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Manoj Mitra

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Manoj Mitra
Mitra in 2013
Born(1938-12-22)22 December 1938
Dhulihar, Satkhira District, Khulna Division, Bengal Province, British India[1]
Died12 November 2024(2024-11-12) (aged 85)
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Actor, Theatre Artist, Dramatist
Known forTheatre, acting
FamilyAmar Mitra (writer) (brother)

Manoj Mitra (22 December 1938 – 12 November 2024) was an Indian theatre, film and television actor, director, and playwright.[2]

Early life

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Mitra was born on 22 December 1938 in Dhulihar village of Satkhira, Khulna.[3] Initially he used to study at home because his father Ashok Kumar Mitra, who had a transferable job. Mitra was attracted to the Jatras and plays that used to be held in their courtyard during the Durga Pujas but was forbidden by senior family members to participate in any way. His school life began after the Partition at Dandirhat N.K.U.S. Niketan near Basirhat. Later he joined the Scottish Church College with honours in philosophy and graduated in 1958.[4] He used to write short stories and many of them appeared in various magazines.

Theatre career

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It was at Scottish Church that he got initiated to theatre. There were regular shows at the college where the likes of Badal Sarkar, Rudraprasad Sengupta and others were students.[5] He did his M.A. in philosophy from the University of Calcutta and began research for a doctorate. But by then he and friends like theatre and film director Partha Pratim Chowdhury had begun the group Sundaram.[2] He began by teaching philosophy in the Suri Vidyasagar College (only one day) and later joined the drama department at the Rabindra Bharati University, where he became the head of department and retired as Sisirkumar Bhaduri professor of the University. But by then he was a leading playwright of West Bengal. He was writing, directing and acting in plays. He has written over a hundred plays like Sajano Bagaan, Chokhe Angul Dada, Kaalbihongo, Parabas, Alokanandar Putra Kanya, Narak Guljar, Aswathama, Chakbhanga Madhu, Mesh O Rakhash, Noisho Bhoj, Chhayar Prashad, Galpo Hekim Saheb, Rajdarshan, Debi Swarpamasta, Munni O Saat Chowkidar, Ranger haat, Ja Nei Bharatey.[6] While most of these plays were produced by Sundaram, Bohurupee etc. He also played a soulful role in the movie "Hothat Bristy" (Sudden Rain) in 1998 produced by both Bangladesh & India. His works have been translated into many languages. Mitra has written several books on film and theatre.[7]

He was the President of the Paschim Banga Natya Akademi from which he resigned citing health issues in August 2019.

Career in film

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Mitra acted in films by a diverse variety of directors such as Tapan Sinha, Satyajit Ray, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Basu Chatterjee, Tarun Majumdar, Shakti Samanta and Goutam Ghose.

He is best known for the lead role in Tapan Sinha's film Banchharamer Bagan (based on Mitra's play Sajano Bagaan - The Arranged Garden[8]) and his roles in Satyajit Ray's Ghare Baire and Ganashatru. He played comedic and antagonist roles in hundreds of Bengali movies.[9]

Death

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Mitra died on 12 November 2024, at the age of 85.[10][11]

Awards and honours

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  • Sangeet Natak Akademy Award for Best Playwright (1985)
  • Calcutta University Award for Best Playwright (1986)
  • West Bengal State Government Award for Best Playwright (1983 & 1989)
  • Asiatic Society's Gold Medal (2005)
  • Filmfare Award East for Best Actor (1980)
  • Munir Chowdhury Award from Bangladesh Theatre Society (2011)
  • Dinabandhu Puraskar (25 May 2012)
  • Kalakar Awards[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Veteran Bengali actor Manoj Mitra passes away". The Indian Express. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "At play with a pack of cards". The Telegraph. India. 3 August 2008. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  3. ^ "The Constant Gardener". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  4. ^ Some Alumni of Scottish Church College in 175th Year Commemoration Volume. Scottish Church College, April 2008, p. 589
  5. ^ Interview with Manoj Mitra in Scottish Church College Magazine, 2001, volume 89. page 42
  6. ^ "শূন্য 'বাঞ্ছারামের বাগান', প্রয়াত মনোজ মিত্র". Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  7. ^ "আচমকা মনোজ মিত্রর মৃত্যুর গুজব, বিরক্ত পরিবার, এখন কেমন আছেন শিল্পী?". sangbadpratidin. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  8. ^ "The Films of Tapan Sinha". Archived from the original on 18 October 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  9. ^ "৮০ বছর বয়সে করুণ পরিস্থিতির সম্মুখীন, কীভাবে দিন কাটছে 'বাঞ্ছারাম' মনোজ মিত্রের". Hindustantimes Bangla (in Bengali). 25 March 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Veteran Bengali actor Manoj Mitra passes away at 86". The Indian Express.
  11. ^ Bangla, TV9 (12 November 2024). "প্রয়াত কিংবদন্তী মনোজ মিত্র, শোকাচ্ছন্ন সংস্কৃতি জগত্‍". TV9 Bangla (in Bengali). Retrieved 12 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Kalakar award winners" (PDF). Kalakar website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
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