He was the alt superstar of Bangla cinema in its glory years, the affable Bhadralok icon who crafted a towering stature ironically banking on down-to-earth, believable characters that represented middle-class Bengal. The brand of stardom was in stark contrast to the other shining luminary of contemporary cinema in the state -- Uttam Kumar -- whose position as Mahanayak in the Bengali psyche was primarily cemented in idol worship and mass hysteria. Soumitra Chattopadhyay -- Chatterjee to anglicised India -- answers to the term ‘phenomenon' as absolutely as few actors do, for the sheer ease with which he defied the cliches of image. His stardom was sensational, and yet born out of realism. He was the mascot of the peerless <keyword id="14969" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Satyajit-Ray">Satyajit Ray</keyword>'s oeuvre, having worked with the maestro in 14 films, and yet he scored with the same assuredness in works of contemporary commercial powerhouses as Ajoy Kar and Tarun Mazumdar. He is the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2012) and Padma Bhushan (2004) recipient who was also honoured with the Legion d'Honneur (2018) in France for his contribution to world cinema. Importantly, Soumitra Chattopadhyay's greatness as a screen icon will survive the test of time in Bengali pop lore because he had something for everyone. For, he was not just Satyajit Ray's Apu. Beyond such a nuanced portrayal, he could also simply become Ray's Feluda and reach out to every audience, eight to 80. It took a Ray to bring to life Soumitra's greatness, and yet the account of their first meeting is a well-known story in Bengal. Ray was looking for his adult Apu in "Apur Sansar", final part of the Apu trilogy that started with "Pather Panchali". A friend introduced Soumitra to the master filmmaker who promptly declared the budding actor looked too old to be Apu, a college student according to his script. Soumitra would eventually bag the role opposite Sharmila Tagore, of course, and the rest is history. Soumitra's cinematic fate is overwhelmingly dictated by the great cinema of Satyajit Ray, so much so the maestro's filmography through his most important phase outlines the actor's career graph. Soumitra made his debut with "Apur Sansar" (1959) and, over the next three decades, would work in Ray projects as "Devi" (1960), "Teen Kanya" (1961), "Abhijan" (1962), "Charulata" (1964), "Kapurush O Mahapurush" (1965), "Aranyer Din Ratri" (1969), "Ashani Sanket" (1973), "Sonar Kella" (1974), "Joy Baba Felunath" (1978), "Hirak Rajar Deshe" (1980), "Ghare Baire" (1984), "Ganashatru" (1989) and "Shakha Proshakha" (1990). It was a filmography that Ray, one of the world's greatest filmmakers ever, shared with his chosen on-screen emissary. But if Ray worked with Soumitra 14 times, almost every major filmmaker the actor collaborated with also tended to repeat him. If anything, beyond underlining his credential as an artiste that fact stands a testimony to his professionalism and disposition as a human being. Consider a few other diversely prolific filmmakers beyond Ray who worked with Soumitra, and you get the picture. Mrinal Sen, another global icon of Bangla cinema of the era, directed Soumitra for the first time in "Punascha" (1961), and then again returned to collaborate with the actor in "Pratinidhi" (1964), "Akash Kusum" (1965), and "Mahaprithibi" (1991). The iconic Tapan Sinha directed him in projects as "Kshudhita Pashan" (1960), "Jhinder Bandi" (1961), "Atanka" (1984) and "Antardhan" (1992). Mainstream titans of his era loved working with the affable Soumitra, too. Asit Sen directed him in "Swayambara" (1961) and Swaralipi (1961), while Ajoy Kar made "Otol Joler Ahoban" (1962), "Saat Pake Baandha" (1963), "Barnali" (1963), "Kaanch Kata Heere" (1965) and "Parineeta" (1969). Tarun Mazumdar directed the actor over the years in "Ektuku Baasha" (1965), "Sansar Simante" (1975), "Ganadevata" (1978), "Agomon" (1988) and "Path O Prasad" (1991). Most of his directors have often spoken about the insatiable passion he had for his craft. It was something that ensured he would stay busy as ever till his last days, essaying character roles with the same enthusiasm with which he executed starring roles in his heydays. His 300-plus film career probably can be explained by his highly adaptable quality as an actor. He was at home working with new-age Bengali filmmakers as Atanu Ghosh ("Mayurakshi"), Suman Ghosh ("Podokkhep", "Peace Haven", "Dwando", "Basu Paribar"), Partha Chakraborty ("Samantaral") and Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee ("Posto"). He did move outside Bengal into Bollywood domain twice. In 1986, he acted opposite Roopa Ganguly in the Hindi short film "Nirupama", based on Tagore's story "Dena Paona". He also had a role in the 2002 release, "Hindustani Sipahi", based on Utpal Dutt's renowned Bangla play "Pherari Fauj". These though were temporary departures. For most parts, his staggering career is based on his Bengali filmography. It is a body of work that has given him recognition beyond the National Award as Best Actor ("Podokkhep"). He also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1998. Although his greatness lies in his body of work before the camera, Soumitra did try his hand at filmmaking, too. His directorial effort "Stree Ki Patra", a telefilm based on Rabindranath Tagore's "Streer Patra" released in 1986. The film starred Roopa Ganguly and Usha Ganguly. That the legacy of Bangla cinema's Grand Old Man was established in his lifetime is obvious from the number of GenNow actors who have followed in his footsteps. Young talents in the Bengali film industry of today such as Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Abir Chatterjee have fashioned their careers in the lines of Soumitra, seeking stardom without losing connect with Bengali middle-class realities. These are actors who have carved a niche in what is today known as the multiplex cinema circuit, catering content-driven entertainment of refinement, removed from the cliches of kitsch. It is something Soumitra relished doing all those decades ago.

Soumitra Chatterjee – the journey from being Satyajit Ray’s Apu to one of India’s finest actors

Iconic <keyword id="6763" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengali-Actor">Bengali actor</keyword> <keyword id="6363316" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="soumitra-chatterjee">Soumitra Chatterjee</keyword> died on Sunday after over-a-month-long battle with multiple ailments, a statement issued by the hospital, where he was undergoing treatment, said. He was 85. The thespian is survived by wife, son and daughter. Chatterjee was admitted to the hospital on October 6 after he tested positive for COVID-19. He recovered from the infection, but his condition did not improve as he suffered from multiple ailments, including neurological complications. "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 hospital said in its statement.

Soumitra Chatterjee, the iconic Bengali actor, passes away after a long fight with COVID-19

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/48171058.cms" /> <keyword id="9116" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sujoy-Ghosh">Sujoy Ghosh</keyword>, who shocked and stunned everyone with the suspense thriller <keyword id="6358300" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kahaani">Kahaani</keyword>, has directed a short film titled <keyword id="1017923" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ahalya">Ahalya</keyword>, taking inspiration from the character as depicted in the holy epic Ramayana. 
 
In the epic, Ahalya is portrayed as the wife of sage Gautam Maharishi, who leaves Indra mesmerized by her beauty. Indra then uses a magic stone to take the disguise of the sage and seduces Ahalya. The sage who sees them together curses his wife to remain like a stone until Lord Rama rescues her years later. 
 
In the movie, we see the modern-day adaptation of Ahalya, a young girl married to a much older man, Gautam, an aged artist, and Indra, a curious police man who has come visiting the couple. 
 
Here is the video: 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ff82XtV78xo" width="560"></iframe> 
 The video has been released on YouTube by LargeShortFilms, and has had 3,49,596 views within 2 days of its release. The film stars <keyword id="6363316" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="soumitra-chatterjee">Soumitra Chatterjee</keyword>, <keyword id="133292" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Radhika-Apte">Radhika Apte</keyword> and <keyword id="468442" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tota-Roy-Chowdhury">Tota Roy Chowdhury</keyword>.

Sujoy Ghosh’s Ahalya reminds you of Kahaani

<ul><li>Indian <keyword id="559334" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="actor-Rajinikanth">actor Rajinikanth</keyword> will receive the <keyword id="11027292" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="51st-dadasaheb-phalke-award">51st Dadasaheb Phalke award</keyword> – one of the most prestigious recognitions in the film industry.</li><li>Prakash Javadekar, the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting announced the news on Twitter and called <keyword id="14509" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajinikanth">Rajinikanth</keyword>’s contribution to Indian cinema as iconic.</li><li>The likes of Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, K Balachander, Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Soumitra Chatterjee, Manna Dey and many others have been recipients of the award.</li></ul>Indian actor Rajinikanth will receive the 51st <keyword id="54010" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dadasaheb-Phalke-award">Dadasaheb Phalke award</keyword> – one of the most prestigious recognitions in the film industry. Rajinikanth, who is called as thalaivar (leader or boss), has a God-like status in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. <div type="image" title="rajinikanth" msid="81818656" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fans of Rajinikanth holding a protest at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai urging the actor to take the political plunge.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Prakash Javadekar, the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting announced the news on Twitter and called Rajinikanth’s contribution to Indian cinema as iconic. <div type="twitter" handle="PrakashJavdekar" handlename="Prakash Javadekar" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1305535718647713798/_lzITGyP_normal.png" favoritecount="1704" retweetcount="577" status="Happy to announce #Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 to one of the greatest actors in history of Indian cinema Rajnik… https://t.co/C7lYvTyGyi" createdat="1617252887000" id="1377484564965253121"></div> The likes of Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, K Balachander, Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Soumitra Chatterjee, Manna Dey and many others have been recipients of the award. Born in 1950, Shivaji Rao Gaekwad came to be known as Rajinikanth as he began his journey in Kannada and then moved on to the Tamil film industry. Rajinikanth’s journey from being a bus conductor to one of India’s most recognised celebrities, makes him truly one of the legends in Indian cinema. He is also a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan, the second and third highest civilian honours in India, respectively. The star’s debut was in 1975 in K. Balachander's Tamil drama Apoorva Raagangal, and there has been no looking back since then. <div type="image" title="rajini" msid="81818670" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A fan celebrating the release of a Rajini film&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Over his 44-year long career, he has done 206 films across languages. The actor had also contemplated an entry into politics but gave up the ambition earlier this year. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/government-withdraws-interest-rate-cut-on-small-savings-schemes-in-a-bizarre-u-turn/articleshow/81813361.cms">Folks investing in PPF or Sukanya Samriddhi scheme need not worry⁠ — the rate cuts have been rolled back</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/paytm-money-set-to-hire-250-engineers-for-its-new-technology-centre-in-pune/articleshow/81813092.cms">Paytm Money set to hire 250 engineers for its new technology centre in Pune</a>

Rajinikanth to receive the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke award

hoichoi adds 13 million cumulative subscribers in 3 years with 40% of its direct revenue coming from International users

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/54310388.cms" /> <keyword id="6354925" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword>’s <keyword id="9408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Park-Street">Park Street</keyword> has a legacy. It has a lot of firsts to its credit. Long back author Jaydeep Mazumder had written, India’s first department store- Hall &amp; <keyword id="16745" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anderson">Anderson</keyword>, music café, first ice cream parlour- Magnolia, first soda fountain, the first restaurants offering live entertainment – all had one address in India, Park Street. 
 Who can forget the year-end carnival that has a reputation all over the globe? It’s not just a street. Officially it may have been christened <keyword id="579289" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mother-Teresa-Sarani">Mother Teresa Sarani</keyword>, but it’s a happening place for the elitists of the country. It has seen the vintage 70s and 80s. Who would have known the singer performing live at <keyword id="424155" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trincas">Trincas</keyword> then would end up being the famous <keyword id="7376" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Usha-Uthup">Usha Uthup</keyword> now? Of Cabarets, jazz clubs and pubs, Park Street’s prominence has invited famed Bengali ‘bhodroloks’ (gentlemen). That sometimes ranged from Soumitra Chatterjee, Barun Chanda, <keyword id="14969" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Satyajit-Ray">Satyajit Ray</keyword>, Anjan Dutta to writer Mani Shankar Mukherjee, <keyword id="23798" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amitav-ghosh">Amitav Ghosh</keyword> and musician <keyword id="932811" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nandan-Bagchi">Nandan Bagchi</keyword>. 
 And then this happened. Independent India’s first nightclub, Mocambo at Park Street doesn’t let a marketing professional enter with her driver, where she thought would be the best place to dine on her final evening in the city. She wasn’t just brazenly denied entry with the driver, but a reason as silly as the driver not wearing the proper outfit (read extravagant clothes) and was seen eating jhal muri, was given to justify its actions. At a time when the Chief Minister of the state has decided to call ‘telebhaja’ (fried snacks) an industry in the State and seeking foreign investments to expand the same, denying someone entry to the posh restaurant on this pretext is abominable for a place whose Chicken Sicillienes was quite a favourite with <keyword id="6360386" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jawaharlal-Nehru">Jawaharlal Nehru</keyword>. 
 
Mind you, the rage is taking place on social media, a place more powerful than all presidents of the world put together. While the management of the place said they have the right to admission reserved, people rightly pointed out that cannot be based on someone’s appearance. We got in touch with <keyword id="2481483" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vikrant-Batra">Vikrant Batra</keyword>, owner of <keyword id="3389204" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cafe-Delhi-Heights">Cafe Delhi Heights</keyword>, a leading chain of restaurants in the capital to understand the right properly. "’Right to admission reserved’ is a very critical term not only for the hospitality industry but also for any public place in general. It is very important to filter your crowd on the basis of the kind of experience you want to give to your customers. It relates to both safety as well as the concept behind your restaurant. Having said that it should not be exercised to discriminate people on the basis of their caste, colour, creed or their economic strata,” <keyword id="233052" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Batra">Batra</keyword> told <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword>. 
 
Same view was expressed by the spokesperson of Radisson Blue MBD,Noida, who said, “Speaking from a purely legal viewpoint any hotel has a right to restrict admission to anyone as long as this is not a discriminatory action i.e. due to race, caste , religion.” 
 
Definitely, for a place like Mocambo that boasts of a dance floor reinforced with Belgian glass, and having flown down an Italian chef to design its menu with a German architect designing the interior, we could have expected some Indian hospitality to add to the feel. 
 And even if the admission stays reserved, “One cannot rule out the thumb rule of our industry - Customer is the king. All we need to do is make them feel like one,” says <keyword id="3647825" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sudhir-ahuja">Sudhir Ahuja</keyword> of <keyword id="3647830" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="bakstage-kolkata">Bakstage Kolkata</keyword>, a well-known pub in Sector V, <keyword id="6360091" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Salt-lake">Salt Lake</keyword>.

You Searched For "soumitra chatterjee" and got 6 results

Soumitra Chatterjee – the journey from being Satyajit Ray’s Apu to one of India’s finest actors

IANS

Soumitra Chatterjee, the iconic Bengali actor, passes away after a long fight with COVID-19

PTI

Sujoy Ghosh’s Ahalya reminds you of Kahaani

Nandini Sharma

Rajinikanth to receive the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke award

Sanchita Dash

hoichoi adds 13 million cumulative subscribers in 3 years with 40% of its direct revenue coming from International users

BI India Partner

Kolkata Mocambo consequence: Do restaurants have the right to reject guests on silly pretexts?

Suchayan Mandal