MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA JUNE 06 , 2013 08.30 P.M.
31 August 1963 – 30 May 2013
I was shocked beyond words to hear about the sad demise of Rituparno Ghosh . He was my favourite director of Bengali cinema post Satyajit Ray era . He died on 30 May 2013 in Kolkata after suffering a massive heart attack . He was 49 years old at the time of his death .
He started his career as a creative artist in advertisement agency. In 1992, his debut film ” Hirer Angti “ got released. In 1994 his next film ” Unishe April “ released and it won National Film Award for Best Feature Film . In his career spanning almost two decades he won 12 national and some international awards .
The first film of Rituparno Ghosh , which I saw , was ” Bariwali ” [ 1999 ] . It moved me immensely . Kirron Kher’s poignant portrayal of a lonely housewife , who rents her old house for shooting and as shooting progressed , she falls for the director of the film and finally her fancy comes crashing when the cast and crew of the film leaves her house after last day of the shooting . She was devastated that the directors has no feelings for her . ” Bariwali ” is still fresh in my memory and it is etched permanently in my mind . It’s not for nothing that Kirron Kher got National Award for her performance .
This was my first brush with the world of Rituparno Ghosh .
The I watched ” Chokher Bali ” [ 2003 ] . During my adolescent years in Deoria , I had read the Hindi translation of the novel . It was named ” Aankh Ki Kirkiri ” . Character of female protagonist in the novel was very difficult . Ritu da , as he was fondly called , not only filmed the story beautifully , but he also extracted remarkable performance from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan .
Then I watched ” The Last Lear ” [ 2007 ] . It was very unusual film by typical bollywood standard . A remarkable performance by Amitabh Bachchan made this film important .
Out of all 24 films , which he made as a director or writer or producer , I have watched only 3 films . But even then Ritu da’s impact fails to get obfuscated from my psyche .
Here is the complete list of his films .
Filmography
” Hirer Angti ” [ 1992 ] , ” Unishe April ” [ 1994 ] , ” Dahan ” [ 1997 ] , ” Bariwali ” [ 1999 ] , ” Asukh ” [ 1999 ] , ” Utsab ” [ 2000 ] , ” Titli ” [ 2002 ] , ” Shubho Mahurat ” [ 2003 ] , ” Chokher Bali ” [ 2003 ] , ” Katha Deithili Ma ” [ 2003 ] , ” Raincoat ” [ 2004 ] , ” Antarmahal ” [ 2005 ] , ” Dosar ” [ 2006 ] , ” The Last Lear ” [ 2007 ] , ” Khela ” [ 2008 ] , ” Shob Charitro Kalponik ” [ 2008 ] , ” Abohoman ” [ 2010 ] , ” Noukadubi ” [ 2010 ] , ” Arekti Premer Golpo ” [ 2011 ] , ” Memories In March ” [ 2011 ] , ” Sunglass ” [ 2012 ] , ” Chitrangada ” [ 2012 ] , ” Jiban Smriti ” [ 2012 ] & ” Satyanveshi ” [ 2013 ]
I am shocked beyond belief to say anything else about the most prolific director of post Satyajit Ray era . On behalf of all the students and staff of VIDUR Acting Institute , which is known as Vidur’s Kreating Charakters , VIDUR Editing Studio and VIDUR Club I offer my heartfelt condolences .
May his soul rest in peace .
Farewell Ritu da. 49 is not the age to leave the world . But destiny has different and sometimes unexplainable plans .
VIDUR
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