a colossal loss to the world of cinema, cultural life of West Bengal and India. Through his works, he came to embody Bengali sensibilities, emotions and ethos. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 15, 2020
The end of an era .. RIP Legend #SoumitraChatterjee 🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/R3SXayKLcl
— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) November 15, 2020
