Veteran Bengali actress Supriya Devi!

ICON OF BENGALI CINEMA SUPRIYA DEVI NO MORE!

 - Manoj Kulkarni

One of the great actresses of Bengali Cinema..Supriya Devi passed away at the age of 85! She was best known for her very sensitive character in Bengali master filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak's classic film 'Meghe Dhaka Tara'!

Started acting on theatre..Supriya Devi appeared on screen in 1952 with Uttam Kumar in film 'Basu Paribar' and in 1959 with the big success of their next 'Sonar Harin' she became a leading actress of Bengali cinema!..Then same year her screen portrait as beautiful 'Amrapali' gained popularity!

Supriya Devi & Uttam Kumar in 'Basu Paribar'

After that great Bengali filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak chosed her for his films 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' (1960) & 'Komal Gandhar' (1961)..early two parts of trilogy dealing with the aftermath of the Partition of Bengal & refugees suffering in it! Supriya Devi's characters of self-sacrificing & constantly exploited in these films touched the hearts!

Supriya Devi in Ritwik Ghatak's 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' (1960).

In 1963 she appeared in Hindi Cinema with Dharmendra starrer 'Begaana' which was directed by Marathi filmmaker Sadashiv Rao Kavi! Then her role in Uttam Kumar produced-directed & acted Bengali film 'Bon Palashir Padabali' (1973) was notable! And her performance in Raja Sen's national award winning Bengali film 'Atmiyo Swajan' (1998) was highly admired!

Dharmendra & Supriya Devi in Hindi film 'Begaana' (1963).

Supriya Devi received several awards like 'BFJA' & 'Filmfare'! And got 'Bang-Vibhushan' of West Bengal and honoured with 'Padmashri' from Government of India!

I still remember pathos of her heart touching performance in the great scene of Ghatak's 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' in which nature & sky also showed crying with her!

Humble Homage to this great actress!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune]