Eminent national award-winning filmmaker Dasgupta dies at 77
Eminent film director Buddhadeb Dasgupta, who had been battling kidney ailments for quite some time, died at his residence here early on Thursday following a cardiac arrest, family members said. He was 77.
The national award-winning director is survived by his wife, and two daughters from a previous marriage. Extending her condolences to the ace director’s friends and family, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, ‘Saddened at the passing away of eminent filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta. Through his works, he infused lyricism into the language of cinema. His death comes as a great loss for the film fraternity.’
Dasgupta was found motionless by his wife, Sohini, at his residence in Kalikapur area of the city at 6 am, according to the family members. He suffered cardiac arrest in his sleep, they added. Born in 1944 in Purulia, Dasgupta began his career as a lecturer in a college before taking a plunge into filmmaking in the 70s, after having enrolled his name as a member of Calcutta Film Society. He made his first feature film ‘Dooratwa’ in 1978, leaving his mark as a poet-lyricist-director.
Dasgupta — who bagged 12 national awards in his lifetime — was liberal in his views, having criticized arrests of several political activities in the recent times. He stood by younger filmmaker Anik Dutta, when anti- establishment ‘Bhobisyoter Bhoot’ was withdrawn from theatres in the city one week after release.