Veteran filmmaker Tarun Majumdar passes away at 91, an era in Bengali cinema ends
Ringing the curtains down on an era of Bengali cinema, National award-winning filmmaker Tarun Majumdar, whose films used to bridge the gap between mainstream entertainers and serious content for nearly half a century, passed away on Monday in a city hospital. He was 91.
A legendary filmmaker who made commercial Bengali films ranging from rom coms to social dramas that bridged the rural-urban space and were appreciated by both the masses and a more mature discerning audience, was hospitalized recently.
The filmmaker, who gifted the cinegoers films like Dadar Kirti, Balika Badhu, Ganadevata, Shriman Prithviraj and Palatak, had introduced actresses like Bollywood heroine Moushumi Chatterjee and late Tollywood actor Tapas Paul.
Social values blended with the universal appeal of love, nostalgia, simplicity, family ties and feel-good vibes were hallmarks of his films that wooed audiences for generations and made him a hugely successful commercial and yet important filmmaker.
Majumder, on his preference for rural backdrops in his films, once told in an interview to PTI during shooting in Birbhum district known for its red soil: “Some rural scenes fascinate me. The green patches, the rows of palm trees skirting the horizon. Especially the border areas of Birbhum and Burdwan. I seek to recapture the smell and feel of this stretch. Having visited the place so many times I have an affinity with those people.”
All major Bengali actors - from Uttam Kumar to Soumitra Chatterjee, Biswajit Chatterjee, Mohua Roychowdhury, Debasree Roy and Rituparna Sengupta- worked with him with many of them owing their commercial success to the filmmaker who had also directed Balika Badhu in Hindi in 1976 casting Sachin and Rajni Sharma.
He was married to the talented yesteryear Bengali actress turned parliamentarian Sandhya Roy, one of the essential casts in his films.
Majumdar, who had studied Chemistry, received four national awards, seven BFGA awards, five Filmfare awards and an Anandalok award.
The Indian government had honoured him with the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri in 1990.
Filmography
1959 Chaowa Pawa
1960 Smriti Tuku Thak
1962 Kancher Swarga
1963 Palatak
1965 Alor Pipasa
Ektuku Basa
1967 Balika Badhu
1969 Rahgir
1971 Nimantran
1971 Kuheli
1973 Shriman Prithviraj
1974 Thagini
1974 Fuleswari
1974 Jadi Jantem
1975 Sansar Simante
1976 Balika Badhu
1978 Ganadevata
1980 Dadar Kirti
1981 Shahar Theke Dure
1982 Meghmukti
1982 Khelar Putul
1984 Amar Geeti
1984 Aranya Aamar Documentary Feature film
1985 Bhalobasa Bhalobasa
1986 Pathbhola
1988 Agaman
1988 Parasmoni
1990 Apan Aamar Apan
1991 Path-O-Prasad
1991 Sajani Go Sajani
1994 Katha Chhilo
2003 Alo
2005 Bhalobasar Onek Naam
2007 Chander Bari
2018 Bhalobashar Bari
2018 Adhikar Documentary Feature Film
Reactions
Mourning his demise, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "I am grieving the death of eminent filmmaker Tarun Majumdar...His demise has left a void in the film world. I offer condolences to Tarun Majumdar's family, relatives and followers."
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar tweeted, "Saddened to learn about the demise of Veteran Bengali Filmmaker #TarunMajumdar. His classics like Dadar Kirti, Balika Badhu are eternally imbibed in our hearts and earned him 4 National Awards & Padma Shri in 1990. Prayers and condolences to the bereaved family and his fans. RIP."
Saddened to learn about the demise of Veteran Bengali Filmmaker #TarunMajumdar. His classics like Dadar Kirti, Balika Badhu are eternally imbibed in our hearts and earned him 4 National Awards & Padma Shri in 1990.
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) July 4, 2022
Prayers and condolences to the bereaved family and his fans. RIP
"I have lost an eminent filmmaker, an incomparable human being and a teacher. Heartfelt condolences to Jethu's family and well-wishers," tweeted Tollywood superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee.
হারালাম এক কিংবদন্তি পরিচালককে... হারালাম এক অতুলনীয় মানুষকে... হারালাম আমার শিক্ষককে...
— Prosenjit Chatterjee (@prosenjitbumba) July 4, 2022
Heartfelt condolences to Jethu's family and well-wishers. pic.twitter.com/L9G0FGpInq
Bengali actor-MP Mimi Chakraborty says in a tweet, "Tarun Majumdar's death is a great loss in the Bengali film industry."
বিখ্যাত চলচ্চিত্র পরিচালক পদ্মশ্রী তরুণ মজুমদারের মৃত্যু , বাংলা চলচ্চিত্র জগতের এক অপূরণীয় ক্ষতি , উনার বিদেহী আত্মার চিরশান্তি কামনা করি আর পরিবারের প্রতি জানাই সমবেদনা।। #TarunMajumdar #Rip pic.twitter.com/zFHu06qGBN
— Mimi chakraborty (@mimichakraborty) July 4, 2022
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