Remembering Supriya Devi: Did you know these almost forgotten facts about the acting legend?

Supriya Devi was without a doubt one of the most accomplished actors Bengali screen has ever witnessed. Though well-known for her glamorous on and off-screen persona, how can we forget her immense talent as an accomplished performer who received great critical acclaim for some of her super realistic roles including the one in ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’. On her 86 birth anniversary here we take a look at some of the interesting and lesser-known facts about the legendary actress.

Supriya Devi was born in a small town of Michkina, near Burma (modern Myanmar) on 8th January, 1935. Her father Gopal Chandra Bannerjee was a popular advocate and mother Kiranbala Devi was a housewife extremely passionate about music and dance. Supriya was a highly talented dancer since her childhood, even receiving a prestigious award from Thakin Nu, the then prime minister of Burma, who was moved by her dance recitals.

In 1948 Supriya Devi’s family left Burma to resettle in Calcutta. The young Supriya and her family had to go through an arduous trek on foot to reach Calcutta. She then resumed her dance practices and used to train under Guru Muruthappan Pillai and next under Guru Prahlad Das. Supriya and her family had a good relation with their neighbor Chandrabati Devi, a popular character actor. Many believe It was Chandrabati Devi who inspired Supriya Devi to step into the world of Bengali cinema and the rest is history.

In 1952, Supriya Devi made her film debut with ‘Nagpash’ although it was never released and is now believed to be lost. Her second film ‘Basu Parivar’ (1952), a family drama which also marked an early smash hit for Uttam Kumar, was her first notable appearance. Surprisingly in this film she played Uttam Kumar’s sister. The same year saw two more releases ‘Prarthana’ and ‘Madhurati’, both were appreciated by the audience. These films cemente her place as one of the rising stars of Bengali commercial cinema. She became the first Bengali actress to deliver an overtly sensual screen image along with her exceptional dramatic skills.

In 1954, the legendary actress married Bishwanath Choudhury and a few years later she gave birth to her only daughter Soma. She had to retire from films for a short period before making her return with a bang in the late 1950s. Interestingly, unlike many of her contemporary actresses marriage and motherhood never affected her screen popularity at all. Here in this image you can see the actress with her daughter Soma.

Upon her return to cinema, in Shonar Harin (1959) Supriya Devi played the lead opposite Uttam Kumar making it a cult classic. As they started to act in more films together, the two were involved off screen as well and went on to deliver hits after hits. These films such as Uttar Megh (1960), Shuno Baro Nari (the 1962 film where Supriya essayed a sex-worker’s role, considered a strict no-no for popular stars of that period), Kaal Tumi Aleya (1965), Bilambit Laya (1970), Ban Palashir Padaboli (1973), Sanyasi Raja (1975), Bhola Moira (1977) and Dui Purush (1978) are still regarded milestones of Bengali cinema.

This was Supriya’s greatest performance in Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960). The Ritwik Ghatak classic utilised her terrific histrionic abilities superbly. She excelled in her role of a refugee girl Neeta fighting for a better life facing so many obstacles. Her performance reflected the pathos of countless refugee women. She later admitted under Ritwik Ghatak’s master tutelage she discovered the hidden talents in her and while portraying Neeta she dived deep into her soul-wrenching experiences as a refugee from Burma during childhood.

Supriya Devi appeared in a few Bollywood films as well like ‘Begaana’ (1963) and ‘Aap Ki Parchhaiyan’ (1964), both opposite Dharmendra and ‘Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein’ (1964) opposite Kishore Kumar but none of them had a successful box office outing. But she continued to rise in Bengali cinema. In 1968 she was awarded the prestigious Bengal Film Journalist Association (BFJA) Award for ‘Teen Adhyay’. She also grabbed the BFJA award for the Best Supporting Actress for ‘Chinnapatra’ (1972).