Updated: November 15, 2020 10:57:24 pm
Soumitra Chatterjee, the legendary Indian actor with more than 200 films to his name. (Express file)
Soumitra Chatterjee and Satyajit Ray worked together on 14 films, for more than three decades. Some of Chatterjee’s best works were created by Ray, one of the world’s most iconic and influential Indian directors whose films garnered critical acclaim and won multiple awards around the world, putting India on the world cinema map.
But did you know that he once played as Ray’s rival on the cricket field?
Soumitra Chatterjee was very interested in cricket. He, my father Dileep Mukherjee and Soumendu Roy (cinematographer who worked with Satyajit Ray) lived close to each other and were interested in sports. They met every other day and played often. Not just cricket, but badminton, soccer… everyone loved sports and watching them play was amazing, ”recalled former Bengal player Joydeep Mukherjee.
The skies are richer today. RIP Soumitra kaku. Adda is still there … 🙏 pic.twitter.com/HgCDB9NdnH
– JOYDEEP MUKHERJEE (@joydeepfive) November 15, 2020
In an Express Archive photo from the 70s, you can see that before a charity match, a march was underway, among others, Master Babloo (holding up the flag), Satyajit Ray leading the Hemanta Kumar XI and Jahar Ganguly at the head of the XI of Kanan Devi.
Uttam Kumar walks behind Ray while Soumitra Chatterjee was Jahar Ganguly’s assistant.
Soumitra Chatterjee second from left. (Express file)
This was not exceptional.
In one of the most talked about charity matches (from the Kerala floods) of the late 1970s between the Kolkata film industry and the Mumbai film industry at Eden Gardens, Chatterjee was an important member of the Bengal side.
“The Mumbai team was made up of people like Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna. There were 100,000 people on the ground. Chatterjee, was an important member of the locker room, strategizing how to play and what field formations to establish, ”said Mukherjee, currently Cricket Director, Bengal Cricket Association (CAB).
Sir at the same time this photo pic.twitter.com/VpWZex9099
– Ajaz Ahmed 🅰️🅱️ EF (@ king_ajaz786) April 10, 2020
“He was one of the trusted staff members of the team. He hit well and was also good with the ball. As a kid, I have a memory of him concentrating and making decisions about who will be the new pitcher based on which way the breeze was blowing, ”added Mukherjee.
Chatterjee never missed an international cricket match at Eden Gardens until the 1980s.
Former Bengal captain and national coach Sambaran Banerjee spoke about Chatterjee’s love for the game and said he was a cricket fan who was aware of all developments related to the game.
“He loved Test cricket more than anything else. He had told me that he never missed a cricket match at Eden Gardens in the 60s, 70s and 80s, “Banerjee told PTI.
Later in his life, in an interview on the official social media channel of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chatterjee had confessed his love for cricket, saying: “A long time ago, I used to be an avid cricket fan. Even now, when some cricket is making a comeback in some parts of the world, I generally follow the news. “
“But I would like to see someone like Ajinkya Rahane play for Knight Riders and I would like to see a devastating bowler come to KKR,” he added.
Chatterjee, the legendary Indian actor with more than 200 movies to his name, died Sunday of complications due to Covid-19. He was 85 years old.
The Chairman of the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), Sourav Ganguly, also mourned the death of the legendary actor. “You’ve done so much … you can rest in peace,” tweeted Ganguly, also a former captain of India.
Before embarking on his film career in 1959, Chatterjee worked as a broadcaster at All India Radio in Kolkata. He was also an accomplished playwright and poet.
In a 2016 interview, Chatterjee showed her indomitable spirit to act even at an old age.
“I am afraid: if I don’t work, I won’t exist,” he said.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
.
