Calcutta, May 30 (PTI): Bollywood and the Bengali film industry joined in mourning the loss of Rituparno Ghosh, making the filmmaker’s sudden demise trend on Twitter through the day.
The acclaimed filmmaker, who charted a new wave in Bengali cinema with his thought provoking films and captured the imagination of the audience with works such as 'Chitrangada', died here Thursday morning after a cardiac arrest. He was just 52.
It was his sudden death that shocked the fraternity. Noted director Shekhar Kapur tweeted: Every passing of a friend is a reminder 2 not delay your dreams. The time is not tomorrow. It is now. This moment. RIP Rituparno Ghosh
In fact, Ghosh himself had tweeted just this Tuesday: “Wrapped up the shoot of Satyanewshi, a crime thriller in the molten glow of the pensive falling afternoon.”
Known as Ritu-da, Ghosh was never apologetic about his cross-dressing or his sexuality and in Kaushik Ganguly's 'Arekti Premer Galpo' and Sanjoy Nag's 'Memories in March', he played pivotal gay roles.
Veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee said the news came as a great shock. “He was a great genius and the void left after his death cannot be easily filled,” Chatterjee said.
Many, like actor Ajay Devgn, who worked with Ghosh in 'Raincoat', took to Twitter to express their grief. Devgn tweeted: “Shocked and saddened to hear about Rituparno Ghosh's death. It was great working with him in 'Raincoat' and his way of looking at things was so different and unique.”
Fondly termed as 'Rituda', his films gave a new wave to the Bengali film industry. His films glorified women, their inner feelings, passion and sufferings.
Actress Bipasha Basu, who worked with him in 'Shob Charitro Kalponik', tweeted: Landed in coimbatore got heartbreaking news!Ritu da has passed away!Dont want to believe it!I have such wonderful memories with him!”
“Deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden demise of Rituparno Ghosh. He directed 'Bariwali', first film I produced. Have amazing memories of him,” posted Anupam Kher.
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, in another tweet, said: “Shocked by passing of Rituparno Ghosh. He was dreaming of getting into what he called his 'next phase'. Hugely creative explorer on film.”
Winner of 12 national and some international awards, Ghosh was suffering from pancreatitis.
Ghosh began his remarkable journey by directing a children's film “Hirer Angti” in 1994, which won him an instant recognition. His very next film 'Unishe April' won the national award in 1995.
He is credited for ushering in a new wave in Bengali cinema with films such as 'Unishe April' and 'Dahan', and had a different take on sexuality, life, filmmaking and equally adaptive to the trends and changes of contemporary filmmakers.
Ghosh played an important role in the revival of the film industry after the 1990s with his arty and sensitive films such as 'Unishe April', 'Dahan' and 'Chokher Bali'.
A Satyajit Ray fan, Ghosh's films glorified women, their inner feelings, passion and sufferings. The filmmaker also explored same sex relationship in his last release 'Chitrangada'.
Born on August 31, 1963, Ghosh grew up in Calcutta. His father was a documentary filmmaker and so he was exposed to the world of art and cinema from his childhood.
He started his career as a creative artist in an advertising agency, and later shifted to films. He made his directional debut in 1994 with children's film 'Hirer Angti'.
His second film 'Unishe April' starring Aparna Sen and Debashree Roy, won first of his 12 National Film Award.
Having an uncanny grasp on the acting prowess, Ghosh has been credited to discover the other side of commercial actors such as Rituparna Sengupta.
Earlier only known to be part of hardcore formula Bengali films opposite Prosenjit Chatterjee mostly, Rituparna Sengupta's second innings as an actor began after starring in Ghosh's 1997 film 'Dahan', which earned her a National Film Award for Best Actress alongside co-star Indrani Halder.
Ghosh also mentored Raima Sen, grand-daughter of legendary actress Suchitra Sen, and gave her the turning point of her career in 'Chokher Bali'.
He later shifted from working with only Bengali actors to Bombay-based ones. He worked with Kirron Kher in 'Bariwali', Raakhee in 'Shubho Mahurat', Aishwarya Rai in 'Chokher Bali' and 'Raincoat', which also starred Ajay Devgn.
For his first English language film 'The Last Lear', Ghosh roped in megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Arjun Rampal.
Bipasha Basu also made her debut in Bengali films with Ghosh's 'Shob Charitro Kalponik' in 2008.
His other National award winning films are 'Dahan', 'Asukh', 'Chokher Bali', 'Utsab', 'Raincoat', 'Shubho Mahurat', 'Abohoman', 'Shob Charitro Kalponik' and 'The Last Lear'.
Ghosh made his acting debut in 2003 with an Oriya film 'Katha Deithilli Ma Ku' directed by Himanshu Parija. He hosted two celebrity chat shows- 'Ebong Rituporno' and 'Ghosh and co'.
He also was the scriptwriter of television soap 'Gaaner Opare' for few initial episodes.
His last release was 'Chitrangada', a modern take on Rabindranath Tagore's tale of the same name. The film won the special jury award at the 60th National Film Awards.
Charting a different course from his last ew films on relationship and alternative sexuality, Ghosh took up the ambitious work of filming the exploits of popular Bengali sleuth Byomkesh Bakshi.
The film starring 'Kahaani' director Sujoy Ghosh and actress Arpita Chatterjee, was in post-production stage.
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