Bengal Inc mourns Soumitra death

Kolkata: The Bengal Inc on Sunday condoled the demise of film maestro Soumitra Chattopadhyay, calling him one of the greatest actors of all time. The actor passed away in Kolkata on Sunday at the age of 85.

Sanjiv Goenka, chairman of RP

Sanjiv Goenka

Group that owns Saregama India, feels that Bengal has lost a great son, Mother India has lost a great artist and the world of cinema has lost a star.

“With the demise of Soumitra Chatterjee also comes the end of Satyajit Ray era which gave us a priceless place in the world of cinema. Twenty twenty has been an year of devastating losses, which will be difficult to fill up,” he added.

Music in Satyajit Ray films was primarily launched under Saregama India (the then HMV), including the Feluda series - - where chatterjee played the iconic sleuth.

Harsh Neotia

, the chairman of Ambuja Neotia group, said, “Soumitro babu was not just a thespian par excellence but a very affable and caring human being. I have had the privilege of knowing him for more than three decades and all through, even though he was much feted and awarded, continued to remain ever so humble and unaffected. In his passing away, we have lost a legend.”

Echoing him,

Sanjay Budhia

, the managing director of Patton, said people have lost a living legend whose outstanding contribution to the growth of Bengali Cinema is unparalleled. “This void can never be filled up. We shared a very close relationship,” he added.

Recalling his personal experience with the legendary actor, he said, “From CII, we used to organise Film Mart alongside film festival at Nandan where producers, directors, distributors and TV channels put up their stalls to showcase their new launches and releases. We were honoured to have Soumitrada to inaugurate the Film Mart. I also had the proud privilege of felicitating Soumitrada for his lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. A doyen of Bengali cinema and theatre, and the Dada Saheb Phalke and Padma Bhushan Award winner, Soumitrada, will always reside in our hearts. I will miss him. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”