Srijit Mukherji
Encyclopedia
Srijit Mukherji is an erstwhile economist, actor, director, lyricist, and theatrician from the Indian movie industry of West Bengal, Kolkata
.
and South Point High School, Kolkata, before studying Economics at Presidency College
. He went on to complete his MA and M Phil in Environmental Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University
, parallelly working as a social scientist in the Urban Transport and Pollution Sector with TERI in New Delhi. He quit his PhD while in his first year, to join IRI Symphony, Bangalore
as an econometrician and business analyst. After working in Bangalore, and a brief stint in Milan
he quit his job to actively pursue theatre and films.
His father is a retired Professor of Architecture and mother is a Professor of Anatomy.
and Bangalore. Amongst the prominent plays he has acted in are Madness, adapted from Paulo Coelho
's Veronica Decides To Die
; Manoj Mitra's The Orchard of Banchharam; Badal Sircar's The Other Side of History; Sunil Ganguly's Pratidwandi – The Adversary, adapted for the stage from Satyajit Ray
's film of the same name
and Lucknow 76. He wrote and directed Mindgame, an Indian adaptation of Reginald Rose
's Twelve Angry Men
, at the Alliance Francaise De Bangalore in 2006. In April 2008, he formed his own troupe, Pandora’s Act, whose first production, Feluda Pherot! at Rangashankara in July 2008 was a runaway success and was the first ever non-canonical dramatization of Satyajit Ray’s sleuth Feluda
. Barun Chanda, Ray’s leading man in Seemabodhho, and Parambrata Chatterjee
, the screen Topshe and film youth icon, starred in this production. In 2009, he wrote, directed and acted in the English play Checkmate, a non-canonical re-interpretation of Byomkesh Bakshi
, Saradindu Bandopadhyay's sleuth. He was an assistant director, lyricist and actor in both Anjan Dutt's Madly Bangalee and Aparna Sen
's Iti Mrinalini
, in 2009. He has also written lyrics for films like Cross Connection
, Ley Chakka and Josh, TV serials like Coffee and More and Dadagiri and non-film albums of Usha Uthup
.
In 2010 he directed his debut feature film, the award-winning blockbuster - Autograph
which ran for 114 days at the box office, won 38 awards and was an official selection at Abu Dhabi International Film Festival 2010, MIAAC Film Festival in New York 2010, Glasgow International Film Festival 2011 and London Indian Film Festival
2011.
He also made his acting debut on Bengali television in the Rituparno Ghosh
scripted mega serial Gaaner Opare
, produced by Ideas Entertainment. His work in 2011 includes a major role in Anindya Banerjee's Chaplin starring Rudranil Ghosh and his second film, Baishe Srabon
starring Prosenjit Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee
, Raima Sen
, Abir Chatterjee
and director Gautam Ghose
, who returned to acting after a hiatus of 29 years. Mukherji's next directorial venture will feature an ensemble cast that includes Rupa Ganguly
and Swastika Mukherjee
.
wherein film director Gautam Ghose
portrayed the role of a Hungry generation
poet. However, the film has deviated from the actual history of the movement.
Cinema of West Bengal
The cinema of West Bengal refers to the Tollygunge-based Bengali film industry in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The origins of the nickname Tollywood, a portmanteau of the words Tollygunge and Hollywood, dates back to 1932...
.
Early life
Mukherji completed his schooling from Dolna Day School, KolkataKolkata
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...
and South Point High School, Kolkata, before studying Economics at Presidency College
Presidency College
Presidency College could refer to the following Indian institutions:* Presidency College, Chennai* Presidency College, Kolkata*Presidency College, Bangalore...
. He went on to complete his MA and M Phil in Environmental Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
, parallelly working as a social scientist in the Urban Transport and Pollution Sector with TERI in New Delhi. He quit his PhD while in his first year, to join IRI Symphony, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
as an econometrician and business analyst. After working in Bangalore, and a brief stint in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
he quit his job to actively pursue theatre and films.
His father is a retired Professor of Architecture and mother is a Professor of Anatomy.
Career
Even being an erstwhile economist and statistician, he has been actively involved with the English Professional Theatre Circuit in DelhiDelhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and Bangalore. Amongst the prominent plays he has acted in are Madness, adapted from Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist.-Biography:Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He attended a Jesuit school. As a teenager, Coelho wanted to become a writer. Upon telling his mother this, she responded with "My dear, your father is an engineer. He's a logical,...
's Veronica Decides To Die
Veronica Decides To Die
Veronica Decides to Die may refer to:* Veronika Decides to Die, a novel by Paolo Coelho* Veronika Decides to Die , a 2009 film directed by Emily Young* Veronika Decides to Die , a 2006 album by Saturnus...
; Manoj Mitra's The Orchard of Banchharam; Badal Sircar's The Other Side of History; Sunil Ganguly's Pratidwandi – The Adversary, adapted for the stage from 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 film of the same name
Pratidwandi
Pratidwandi or Pratidandi is a 1971 Indian Bengali film directed by Satyajit Ray based on the novel by Sunil Gangopadhyay. It is the first part of the Calcutta trilogy...
and Lucknow 76. He wrote and directed Mindgame, an Indian adaptation of Reginald Rose
Reginald Rose
Reginald Rose was an American film and television writer most widely known for his work in the early years of television drama. Rose's work is marked by its treatment of controversial social and political issues...
's Twelve Angry Men
Twelve Angry Men
Twelve Angry Men may refer to:* Twelve Angry Men , a 1954 teleplay by Reginald Rose* Twelve Angry Men , a play adapted by Rose from his teleplay* 12 Angry Men , an adaptation of the play, directed by Sidney Lumet...
, at the Alliance Francaise De Bangalore in 2006. In April 2008, he formed his own troupe, Pandora’s Act, whose first production, Feluda Pherot! at Rangashankara in July 2008 was a runaway success and was the first ever non-canonical dramatization of Satyajit Ray’s sleuth Feluda
Feluda
Feluda, or Prodosh Chandra Mitra, who uses the anglicised name Pradosh C. Mitter, is a fictional private investigator starring in a series of Bengali novels and short stories written by the famous Indian Bengali film director and writer Satyajit Ray. The detective lives at Rajani Sen Road,...
. Barun Chanda, Ray’s leading man in Seemabodhho, and Parambrata Chatterjee
Parambrata Chatterjee
Parambrata Chatterjee is a Bengali Indian male actor and director of television and films.-Career:His directorial debut feature film is [Jiyo Kaka] starred by Rituparna Sengupta and Rudranil Ghosh....
, the screen Topshe and film youth icon, starred in this production. In 2009, he wrote, directed and acted in the English play Checkmate, a non-canonical re-interpretation of Byomkesh Bakshi
Byomkesh Bakshi
Byomkesh Bakshi is a fictional detective in Bengali literature created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. He is one of the most successful detective characters in Bengali Literature. Also, Bandyopadhyay once said that these stories can be thought as and read as social novels only...
, Saradindu Bandopadhyay's sleuth. He was an assistant director, lyricist and actor in both Anjan Dutt's Madly Bangalee and Aparna Sen
Aparna Sen
Aparna Sen is a critically acclaimed Bengali Indian filmmaker, script writer, and actress. She is the winner of three National Film Awards and eight international film festival awards.-Biography:...
's Iti Mrinalini
Iti Mrinalini
Iti Mrinalini is a 2010 Indian drama film directed by acclaimed Bengali filmmaker Aparna Sen. The director collaborates with debutant screenwriter Ranjan Ghosh to pen the story and the screenplay, a first for her. The film has been produced by Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra Soni of Shree Venkatesh...
, in 2009. He has also written lyrics for films like Cross Connection
Cross Connection
-Plot:The film revolves around four youths who try to discover their perfect love matches. Things repeatedly go wrong till they get resolved on Mandarmani beach near Kolkata. Imon , is a pretty, modern dancer and choreographer with a steady boyfriend Akaash who is a happy-go-lucky young man...
, Ley Chakka and Josh, TV serials like Coffee and More and Dadagiri and non-film albums of Usha Uthup
Usha Uthup
Usha Uthup is a popular Indian pop, jazz and playback singer. She is well known for popular hits in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.She started her Bollywood playback career, when she sang an English verse in hit song, "Dum maro dum"" in Hare Rama Hare Krishna, and went on work with music...
.
In 2010 he directed his debut feature film, the award-winning blockbuster - Autograph
Autograph (2010 film)
Autograph is a 2010 Bengali film directed by debutant director Srijit Mukherji.The movie is a humble tribute to both Satyajit Ray and to Uttam Kumar as it is on the lines of movie Nayak. In fact so much so the central character of the film is called Arun Chatterjee . Such is the influence and...
which ran for 114 days at the box office, won 38 awards and was an official selection at Abu Dhabi International Film Festival 2010, MIAAC Film Festival in New York 2010, Glasgow International Film Festival 2011 and London Indian Film Festival
London Indian Film Festival
The London Indian Film Festival is a film festival established in 2010 to showcase Indian independent film. The festival attracted media attention in its first year, premiering films such as "Love Sex aur Dhokha" by Dibakar Banerjee...
2011.
He also made his acting debut on Bengali television in the Rituparno Ghosh
Rituparno Ghosh
Rituparno Ghosh is a Bengali film director. He has won 8 National Film Awards in India and several awards at international film festivals abroad.- Early life and background :...
scripted mega serial Gaaner Opare
Gaaner Opare
Gaaner Oparey was a critically acclaimed Indian television serial which was aired on Star Jalsha from 28th June 2010 to 16th April 2011. This TV musical marked the beginning of a year long celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore...
, produced by Ideas Entertainment. His work in 2011 includes a major role in Anindya Banerjee's Chaplin starring Rudranil Ghosh and his second film, Baishe Srabon
Baishe Srabon
Baishe Srabon is a 2011 Bengali musical thriller directed by director Srijit Mukherji. The cast of the movie consists of Prosenjit Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee, Raima Sen, Abir Chatterjee and reputed actor Gautam Ghosh who made a come back after 29 years...
starring Prosenjit Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee
Parambrata Chatterjee
Parambrata Chatterjee is a Bengali Indian male actor and director of television and films.-Career:His directorial debut feature film is [Jiyo Kaka] starred by Rituparna Sengupta and Rudranil Ghosh....
, Raima Sen
Raima Sen
-Early life:She is the daughter of Moon Moon Sen and the granddaughter of legendary actress Suchitra Sen. Her sister, Riya Sen, is also in the Bollywood industry. Their father Bharat Dev Varma is a member of the royal family of Tripura. Her paternal grandmother, Ila Devi, was the princess of Cooch...
, Abir Chatterjee
Abir Chatterjee
Abir Chatterjee is a popular Bengali film and television actor.He is the son of noted theater personalities Phalguni and Rumki Chatterjee. His father was one of the founders to noted theater group LOKKRISHTI...
and director Gautam Ghose
Gautam Ghose
Goutam Ghose is one of the most acclaimed film directors of modern India. Born in Calcutta. Graduated from Calcutta University....
, who returned to acting after a hiatus of 29 years. Mukherji's next directorial venture will feature an ensemble cast that includes Rupa Ganguly
Rupa Ganguly
Rupa Ganguly or Roopa Ganguly is an Indian actress in the Hindi and Bengali language film industry, as well as television She became popular after playing Draupadi in the hit Television series Mahabharat , and in film is most known for her roles in films like Padma Nadir Majhi by Gautam Ghose,...
and Swastika Mukherjee
Swastika Mukherjee
Swastika Mukherjee is a Bengali actress at Tollywood. She is daughter of actor Santu Mukherjee. Mukherjee's first stint with acting was the tele-serial Devdasi. She made her film debut in 2003 with the film Hemanter Pakhi directed by Urmi Chakraborty...
.
Exploring avant-garde Bengali literature
For the first time Bengali avant-garde literature has been incorporated into mainstream cinema by Srijit Mukherji in his film Baishe SrabonBaishe Srabon
Baishe Srabon is a 2011 Bengali musical thriller directed by director Srijit Mukherji. The cast of the movie consists of Prosenjit Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee, Raima Sen, Abir Chatterjee and reputed actor Gautam Ghosh who made a come back after 29 years...
wherein film director Gautam Ghose
Gautam Ghose
Goutam Ghose is one of the most acclaimed film directors of modern India. Born in Calcutta. Graduated from Calcutta University....
portrayed the role of a Hungry generation
Hungry generation
The Hungry Generation was a literary movement in the Bengali language launched by what is known today as the Hungryalist quartet i.e. Shakti Chattopadhyay, Malay Roy Choudhury, Samir Roychoudhury and Debi Roy alias Haradhon Dhara, during the 1960s in Kolkata, India...
poet. However, the film has deviated from the actual history of the movement.