Legendary actor Soumitra Chatterjee, star of some of Bengali cinema’s finest films, has died. He was 85. Mr Chatterjee tested positive for COVID-19 last month and was taken to hospital. An official statement read: “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.”
Soumitra Chatterjee was taken to Kolkata’s Belle Vue Clinic hospital on October 6, a day after he tested positive for the coronavirus. His condition at the time was described as stable. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called to enquire about Mr Chatterjee’s health.
Concern about Soumitra Chatterjee’s health grew as days passed, particularly a fear of a cancer relapse – the actor had survived prostate cancer. Mr Chatterjee, who received plasma therapy to fight the virus, was attended by a team of 10 doctors from Belle Vue Clinic.
Soumitra Chatterjee, Bengal’s most celebrated actor, was best-known for his many collaborations with filmmaker Satyajit Ray – they made 14 movies together. He made his debut in Mr Ray’s 1959 film Apur Sansar, part of the acclaimed Pather Panchali trilogy. Mr Chatterjee was also directed by Satyajit Ray in Charulata, Devi, Teen Kanya, Ghare Baire, Ganashatru and other films. He was the first actor to play the role of Feluda, the detective created by Satyajit Ray. Soumitra Chatterjee starred as Feluda in two films directed by Mr Ray – Sonar Kella and Joy Baba Felunath.
