One of Bengal's greatest icons, Soumitra Chatterjee was much more than just a film actor.
During its golden era - from the 1960s to the early 1980s - Bengali cinema was at par with the best in world cinema. That obviously owed primarily to the legendary filmmakers’ trio - Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, and Mrinal Sen. But when it comes to the actors, there were many phenomenal talents as well. The charismatic Soumitra Chatterjee was one of them, who, with time, grew from being an actor to a bonafide cultural icon.
Born on January 19, 1935, Soumitra Chatterjee was quite an antithesis of Uttam Kumar - the biggest star Bengali cinema has ever had. While Kumar was the poster boy of mainstream films at that time, Chatterjee emerged as a "thinking man's actor" with his work in parallel films (a fun fact: he was Ray's favorite actor). As Samik Bandyopadhyay, a world-renowned critic of Indian art, put it, "He had a clear and cerebral understanding of cinema. He wasn't drawn to the dazzle and glamor of being an actor in cinema. He was an actor, and that was his commitment." And he could play every kind of character with equal ease - the intellectual and sensitive Bengali gentlemen in films like 'Apur Sansar', 'Stree', 'Charulata', 'Aranyer Dinratri', and Kshudita Pashan', the rebellious and sometimes helpless man in films like 'Kapurush', 'Koni', and 'Hirak Rajar Deshe', or the unlettered and subaltern in films like 'Abhijaan'. On the other hand, he was also the romantic hero (in films like 'Teen Bhuboner Paare', 'Saat Paake Bandha', and 'Basanta Bilap') that every girl dreamt of and the typical hero (in films like 'Sonar Kella', 'Jay Baba Felunath') that the youth admired.
Behind the scenes of Apur Sansar. Satyajit Ray, Sharmila Tagore and Soumitra Chatterjee. pic.twitter.com/kkkFbvecQ6
— Moviemaniacs (@moviemaniacs_in) March 18, 2019
Credit: Moviemaniacs
However, what's also essential to acknowledge is that Chatterjee was much more than just an actor. Not many know that he was a gifted writer as well. Today, on his 4th death anniversary, let's explore that in this article.
Soumitra Chatterjee - the writer - is not as celebrated as the actor. But he wrote several books (from poems to novels to plays and more) that reflect the kind of intellect that he possessed.
Some of his best literary works are:
Poetry Collection (Kabyagranth): Sreshṭha Kabita, Madhyarater Sangket, Kabita Samagra, and Shabdora Aamar Bagane.
Books: Charitrer Sandhane, Manikdar Sange, Agrapathikera, Pratidin Taba Gatha, and Porichoy.
Plays: Natak Samagra (3 volumes).
Besides, he used to occasionally write for several Bengali magazines. And he was the editor of a popular magazine, 'Ekkhon'.
Speaking about his inclination toward writing, Chatterjee shared in an interview with Shamik Bag, "I completed my master’s in Bengali and was always inclined towards literature. Nevertheless, my writing was enriched through my association with Ray and my college professor, the famous litterateur Narayan Gangopadhyay. My grandfather, Lalit Kumar Chattopadhyay, was a writer of sorts who wrote a few novels and travelogues. He wrote a fascinating book on my family background in Koya village, now in Bangladesh."
"Both my parents were avid readers and the almirah in our house had many books they won as prizes. My father won a lot of prizes as an elocutionist. My mother got married possibly when she was in class IX and their early years of marital life were about financial struggle. Yet they continued to buy books. That must have left a lasting impression on me," he added.
Notably, Chatterjee was also a thespian, reciter, and elocutionist. And in his early life, he was a radio presenter at All India Radio, Kolkata.
On November 15, 2020 - exactly 4 years ago today - Soumitra Chatterjee went to his eternal rest. But as it goes without saying, he is and will forever remain in our hearts.
