Pijush Ganguly: A friend for all seasons

A fatal road accident took away this beloved actor, theatrician, singer and family man all too soon. Calcutta Times remembers Pijush Ganguly
He would have pursued a career in football, if not for an accident. He would have continued to shine on stage, in films, on TV , if not for an accident... The boardroom of a south Kolkata nursing home kept buzzing with many such stories about the man till late Saturday evening.Pijush Ganguly's health that remained stable for the past few days after meeting with an accident at Santragachi on Saptami, started failing since Saturday afternoon. By evening, artistes gathered to pray for a miracle. But then, miracles don't happen every day , and 50-yearold Pijush -who loved to surprise his friends -sprung one that no one would forget in years to come.
HE WAS A COMPLETE FOODIE
In his career spanning over 20 years, Pijush had become a household name. He started his television career with Abar Jakher Dhan and followed it up with Janmabhumi, Sonar Horin, Megher Palok, Jol Nupur, Boyei Gelo, Chokher Tara Tui, Aanchol...Aparajita Auddy , popularly known as Pari Pagli in Jol Nupur, last shot with her on-screen husband Pijush on Tritiya. ���I've known him for the past 15 years and we paired up in several serials, films and telefilms. In all these years, he showered me with a lot of affection. Every time I went to his house to have ilish-bhaat, he would pack the remaining pieces of fish for me to take home. There were times when he would spot good quality ilish at the Behala Chowrasta market and call me to say, 'Apa, shokale giye dekhe eshechhi darun ilish eshechhe. Dada ke bol na kiney ante," said the actress.
A DEDICATED ACTOR
While shooting for a near-accident scene in Jol Nupur, Pijush took to the driver's seat, much to the surprise of the entire unit. Aparajita recalled, ���It was a scene where, in order to confirm whether the woman travelling in the car ahead of his was indeed Pari Pagli, he sped up and almost met with an accident. There were several retakes and I asked Pijushda why he wasn't opting for a dummy. He told me, 'Why put another man's life in danger?' He was a child at heart."
Shooting of Jol Nupur is set to resume on October 28 and unit members aren't sure what to do with the track.
Sohini Sengupta, who worked with Pijush in the play, Babli, written by Bratya Basu and directed by Anirban Bhattacharya, said he was never late even by a minute for the rehearsals. ���If he said he was coming at 6 pm, I had to leave earlier than usual from my home. He was very warm, would give a hug when he was happy and never minced words. He didn't like to maintain a distance; everyone was his friend. Once when I went to receive an award for Icche, Pijushda, who was in the audience, came running and even broke into an impromptu jig," said Sohini.
A GREAT THEATRE LOVER
Pijush, who would catch all the plays in town, always paid for his ticket. ���He never asked for a complimentary pass and insisted on paying for his ticket, which was his way of appreciating theatre. A permanent fixture in the front row, he always asked for an A4 seat. He recently came for the premiere show of our Bhalo Manush and cheered loudly from the front row.In fact, he was very vocal about his feedback and having him in the audience meant something special.Days before the show, I had called him to ask if would like to come and he fought with me over that. `Why ask such a question?' he kept telling me,��� said Sohini. Chanda Dutt, who recently directed Pijush in Teen Penny Opera, her adaptation of Brecht's The Threepenny Opera, said no one could have played Peachum better.
She will now have to cancel the April show of the stage production.���We'll think of a replacement later.Right now, there's no way we can pull off another show without him. Every day during the rehearsals, he would tell me, `Didi, I'm learning so many new things. In fact, he would share how he was learning from every play that he was part of. After the tremendous response that our play received, he called me to say , `Jano, amar prochur naam hoyechhe'. He loved everything from acting, dancing and singing that his role demanded. Apart from being a prolific actor, he was also a brilliant singer,��� she said.
HE SHONE EVEN IN A DEATH SCENE
Just ahead of the Pujas, Gargee Roychowdhury and Parambrata Chatterjee shot with Pijush for Anjan Dutt's Hemanta, his adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet. ���There was a scene where Pijushda dies after a fatal blow from Hemanta (Parambrata). The shot ended with an expression of exasperation on my face. Pijushda, a master of physical acting, did the scene so well that we couldn't stop clapping,��� said Gargee.Immediately after, the actor -happy with what he had done -took a `singara break'. ���When I asked him why he was having so many of them, he said, `Aj achhi kal nei, joto pari kheye jai',��� she recalled. Since Pijush had outshone himself in the role, Anjan Dutt was thinking of extending his part, added Gargee. ��� A part of his shoot is still left and the team was thinking of weaving in more scenes, but that was not to be,��� she said.
HE DROVE RATHER WELL
Pijush, who had to his credit films like Chaar, Basanta Utsav, Goynar Baksho, Aborto, Abar Byomkesh, Autograph, Byomkesh Bakshi, Angshumaner Chhobi, Madly Bangalee, Iti Srikanta and Mahulbanir Sereng, among others, shared a special connect with Kaushik Ganguly . The actor was part of his first serial Bhalobasha Mondobasha, first telefilm, Ami Shey O Anu, last serial, Chorabali, apart from his film, Laptop. ���Pijush would never be part of any industry gossip and was all praise for everyone around him. I remember when Churni (Ganguly) and I bought our first non-AC small car and had no one to bring it home from the showroom, he volunteered to drive it for us. He was a superb driver and it's shocking that he went away in a road accident.There have been times when he would cook and bring food to our home to have a lunch together.Despite the innumerable conversations that we would keep having, he never mentioned work even in passing. I remember how, during Laptop, he would bring his script with lines underlined in different colours. His script was as colourful as he was in real life. When I now write a script, I'll have to say I need someone like Pijush. He has become a reference point,��� said Kaushik.
A FAMILY MAN
Pijush, who is survived by wife Pamela and son Tatai, was the man of the house. Said Kaushik, ���He was a doting father and was very happy when Tatai got a job recently . In fact, he was proud of all his son's achievements. From taking care of the policy papers to managing the household, Pijush did everything with effortless ease. I don't know how the family will manage without him.��� It's no different with the theatre, TV and film industries in Bengal. Pijush has left behind a vacuum that only he could have filled up. He was his competition...