Shekhar Chatterjee

Shekhar Chatterjee
Born c. 1924[1]
Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Occupation Actor, director
Years active 1950–1989

Shekhar Chatterjee (1924 — 6 April 1994) is an Indian actor and film director.

Career

Chatterjee was born in Kolkata. He began his career in the Bengali theatre in the 1950s. He was associated with a number of leftist theatre groups, including the Communist Party's Indian People's Theatre Association, Utpal Dutt's Little Theatre Group, and Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, as well as his own group, Theatre Unit, which he formed in 1958.[2] As a stage actor he was well known for his Shakespearean roles and for playing Shardul Singh in Dutt's 1965 play Kallol.[2] His directorial work focused on works by German-language playwrights Bertold Brecht, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Peter Handke, and Franz Xaver Kroetz.[2] Chatterjee's Brecht productions were rarely adapted to a local setting, and while critics unanimously praised this approach as "authentic", his colleague Dutt attacked it for failing to communicate Brecht's political symbolism to an Indian audience.[3]

Chatterjee was also active in Bengali, Indian and world cinema, having acted in nearly a hundred films by the time he was sixty.[1] Among his first credited roles was in Agradoot's 1955 film noir Sabar Uparey; he later had memorable roles in several of Mrinal Sen's films, including Bhuvan Shome, Ek Adhuri Kahani, Chorus, and Mrigayaa.[2][1] His biggest international role was that of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy in Richard Attenborough's biographical epic Gandhi. Casting director Dolly Thakore recommended Chatterjee for the role after seeing him onstage in Calcutta and noting that he shared Suhrawardy's large stature.[4]

In 1983, Chatterjee directed the film Vasundhara, which was awarded as best Bengali film at the 31st National Film Awards. The Directorate of Film Festivals cited it for "its sincere attempt to depict the struggle against social injustice".[1]

Filmography

As actor

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989Judge Sahebas Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1989Nishi Trishna
1988Kidnap
1988Hirer Shikal
1987Raj Purushas Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1984Maa
1984Rashifal
1983Samapti
1982GandhiSuhrawardy
1981Abichar
1978Anugraham
1978Man Abhiman
1978Die Zauberwurzel
1977Pratima
1977Mrigayaa
1975Sansar Seemantey
1975Raag Anuragas Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1975ChorusMr. Mukherjee
1974Thaginias Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1974Debi ChowdhuraniRangalal
1974Sangini
1974Mouchak
1973Marjina AbdullaKashem
1973Achena Atithi
1973Ali BabaCaptainas Sekhar Chattopadhyay
1973Ami Sirajer Begam
1972Ek Adhuri Kahani
1972Eine unvollendete GeschichteNemiar
1972Sesh Parba
1972Ajker Nayak
1971KuheliStation master
1971Interview
1970Ichhapuran
1969Bhuvan Shomeas Sekhar Chatterjee
1968Gar Nasimpuras Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1967Der Zooas Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1967Abhishapta Chambal
1966Kal Tumi AleyaLawyer
1966Joradighir Chowdhury Paribaras Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1965Ghoom Bhangar Gaanas Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1965Rajkanya
1965Trishna
1961Dakather Hatey Buluas Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1962AbhijaanRameshwaras Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1955Sabar Uparey

As director

YearTitleNotes
1983Vasundharaas Sekhar Chatterjee

As screenwriter

YearTitleNotes
1975Raag Anuragas Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1973Basanata Bilapas Shekhar Chattopadhyay

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 31st National Film Festival (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals, National Film Development Corporation Limited. June 1984. p. 21. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Interview (Mrinal Sen)". Indiancine.ma. Pad.ma. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  3. ↑ Bharucha, Rustom (1983). "Beyond Brecht: Political Theatre in Calcutta". The Brecht Yearbook. Wayne State University Press. 11: 72–90. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  4. ↑ Das, Mohua; Roy, Priyanka (2014-08-26). "Gandhi did not come to Calcutta…". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-04-20.

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