Sabitri Chatterjee
Encyclopedia
Sabitri Chatterjee (born 22 February 1937) is an India
n Bengali
female actor whose career as an actor spans more than 50 years. She was born in Comilla
, in British India (now in Bangladesh
).
and is youngest among ten sisters. Her father Sashadhar Chatterjee worked in Indian Railways. During the partition of Bengal
, young Sabitri was sent to the safety of an older, married sister’s house in Kolkata
located at Tollygunge
– the hub of filmmaking in Kolkata.
titled 'Natun Yahudi'. The play was being directed by Kanu Banerjee
– the actor who would later performed as Harihar Roy, in Satyajit Ray
’s Pather Panchali
and Aparajito
. Sabitri also acted the film version of the play which was released in 1953.
Sabitri appeared as the female lead in Sudhir Mukherjee’s comedy film Pasher Bari (1952).
Sabitri Chatterjee’s next film assignment Subhada (1952) – a film based on a novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and directed by Niren Lahiri along with Chhabi Biswas
and Pahari Sanyal. In this film she played the role of an unfortunate girl named Lalana. In the same year, she appeared in her first film opposite Uttam Kumar
– the family drama Basu Parivar (1952) directed by Nirmal Dey, which had Supriya Devi
in the role of Uttam Kumar
’s sister. Sabitri and Uttam Kumar
had been friends since 1951, Uttam Kumar
offered her to act in a theatrical production to be produced by his group Krishti O Srishti. The Uttam-Sabitri combination became a favourite of the Bengali cine-goers and their friendship withstood strong but false rumours of marriage.
They would be responsible for a series of memorable films including Lakh Taka (1953), Kalyani (1954), Anupama (1954), Raikamal (1955), Nabojanma (1956), Punar Milan (1957), Marutirtha Hinglaj (1959), Raja-Saja (1960), Dui Bhai (1961), Bhranti Bilas (1963), Momer Alo (1964) and Nishipadma (1970). They also had major roles in Mrinal Sen
’s first feature film Raat Bhore (1955) and Tapan Sinha
’s second effort Upahaar (1955). Bhranti Bilas,Mouchak and Dhanyi Meye rank high among the popular Bengali comedy cinema.
In the early eighties, Sabitri did not appear on screen as before. However, in the late 1980s, she came back with films like Mamoni, Anandalok and Haar-Jeet. Sabitri Chatterjee continues to act in commercial Bengali cinemas and television till date. She is one of the stars of the mega soap opera Sonar Harin that has run more than 1000 episodes.Currently she is acting as Muktokeshi in serial Subarnalata, adaptation of Ashapurna Devi's novel.
Sangeet Natak Academy Award
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Bengali
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
female actor whose career as an actor spans more than 50 years. She was born in Comilla
Comilla
Comilla is a city in south-eastern Bangladesh, located along the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway. It is the administrative center of the Comilla District, part of the Chittagong Division. The Eastern Wing of Bangladesh Highway Police is located in Comilla....
, in British India (now in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
).
Early life
Sabitri was born on 22 February 1937 in a small town of Kamalpur in Comilla district of modern BangladeshBangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and is youngest among ten sisters. Her father Sashadhar Chatterjee worked in Indian Railways. During the partition of Bengal
Partition of Bengal (1947)
The Partition of Bengal in 1947, part of the Partition of India, was a religiously based partition that divided the British Indian province of Bengal between India and Pakistan...
, young Sabitri was sent to the safety of an older, married sister’s house in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
located at Tollygunge
Tollygunge
Tollygunge is a locality of South Kolkata. It is flanked by the Eastern Railway south suburban line to the north, Lake Gardens and Golf Green in the east, the Pashchim & Purba Putiaries in the south, and Behala in the west.-History:...
– the hub of filmmaking in Kolkata.
Career
She joined a theatre group Uttar Sarathi who were doing a play on the refugees from East PakistanEast Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
titled 'Natun Yahudi'. The play was being directed by Kanu Banerjee
Kanu Banerjee
Kanu Banerjee was an actor of Bengali Cinema. He is best known for his portrayal of Harihar Ray, father of Apu, in Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali and Aparajito...
– the actor who would later performed as Harihar Roy, in Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
’s Pather Panchali
Pather Panchali
Pather Panchali is a 1955 Bengali drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray and produced by the Government of the Indian state of West Bengal. Based on Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's 1929 Bengali novel of the same name, the film was the directorial debut of Ray...
and Aparajito
Aparajito
Aparajito is a 1956 Bengali film directed by Satyajit Ray, and is the second part of The Apu Trilogy. It is adapted from the last one-fifth of Bibhutibhushan Bannerjee's novel Pather Panchali and the first one-third of its sequel Aparajito. It focuses on the life of Apu from childhood to college...
. Sabitri also acted the film version of the play which was released in 1953.
Sabitri appeared as the female lead in Sudhir Mukherjee’s comedy film Pasher Bari (1952).
Sabitri Chatterjee’s next film assignment Subhada (1952) – a film based on a novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and directed by Niren Lahiri along with Chhabi Biswas
Chhabi Biswas
Chhabi Biswas was a much revered Bengali character actor, primarily known for his performances in Tapan Sinha's Kabuliwala and Satyajit Ray's films Jalshaghar , Devi and Kanchenjungha .He is the best remembered for his numerous roles as the quintessential aristocratic patriarch, was himself the...
and Pahari Sanyal. In this film she played the role of an unfortunate girl named Lalana. In the same year, she appeared in her first film opposite Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar is one of the most famous names of Indian Bengali Cinema.Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak . He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime...
– the family drama Basu Parivar (1952) directed by Nirmal Dey, which had Supriya Devi
Supriya Devi
Supriya Devi , also known as Supriya Choudhury , is an Indian Bengali female actor, acting in Bengali cinemas for more than 50 years. Her real name was Krishna and nickname is Benu. She received Banga-Vibhushan, the highest civilian honour in West Bengal in 2011.-Early life:Supriya Devi was born...
in the role of Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar is one of the most famous names of Indian Bengali Cinema.Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak . He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime...
’s sister. Sabitri and Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar is one of the most famous names of Indian Bengali Cinema.Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak . He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime...
had been friends since 1951, Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar is one of the most famous names of Indian Bengali Cinema.Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak . He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime...
offered her to act in a theatrical production to be produced by his group Krishti O Srishti. The Uttam-Sabitri combination became a favourite of the Bengali cine-goers and their friendship withstood strong but false rumours of marriage.
They would be responsible for a series of memorable films including Lakh Taka (1953), Kalyani (1954), Anupama (1954), Raikamal (1955), Nabojanma (1956), Punar Milan (1957), Marutirtha Hinglaj (1959), Raja-Saja (1960), Dui Bhai (1961), Bhranti Bilas (1963), Momer Alo (1964) and Nishipadma (1970). They also had major roles in Mrinal Sen
Mrinal Sen
Mrinal Sen is a Bengali Indian filmmaker. He was born on 14 May 1923, in the town of Faridpur, now in Bangladesh in a Hindu family. After finishing his high school there, he left home to come to Calcutta as a student and studied physics at the well-known Scottish Church College and at the...
’s first feature film Raat Bhore (1955) and Tapan Sinha
Tapan Sinha
Tapan Sinha , was a Indian film director. He was arguably the most uncompromising filmmaker outside the orbit of Parallel Cinema.-Personal life and background:...
’s second effort Upahaar (1955). Bhranti Bilas,Mouchak and Dhanyi Meye rank high among the popular Bengali comedy cinema.
In the early eighties, Sabitri did not appear on screen as before. However, in the late 1980s, she came back with films like Mamoni, Anandalok and Haar-Jeet. Sabitri Chatterjee continues to act in commercial Bengali cinemas and television till date. She is one of the stars of the mega soap opera Sonar Harin that has run more than 1000 episodes.Currently she is acting as Muktokeshi in serial Subarnalata, adaptation of Ashapurna Devi's novel.
Awards
Best Actress in Supporting Role by The Bengal Film Journalists' Association (BFJA) in 1971.Sangeet Natak Academy Award
Filmography
- Podokkhep (2006) .... Shobita
- Tapasya (2006)
- Haar-Jeet (2000)
- Anandalok (1988)
- Mamoni (1986)
- Heerey Manik (1979)
- Seyi Chokh (1976)
- Sesh Parba (1972)
- Dhanyee Meye (1971)
- Malyadaan (1971) .... Patal
- Pratham Pratissuti (1971)
- Nishipadma (1970) .... Padma
- Kalankita Nayak (1970)
- Manjari Opera (1970) .... Manjari Devi
- Pathey Holo Dekha (1968)
- Grihadaha (1967) .... Mrinal
- Kal Tumi Aleya (1966) .... Sonaboudi
- Antaral (1965)
- Jaya (1965) .... Jaya
- Momer Alo (1964) .... Deepa
- Shesh Anka (1963) .... Lata Bose
- Uttarayan (1963)
- Nav Diganta (1962)
- Dui Bhai (1961)
- Haat Baraley Bandhu (1960)
- Kuhak (1960)
- Raja-Saja (1960)
- Gali Theke Rajpath (1959)
- Marutirtha Hinglaj (1959)
- Daak Harkara (1958)
- Daktar Babu (1958)
- Punar Milan (1957)
- Daner Maryada (1956) .... Usha
- Nabajanma (1956)
- Paradhin (1956)
- Raat Bhore (1956)
- Raikamal (1955)
- Godhuli (1955)
- Paresh (1955)
- Upahar (1955) .... Krishna
- Annapurnar Mandir (1954)
- Anupama (1954)
- Bidhilipi (1954) .... Sandhya
- Bratacharini (1954)
- Champadangar Bou (1954)
- Kalyani (1954)
- Kajari (1953)
- Lakh Taka (1953)
- Natun Yahudi (1953)
- Subhadra (1952) .... Lalana
- Basu Paribar (1952)