Kolkata mourns Ruma Guha Thakurta’s demise

Veteran filmmaker Tarun Majumdar, who had worked with Ruma Guha Thakurata in quite a few films, including Balika Badhu, Polatak and

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, and was known as close associate of the actress-singer expressed his deep condolences following her demise on Monday. When asked to speak about his association with her, he said her sudden death had taken him by surprise and he wasn’t in a situation of speak on the matter.

Among the duo’s projects together, Balika Badhu was about child marriage — a custom that is still practiced in various Indian societies. Set during the British Raj, the film tells the story of a village school boy, Amal, who is married to a young girl named Rajni.

The singer-actress passed away in her sleep on Monday morning at her Ballygunge residence. She was 84. After hearing the news, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee mourned the loss of the Twitter: "Saddened at the passing away of Ruma Guha Thakurta. Her contribution to the field of cinema and music will always be remembered. My condolences to her family and her admirers."

Ruma began her career as an actress in 1944 with Amiya Chakrvarty’s Jwar Bhata and went on to star in films such as Personal Assistant,

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, Antony Firingee, Dadar Kirti,

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, Agun and Asha O Bhalobasha. In the nineties, she featured in films such as Wheel Chair, Indrajit and Sangharsha. Mira Nair's critically acclaimed film, The Namesake, was her last project.