Soumitra Chatterjee , A versatile personality.

It is very difficult task to write about Soumitra since lots have  been written about him by  many wise persons while I am a very common man  .

Anyway I will try my best to give an outline about him.

He has various identities , actor , poet ,theatre actor and director , Recitator and editor of little magazine. 

He started his film career almost sixty years ago in Apur sansar in 1959.Since then he has been working in Bengali films. He is possibly  the actor of longest period of Bengali film. He has worked in plenty of films with many film makers including satyajit Roy .He is the only actor who worked in highest number of flims of shri Roy.

During his long carieer he worked with many actors and actresses. During our college days there was a common debate who was the better actor between uttam and Soumitra.

Though I have no direct experience Bout acting yet I feel this comparison seems to be meaningless  since the style of acting differs from one  actor to another. Uttamkumar was the victim of premature death. He died only at the age fifty four. He started character role leaving role of romantic hero. He would have presented beautiful character role if he would had been alive and he himself would have got enough scope to experiment about his acting.

Uttam kumar and Soumitra worked together in around five films and undoubtedly both of them acted superb .While Soumitra in his long Careere has acted in plenty of characters and and has got enough scope to experiment. Besides for his acting ability satyajit Roy in his good number of flims took Soumitra and he did very well.

It can't be denied that Soumitra has become now an institution of Bengali film and he genuinely deserves it due to his longest experience and possibly for working with highest  number of film  makers.

He is the only actor who worked in highest number of films of satyajit Roy . He came to personal contact with the legendary theatre personality Sisir Kumar Bhadhuri and also acted with him in theatre .

He has rightly achieved the most prestigious award Dada Saheb Falke award for his excellent contribution in cinema.

In the present day context Soumitra is the most experienced ,senior most actor of Bengali film  industry and close associate of Satyajit Roy and worked all reputed film makers namely Mrinal Sen ,  Tapan Sinha  etc.Considering such an experienced person would have been successful  in direction of film .

Soumitra holds all the factors of success . Firstly he is very handsome with extra ordinary fair complexion.He is very intilligent , smart and his  voice is very good , an
expert in recitation and  his long association with shri Satyajit Roy has benefited him towards acting to a maximum length.

If I am asked during his long career what is the best work?It will be  Certainly the characterisation of Feluda . Ever best acting . After Soumitra some other actors acted in this role but could not go near to him.He was superb.
Similarly it can be said Uttam Kumar was superb to characterisation of Bomkesh. Some Artists have worked in this role but could touch him.

We are fortunate that Soumitra has been still actively working .  I pray for his long  life .