Veteran Bengali actor Manoj Mitra passes away

Manoj Mitra’s fame also extended to the silver screen. His performance in Bancharamer Bagan (1980) is still fondly remembered by  the Bengali audience.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over Mitra’s death. She took to X and said: “Saddened by the demise of the famous actor, director, and playwright, “Banga Bibhushan” Manoj Mitra today morning. He had been a leading personality in our theatre and film worlds and his contributions have been immense. I convey my condolences to his family, friends, and admirers.”

Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari also wrote on X: “I am deeply saddened to learn that veteran actor and renowned theatre personality Shri Manoj Mitra passed away due to age-related health issues. A notable film and theatre artiste, he will be remembered for his evergreen performances in Tapan Sinha’s Banchharamer Bagan and Satyajit Ray’s classics Ghare Baire and Ganashatru. A prolific playwright, Mitra wrote over 100 plays and received numerous awards, including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Best Playwright. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family members, friends, innumerous fans (sic), and admirers. May his soul attain eternal peace. Om Shanti…”

Manoj Mitra was born on December 22, 1938, in the Dhulihar village of Satkhira district of then-undivided Bengal. He graduated from Scottish Church College in Philosophy in 1958. While studying at this college, he became closely involved with drama, buoyed by his companions Badal Sarkar and Rudraprasad Sengupta. Mitra later obtained his Master’s in Philosophy from Calcutta University and began research.

Director Tapan Sinha briefs Bhishma Guhathakurta, Manoj Mitra (centre) and Devika Mukherjee during the shooting of Banchharamer Bagan, which was released in 1980. (Express Archive)

Mitra started acting in drama in 1957 and movies in 1979. He also taught philosophy in various colleges before joining Rabindra Bharati University as the Head of the Department of Drama. He wrote his first play, “Mrityur Chokhe Jal” in 1959. But in 1972, his fame and recognition shot up through the play “Chak Bhanga Madhu”, directed by Bivas Chakraborty.

Mitra also founded a theatre group called “Sundaram,” which he then left in a few years to form “Ritayan”, but interestingly, he returned to Sundaram in a few days. His name is associated with several hit plays such as “Absanna Prajapati”, “Neela”, “Singhdwar” and “Fera”.

Manoj acted in several films directed by Tapan Sinha, Tarun Majumdar, Basu Chatterjee, and Satyajit Ray, besides being a familiar face in mainstream movies. He commanded the respect and admiration of audiences, even as he played the villain in some of these films.