Director Buddhadeb Dasgupta dies at 77

National award winning filmmaker and celebrated poet Buddhadeb Dasgupta died at his Kolkata residence after a prolonged illness on Thursday. The 77-year-old director was suffering from kidney-related ailments. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed their condolences. “His diverse works struck a chord with all sections of society... My thoughts are with his family and several admirers...” said PM Modi.

National awardwinning filmmaker and celebrated poet Buddhadeb Dasgupta died at his Kolkata residence after prolonged illness on Thursday, family members said. He was 77.

Dasgupta was suffering from kidney-related ailments and was undergoing dialysis. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed their condolences.

“Anguished by the demise of Shri Buddhadeb Dasgupta. His diverse works struck a chord with all sections of society. He was also an eminent thinker and poet. My thoughts are with his family and several admirers in this time of grief. Om Shanti,” PM Modi tweeted.

“...Through his works, he infused lyricism into the language of cinema. His death comes as a great loss for the film fraternity. Condolences to his family, colleagues and admirers,” Banerjee tweeted.

The director’s family members said the last rites were performed at Keoratala cremation ground in south Kolkata.

In his illustrious career, the filmmaker received several awards for his work, including the National Film Award and international awards at the Venice Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, and Asia Pacific Film Festival among others.

Some of his notable films include Tahader Katha, Bagh Bahadur, Charachar and Uttara. He also directed Hindi films such as Andhi Gali and Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa.

Born in 1944 in Purulia district, Dasgupta began his career as a lecturer in a college before taking a plunge into filmmaking in the 70s, after having enrolled as a member of the Calcutta Film Society.

Some of his earlier films like Grihajuddha and Andhi Gali focused on the Naxalite movement in Bengal and how it shaped the collective consciousness of Bengalis.