One of India’s finest actor, Soutmitra Chatterjee, died today. A celebrated actor on masterpieces of Satyajit Ray, as well as awarded with most glittering of awards, the actor breathed his life in Kolkata.
He was 85. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
Condolences have poured in from prime minister Narendra Modi, president Ram Nath Kovind, West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and BJP president JP Nadda.
Chatterjee was admitted in the hospital on October 6, a day after he tested positive for Covid-19. He tested negative after a week on October 14 but couldn’t leave hospital as there were health complications, including Covid-19 induced encephalopathy.
On October 25, Dr Arindam Kar, who was leading the medical team, said: “You all know he is not keeping well. His consciousness, despite all our efforts, is not improving. Rather it has gone down.”
Concern on his health grew since there was a fear of a cancer relapse. He had survived a prostrate cancer.
Chatterjee had received plasma therapy to fight the virus. He was attended by a team of 10 doctors in Belle Vue Clinic in Kolkata.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Mr Chatterjee’s death is a “colossal loss” to the world of cinema, cultural life of West Bengal and India.
“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,” PM Modi tweeted.
Ms Banerjee said that Bengali cinema “has lost a giant.”
“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,” Ms Banerjee tweeted.
“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,” she added.
