Veteran actor and Dadasaheb Phalke winner Soumitra Chatterjee passes away

He battled the deadly coronavirus for days at a private hospital here and turned negative, but finally succumbed to his ailments after almost 40 days' fight.  He was on ventilation for the past few days.

"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," an official communique from Belle Vue Clinic said.

Chatterjee (or Chattopadhayay in Bengali), who had tested Covid-19, was shifted to an intensive care unit after his Covid-19 symptoms worsened. However,  he was declared Covid negative later. But finally the end came on Sunday shortly after noon. 

Chatterjee's daughter Poulami Chatterjee said that his body will be released from Belle Vue hospital at 2 pm. and it will be taken to his Golf Green residence for a while. "Then we will take him to Technician Studio at Tollygunge and later we will take him to Rabindra Sadan at 3:30 pm," Poulami  added.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee informed that the legendary actor's mortal remains will be kept at Rabindra Sadan from 3:30 pm. to 5:30 pm.

"After 5:30 pm, we will take Soumitra Chatterjee to Keorata Burning Ghat with a procession, maintaining physical distancing, and between 6:15 pm. and 6:30 pm, Government of West Bengal will pay its homage to the legendary actor by a Gun Salute," Banerjee said.

He will be cremated after 6:30 pm.

The actor, who was a favourite of  maestro Satyajit Ray having starred in his iconic Apu trilogy, and had later earned huge popularity playing Feluda, a private detective character also created by the late Oscar winning filmmaker, is survived by his wife Deepa Chatterjee, a son and a daughter. 

Chatterjee, who had started his career in the All India Radio (AIR) as an announcer, made his film debut with Ray's Apur Sansar, which was the third part of Apu trilogy. 
Following Apur Sansar, he went on to act in Ray masterpieces like Abhijan, Charulata, Aranyer Din Ratri, Sonar Kella, Joi Baba Felunath, Ghare Baire and Jhinder Bandi. 

Chatterjee, who had created his own fan following along with critical acclaim and international recognition, was a hero in many films during a golden period of Bengali cinema in the 1960s and 70s, when his contempoary was late matinee idol  Uttam Kumar.

Decades since making his debut, Chatterjee till his last days was relevant as the only surviving Bengali screen icon, with his prolific portrayals in countless commercial and arthouse films. 

Some of his recent films which have been widely appreciated are Bela Seshe, Posto, Mayurakshi, Sanjhbati, Basu Poribar, et al. 

After months of anti-Covid-19 lockdown, the legendary actor had in July resumed shooting for actor-filmmaker Parambrata Chattopadhyay's Abhijaan. 

Chatterjee was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in cinema given by the Indian government, in 2012. 

He had won two national awards and was in 2004 conferred Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in India. 

Chatterjee was also the first Indian film personality on whom France had conferred the Legion of Honour, the highest French civilian award, in 2018, for his contribution to cinema. 

REACTIONS POUR IN: 

Sharmila Tagore: It is a very, very sad day. I have lost a very old, dear, loyal friend. There is no one like him now, with such a legacy. He was a wonderful person. He not only excelled in the films of Manik-da (Satyajit Ray) but many other films. He will live in us forever. 

Aparna Sen: He was like a family to me. I can't express how I feel. He was my first hero. I was only 14 when I worked with him (in Samapti, Teen Kanya).