Since Soumitra Chatterjee바카라s passing, several biographies have been written about him, but Sanghamitra Chakraborty바카라s work is possibly the first truly comprehensive account. She explores the various aspects of his life in order of significance, beginning with his childhood before moving on to his discovery by Satyajit Ray. This section is enriched by an insightful sketch of Ray바카라s own background, followed by a detailed examination of Soumitra바카라s performances in each of Ray바카라s films. She traces his gradual evolution as an actor, noting how his resemblance to a young Rabindranath Tagore played a key role in his casting바카라particularly in films such as Devi and Charulata.
Chakraborty also highlights the roles in which Soumitra was less effective, such as Narsingh in Abhijan바카라a part that Uttam Kumar had declined. Interestingly, though, Uttam Kumar later praised Soumitra바카라s performance with an unusual metaphor involving smoking. In addition to exploring the nuances of Soumitra바카라s artistic relationship with Ray, through an interview with Sandip Ray, Chakraborty also examines his work with other filmmakers. She discusses his collaborations with Tapan Sinha, which began with the Indian adaptation of The Prisoner of Zenda, in which Soumitra played the villainous Rupert of Hentzau. Other aspects of his life run as an undercurrent throughout the book, maintaining a chronological flow while keeping the focus on pivotal moments.
Chakraborty then delves into Soumitra바카라s career beyond Ray, considering the opportunities that were available to him바카라including the possibility of working in Hindi films, which he ultimately rejected. This decision was influenced by Uttam Kumar바카라s infamous failure in Chhoti Si Mulakat. While this section is slightly less fluid, as Chakraborty separates each potential path into distinct subsections, it effectively clarifies the actor바카라s choices through well-sourced quotations.
She further explores the crisis in the Bengali film industry and offers insights into Soumitra바카라s relationships with his wife and children. Along the way, readers discover little-known personal details바카라such as his wife바카라s quiet dedication to his dietary needs and interests, always placing his well-being before her own, and his son바카라s fragile health as a child. As a father, Soumitra was exceptionally loving, a trait he had inherited from his own father. His early years were profoundly shaped by historic events like the Bengal Famine and the Great Calcutta Killings, both of which left an indelible mark on him.
Chakraborty notes that Soumitra was fortunate to have three great mentors바카라Rabindranath Tagore, whom he never met, Satyajit Ray, and Sisir Kumar Bhaduri, the legendary theatre actor whose career was waning as Soumitra바카라s was beginning. Each of these figures influenced him in distinct ways. At the same time, Calcutta바카라despite its decline from its former glory as the British Empire바카라s foremost Indian city바카라shaped his artistic sensibilities through its rich culture and intellectual life. Soumitra embraced his Bengali identity in all its facets, from theatre and poetry to visual art. He became the editor of the little magazine Ekkhon, wrote poetry, and gradually pursued painting as well.
A section on Bengali theatre explores its profound impact on Soumitra, linking back to his early years. Chakraborty expands on themes introduced at the start of the book, showing how he transitioned seamlessly from stage to screen, guided by Ray바카라s mentorship and Bhaduri바카라s advice on interpreting scripts by 바카라interrogating바카라 them.
The concluding chapters examine Soumitra바카라s later years, his growing focus on language and poetry, and the increasing importance of literature in his life. This section바카라titled The Books and Brandy Star바카라reveals how he overcame his initial shyness about reading his own work. Chakraborty poignantly describes him as an 바카라endangered species,바카라 surrounded by new faces as many of his longtime friends and collaborators had passed on. Personal challenges at home compelled him to accept roles he might not otherwise have considered, as a means of distraction. Art, particularly his doodles, became a form of therapy. Through it all, he remained resilient바카라an unvanquished spirit, much like Apu, even in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
For scholars and cinema enthusiasts, Chakraborty바카라s extensively researched biography serves as both a valuable resource and a treasured addition to any library. The book also carries a personal touch, featuring a foreword by Sharmila Tagore and a selection of photographs바카라even though small, likely due to resolution constraints.
