Soumitra Chatterjee in a film frame. (Image courtesy: Twitter )
Highlight
- Soumitra Chatterjee died Sunday afternoon.
- I was 85
- “Bye captain,” Parno Mittra tweeted.
New Delhi:
The Bengal film industry lost one of its biggest players. Soumitra Chatterjee, who starred in 14 Satyajit Ray films and more than 300 more, died Sunday at the age of 85. Mr. Chatterjee was admitted to Kolkata Belle Vue Clinic hospital on October 6 with COVID-19. He recovered from the virus, but his health deteriorated over the days. Soumitra Chatterjee’s death has devastated the Bengali film industry. For them, it is “the end of an iconic era.” Actors like Swastika Mukherjee, Parno Mittra, Rahul Bose, as well as Bollywood stars like Manoj Bajpayee and Richa Chadha poured their hearts out lamenting the “true legend of cinema and theaters” on Twitter.
“This year he will take it all. Parents, legends, childhood, nostalgia. Everything. Ruthless year,” tweeted Swastika Mukherjee, who worked with Soumitra Chatterjee on films such as Rupe Tomay Bholabo Na, Hemanter Pakhi, Krishnakanter Will Y Maach Mishti and more.
This year he will take it all.
Parents, legends, childhood, nostalgia. All of it. Ruthless year.– Swastika Mukherjee (@ swastika24) November 15, 2020
Parno Mittra, who co-starred with Soumitra Chatterjee in the 2013 film Maach Mishti and more, expressed his pain by sharing a video of his film and wrote: “Goodbye Captain.”
GOODBYE CAPTAIN … #RIP#SoumitraChatterjeepic.twitter.com/nFZ5xuXSkR
– P (@parnomittra) November 15, 2020
Sharmila Tagore’s daughter Soha Ali Khan paid tribute to Soumitra Chatterjee on Instagram. Sharmila Tagore and Mr. Chatterjee co-starred in the 1960 film Devi and critically acclaimed Apur Sansar.
Screenshot of Soha Ali Khan’s Instagram story.
Screenshot of Soha Ali Khan’s Instagram story.
Rahul Bose, Soumitra Chatterjee’s co-star in 15 Park Avenue, tweeted: “I grew up watching his movies day after day. So working with him at # 15ParkAvenue was surreal. He answered all my questions about what it was like to work with #SatyajitRay with generosity and warmth. It has been a privilege, Soumitrada. Rest in peace. “
I grew up watching his movies day after day. So working with him on # 15ParkAvenue it was surreal. He answered all my questions about what it was like to work with #Satyajit Ray with generosity and warmth. It has been a privilege, Soumitrada. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/cZsjAxsSEC
– Rahul Bose (@ RahulBose1) November 15, 2020
“RIP Soumitra Chatterjee! You live through your work for eternity! Thank you for the movies. A great, great loss to the world of film and art. Indeed, an era ended with no one in sight to fill the empty, “he tweeted. Richa Chadha.
RIP Soumitra Chatterjee! You live through your work for eternity! Thanks for the movies. A great, great loss for the world of cinema and art. In fact, an era has ended with no one in sight to fill the void. pic.twitter.com/ysXiACW6ex
– TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) November 15, 2020
Manoj Bajpayee lamented Soumitra Chatterjee with these words: “Tragic loss! Rest in peace sir! Your contribution to Indian cinema will always be remembered and will inspire generations to come!”
Tragic loss !! Rest in peace sir !! His contribution to Indian cinema will always be remembered and will inspire generations to come! https://t.co/lcbbrYMxRR
– manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) November 15, 2020
Here’s how other celebrities paid tribute to Soumitra Chatterjee on social media:
End of an era for Bengali cinema. There are too many performances by these incredible artists that have enriched our lives for decades, to name a few. World Cinema will celebrate this beautiful man and his art for eternity. Rest in peace. You are loved and appreciated. #SoumitraChatterjeepic.twitter.com/SE2Z506k6i
– Onir (@IamOnir) November 15, 2020
Soumitra Chatterjee, Feluda, leave us. Numb.
An era, a generation, a great legacy disappeared.
He gave 70 years to the silver screen.
pic.twitter.com/a0NjOR3QvZ– Sayani Gupta (@sayanigupta) November 15, 2020
In the skies right now. pic.twitter.com/H31sUEnWZX
– Sayani Gupta (@sayanigupta) November 15, 2020
– Prosit (@prosit_roy) November 15, 2020
Sad to hear the disappearance of Padma Bhushan’s laureate #SoumitraChatterjeeI will always remember my interaction with the soft-spoken actor during the 54th National Film Award performance. #Traffic signal, which was very encouraging and inspiring. My condolences to his family and fans. #OmShantipic.twitter.com/Jfwy227KRI
– Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) November 15, 2020
Soumitra Chatterjee was best known for playing the role of Feluda in the two Satyajit Ray films: Sonar Kella Y Joy Baba Felunath. The duo worked together on 14 films, including Pather Panchali trilogy, Charulata, Devi, Teen Kanya, Ghare Baire Y Ganashatru.
Soumitra Chatterjee was at the Belle Vue Clinic for 40 days before taking her last breath. An official statement regarding her death read: “We declare with regret that Shri Soumitra Chattopadhyay breathed her last at 12-15 pm at the Belle Vue Clinic today (November 15, 2020). We pay our tribute to her soul.
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