Veteran Bengali director Utpalendu Chakraborty, known for arthouse films such as Chokh, died on Tuesday evening at his residence, his family said. Chakraborty, 76, died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Regent Park around 6 pm, they said.
He was survived by his daughters, actors Ritabhari and Chitrangada, and wife Satarupa Sanyal, who is also a filmmaker.
Chakraborty got a National Award for Best Feature Film and Best Direction in 1983 for Chokh, besides the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director in 1981. He also got an NFDC Award and a President's Award.
He is known for films such as Moynatadanto (1980), Chandaneer (1989), Phaansi (1988) and Debsishu (1987).
Chakraborty had studied at Scottish Church College and Calcutta University and was involved in Left-wing activism.
He has made documentaries on the music of Satyajit Ray and Rabindra Sangeet exponent Debabrata Biswas, among others.
Chakraborty, who lived alone, had a fracture after tripping in his bathroom in April. He underwent surgery for it. He was also suffering from COPD for several years.
Expressing grief, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a statement said his demise would create a void in the film industry
Cine Central, one of the oldest film clubs in the country, condoled Chakraborty's death.
"He was a regular visitor to our office. We used to discuss films. We also had plans to make a film at the early stage of his career but that did not materialise as he became busy making one film after another," film journalist Sajal Datta, a senior member of the club, told PTI.
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