Legendary Bengali film actor Soumitra Chatterjee breathed his last today (15th November) around 12. 15 p.m. in Calcutta at the Belle Vue clinic. He was 85. He had contracted coronavirus on 5th October and had been hospitalised the following day. His condition had deteriorated thereafter. His kidneys had failed and he had also been put on ventilator on 26th October. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the hospital soon after Soumitra Chatterjee’s death to be with the actor’s family. It is feared that he had had a relapse of prostate cancer while recovering from coronavirus.
Soumitra Chatterjee, one of the most celebrated actors of Bengali cinema, was best-known for his many films with Satyajit Ray. In all, the two made 14 movies together. He made his debut in Ray’s 1959 film, Apur Sansar, part of the acclaimed Pather Panchali trilogy. He also acted in Satyajit Ray’s 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 Ray — Sonar Kella and Joy Baba Felunath. Soumitra Chatterjee had also acted in Mrinal Sen’s Akash Kusum. His last film was Sanjhbati (2019).