Sumita Devi
Encyclopedia
Sumita Devi (February 2, 1936 - January 6, 2004) was a Bangla
film and TV actress. She was born Hena Bhattacharya in Manikganj District
, Bengal
(now in Bangladesh
). She was married to the filmmaker Zahir Raihan
.
family. Following her entry into movies, she married the director Zahir Raihan
in 1961 and had two sons. During this time, she also converted to Islam and changed her name to Nilufar Begum, even though she was continued to be known by her stage name. Sumita Devi became an active artiste for the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro (Independent Bengal Radio Station) during the Bangladesh Liberation War
.
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
film and TV actress. She was born Hena Bhattacharya in Manikganj District
Manikganj District
The district of Manikganj consists 3575 mosques, 160 temples, 10 churches, five Buddhist temples and a pagoda.-Literacy and education:Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 26.9%; male 33.7%, female 20.1%...
, Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
(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...
). She was married to the filmmaker Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is perhaps best known for his documentary Stop Genocide made during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He disappeared on December 30, 1972 trying to locate his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by...
.
Film career
Sumita Devi was a leading personality of Dhaka film society in the 1960s. She first acted in the feature film Aasia (1960). Her next film was Akash Ar Mati (1959). Both were directed by Fateh Lohani. Aasia got the President's Award as the best Bengali film for 1960. Sumita's career in acting spanned for nearly four decades. She acted in the main role in more than fifty feature films and in side roles in more than a hundred. Noted among the films Sumita acted in are E Desh Tomar Amar (1959; started later, but completed before Aasia), Aasia (1960), Kokhono Asheni (1961), Sonar Kajol (1962), Kancher Deyal (1963), Ei To Jibon (1964), Dui Diganta (1964), Behula (1966), Agun Niye Khela (1967), Obhishap (1967), Ora Egaro Jon (1972), Sujon Sokhi (1975) and Amar Janmabhumi (197-). During her long career in acting, she performed roles in radio, television and theatre as well. As a filmmaker, Sumita produced five films. These were Agun Niye Khela, Momer Alo, Mayar Sangsar, Adarsha Chhapakhana and Notun Probhat.Personal life
Sumita Devi was born to a BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
family. Following her entry into movies, she married the director Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is perhaps best known for his documentary Stop Genocide made during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He disappeared on December 30, 1972 trying to locate his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by...
in 1961 and had two sons. During this time, she also converted to Islam and changed her name to Nilufar Begum, even though she was continued to be known by her stage name. Sumita Devi became an active artiste for the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro (Independent Bengal Radio Station) during the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
.
Awards
- All PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
Critic Award, 1962 - Nigar Award 1963 for Kancher Deyal
- Bangladesh Film Journalist Association Award
- Television Reporters Association of Bangladesh Award
- Agartala Muktijoddha Award, 2002
- Janakantha Gunijan and Pratibha Sammanona, 2002