Biswajit Chatterjee

Last updated

Biswajit Chatterjee
Biswajit Deb Chatterjee - Kolkata 2014-02-09 8719.JPG
Chatterjee at the 38th International Kolkata Book Fair in 2014
Born (1936-12-14) 14 December 1936 (age 87) [1]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
  • singer
  • politician
Years active1958–present
Political party Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)Ratna Chatterjee (divorced)
Ira Chatterjee
Children3, including

Biswajit Chatterjee (born 14 December 1936), known mononymously as Biswajit, is a veteran Indian actor, producer, director, singer and politician known for his work in Bengali cinema and Hindi cinema. [1] [2]

Contents

Early career

He debut in the Bengali films with the legendary icon Mahanayak Uttam Kumar in Mayamrigo (1960) and Dui Bhai (1961), both film become superhit. Then Biswajit relocated to Bombay. In 1962, he performed in the film Bees Saal Baad which was actually offered first to Uttam Kumar but he rejected and was the first film produced by Hemant Kumar, and then followed by Kohraa , Bin Badal Barsat , Majboor , Kaise Kahoon, and Paisa Ya Pyaar .

His filmography includes Mere Sanam (1965), Shehnai , Aasra (1964), Night in London , Yeh Raat Phir Naa Aaygi (1966), April Fool (1964), Kismat (1968), Do Kaliyan (1968), Ishq Par Zor Nahin and Sharaarat (1972). He was usually paired with notable actresses such as Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Mumtaz, Mala Sinha and Rajshree.

Biswajit appeared in Rekha's debut film Anjana Safar (1969) (later re-titled Do Shikaari ). Though Anjana Safar was blocked by the censors and not released until 10 years later, a scene from the film which shows him kissing Rekha appeared on the pages of the Asian edition of Life magazine. [3] Rekha had complained that during the filming of one of the romantic scenes, Biswajit unexpectedly kissed her for 5 minutes against her will, and the entire crew started cheering and whistling while she was in tears. [4]

Between acting in Bollywood movies, Biswajit has returned to Calcutta to act in Bengali films, including Chowringhee (1968) and Garh Nasimpur with Uttam Kumar and Kuheli and much later, Srimaan Prithviraj (1973), Jai Baba Taraknath (1977) and Amar Geeti (1983).

Apart from acting, Biswajeet also sings and performs in concerts. In the 1970s, he cut a disc of two Bengali modern numbers Tomar Chokher Kajole and Jay Jay Din, both composed by Salil Choudhury.

Later career

In 1975, Biswajit produced and directed his own film, Kahte Hai Mujhko Raja . The film besides him starred Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha, and Rekha. He had done one film Anjana Safar with Rekha previously. R.D. Burman composed the music. Later, he went back to acting. He will make a film on Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's life (in Hindi, English and Bengali) and will act in a new untitled Hindi film (murder mystery) with his younger daughter actress Prima Chatterjee. [5] He has also acted in a Hindi Stage Play, Ulta Seedha, produced directed written by wife Ira Chatterjee. In the play, he acted with his daughter Prima.

Political career

In the 2014 general elections, Biswajit contested from New Delhi as an All India Trinamool Congress candidate. He finished 7th, securing only 909 votes. [6] [7]

In 2019, he joined Bharatiya Janata Party. [7]

Personal life

Biswajit has a son and a daughter by his first wife, the late Ratna Chatterjee. His son Prosenjit and elder daughter Pallavi Chatterjee are also actors in the Bengali Film Industry. Biswajit lives in Mumbai with his second wife, Ira Chatterjee who is producer, director, writer of stage plays and is owner of Dream Theatre. Their younger daughter, Prima Chatterjee is a film actress, theatre actress and a dance performer.

Filmography

YearFilmRole
1958Kangsa Krishna
1959Daak Harkaraa
1960 Maya Mriga Rajatshubhra
Natun Fasal
Shesh Paryantra
1961Ashay Bandhinu Ghar
Dui BhaiKamal Chatterjee
Kathin Maya
1962Mayar Sansar
Badhu
Aamar Desh
Sorry Madam
Nav Diganta
Dhoop Chhaya
Dada Thakur Darpanarayan
Bees Saal Baad Vijay "Kumar" Singh Thakur
1963Akashpradip
Ek Tukro Agun
TridharaPremadri Lahiri
Hasi Shudhu Hasi Noy
Bin Badal BarsaatPrabhat Thakur
1964Agnibanya
Kaise KahoonAmar
Kohra Amit Kumar Singh
Godhuli Belaye
Prabhater Rang
April Fool Ashok
Shehnai Deepak
Majboor Ravi
1965Trishna
Pratham Prem
Ektuku Chhoan Lage
Gulmohar
Do DilManu "Badal"
Mere Sanam Ramesh Kumar
1966Monihar
Aasra Amar Kumar
Biwi Aur Makan Arun
Sagaai Rajesh
Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi Surajprakash
1967Night In LondonJeevan "Vijay"
Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyan Ravi Kumar Mehra
Jaal Inspector Shankar
Nai Roshni Prakash
Ghar Ka Chirag
1968VaasnaDr. Shekhar
Kahin Din Kahin RaatSuraj "Robbie"
Krishna Bhakt Sudaama Krishna
Chhotto Jignasa
Do KaliyanShekhar
Chowringhee Anindya Pakrashi
Garh Nasimpur
Kismat Vicky
1969 Pyar Ka Sapna
Paisa Ya PyarShekhar
Tamanna
Rahgir
1970 Pardesi Ajay
Ishq Par Zor Nahin Amar Doraiswami
1971Pratibad
ChahatAshok
Main Sundar HoonAmar
Kuheli Shankar
1972Chaitali
ShararatHarry
Roktakto BanglaShaheed
1973 Ami Sirajer Begam Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah
Mehmaan Rajesh
Shriman Prithviraj Akhil Mitra
1974 Do Aankhen
Prantarekha
RaktatilakRoop Singh
Phir Kab Milogi Rajesh Sharma
1975 Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja Raja Thakur
Rajaram "Raja"
1976 Bajrangbali Rama
1977Chhotto Nayak
Bhola Moira
Baba TaraknathScientist
Naami Chor
1978Saat Bhai Champa
Karunamoyee
Ranger Saheb
1979Jai Baba Baidyanath
Bhagyalipi
Do Shikaari Ranjeet
1980Gori Dian JhanjranKasturilal
HumkadamMr. Dutt
1981Abichar
Meghmukti
1982Sonar Bangla
1983Amar Geeti
1984 Anand Aur Anand Mr. Thakur
Shorgol
1985 Saaheb Mr. Sharma
Harishchandra Shaibya Maharaj Harishchandra
1986 Krishna-Krishna Krishna
Allah Rakha Inspector Anwar
1987Micha Mayara Sansar
Nishibasar
Radha Rani
Sadak Chhap Lakshman
1988Shiv Ganga Kamdev
Rater Kuheli
Be Lagaam
1989Hal Aur Bandook
Sansar
1990Kayedi
Zimmedaaar Chief Inspector
1991 Jigarwala Ranjeet Singh
Kaun Kare Kurbanie Police Commissioner
1992Mehboob Mere MehboobMaharaj
Rupban KanyaEkabbar Badshah
1993Dil Apna Aur Preet ParaeeB. N. Sharma
1995Pyar Do Pyar Lo
1998Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat
Ek Tha Dil Ek Tha Dhadkhan
1999Sar Ankhon ParVishwajeet Chatterjee
Kichhhu Sanlap Kichhu Pralap
2000Bharat India HindustanJames Bond
2001Dark Night
Mera Saaya
2002Great Target
Inth Ka Jawab PattharDevendra's Adopted Father
2003Adorini
2004Birsa Munda – The Black Iron Man
2009 Aa Dekhen Zara Mr. Acharya
2012Baarood – A Love Story
2013Kajra Mohabbat WalaAnita's Father
Rangbaaz
2014Sondhey Namaar Aagey
2017Phir Aaya Satte Pe SattaMamaji

Director

YearFilm
1974Raktatilak
1975 Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja
1981Abichar
1984Shorgol


Producer

YearFilm
1975 Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja
2013Sorry Madam Maaf Karo


Awards and honors

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemant Kumar</span> Indian singer and music director

Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, known professionally as Hemant Kumar and Hemanta Mukherjee, was a legendary Indian music director and playback singer who primarily sang in Bengali and Hindi, as well as other Indian languages like Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese, Tamil, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Konkani, Sanskrit and Urdu. He was an artist of Bengali and Hindi film music, Rabindra Sangeet, and many other genres. He was the recipient of two National Awards for Best Male Playback Singer and was popularly known as the "voice of God".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mala Sinha</span> Indian actress

Alda Sinha, better known by her stage name Mala Sinha, is a former Indian actress who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Initially starting her career with regional cinema, she went on to become a top leading actress in Hindi Cinema in the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. In a career spanning four decades, Mala Sinha rose to prominence with films like Guru Dutt's Pyaasa (1957) and Yash Chopra's Dhool Ka Phool (1959). Later, she starred in over hundred film productions including Phir Subah Hogi (1958), Hariyali Aur Rasta, Anpadh, Dil Tera Deewana (1962), Gumrah, Bahurani, Himalay Ki God Mein (1965), Aasra (1966), Ankhen, Do Kaliyan, Maryada (1971). She was known as the "daring diva" and "torch bearer of women's cinema" for essaying strong female centric and unconventional roles in a range of movies considered ahead of their times. Having received multiple awards and nominations, she was given the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suchitra Sen</span> Indian actress

Suchitra Sen (Bengali pronunciation:[ʃuːtʃiːraːʃeːn] ; born Roma Dasgupta, widely known as the Mahanayika, was an Indian actress who worked in Bengali and Hindi cinema. The movies in which she was paired opposite Uttam Kumar became classics in the history of Bengali cinema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uttam Kumar</span> Indian actor, director and producer (1926–1980)

Uttam Kumar, widely known as the Mahanayak, was an Indian film actor, producer, director, screenwriter, composer, and playback singer who predominantly worked in Bengali cinema. His career spanned three decades, from the late 1940s until his death in 1980. Kumar is regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema and also the most popular and successful film star in Bengal.

Chatterjee, also known as Chattopadhyay is a Bengali Hindu surname, used by the Kulin group of the Bengali Brahmin caste. Together with Banerjees, Mukherjees, Bhattacharjees, and Gangulys, Chatterjees form the Kulin Brahmins, the highest tier of the Bengali caste system. They belong to Rarhi clan of Bengali Brahmins and the Kashyapa gotra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indraneil Sengupta</span> Indian film and television actor

Indraneil Sengupta is an Indian film and television actor, and a model living in Kolkata since 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prosenjit Chatterjee</span> Indian film actor and producer

Prosenjit Chatterjee is an Indian actor and producer. He is widely regarded as one of the leading actors in modern Bengali cinema. He predominantly works in Bengali cinema. He is the son of veteran Bollywood actor Biswajit Chatterjee.

<i>Bees Saal Baad</i> (1962 film) 1962 film

Bees Saal Baad is a 1962 Indian Hindi-language psychological thriller film. It was directed by Biren Nag and produced by Hemant Kumar, who also composed the music and sang some of the songs. The film marks the directorial debut of Biren Nag, and stars Biswajeet, Waheeda Rehman, Madan Puri, Sajjan and Asit Sen.

<i>Amanush</i> (1975 film) 1975 film by Shakti Samanta

Amanush (transl.Inhuman) is a 1975 Indian bilingual action masala film made in Bengali and Hindi languages, produced and directed by Shakti Samanta, under his banner Shakti Films. Based on Shaktipada Rajguru's novel Naya Basat which he wrote plotting on Sundarbans, the film stars Uttam Kumar in the titular role, alongside Sharmila Tagore, Utpal Dutt, Anil Chatterjee, Manik Dutta and Asit Sen in supporting roles. The soundtrack and background score was composed by Shyamal Mitra.

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards commonly referred as BFJA Awards, is given by The Bengal Film Journalists' Association. The BFJA is the oldest association of film critics in India, founded in 1937 to serve the developing film journalism and film industry.

Chowronghee is a 1968 Indian Bengali drama film by Pinaki Bhushan Mukherjee, starring Uttam Kumar and Subhendu Chatterjee who played the lead role and Biswajit Chatterjee, Supriya Devi and Anjana Bhowmick in supporting role. The music of the film composed by Ashima Bhattachariya who also produced this film. The film is based on a Bengali novel of the same name by Shankar and was a huge hit in its own right. The film is regarded as one of the greatest film in Bengali cinema and for Uttam's career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjana Bhowmick</span> Indian actress (1944–2024)

Anjana Bhowmik was an Indian actress of Bengali cinema from the 1960s until the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Srijit Mukherji</span> Indian actor, director and screenwriter

Srijit Mukherji is an Indian film director and screenwriter who predominantly works in Bengali cinema. His regular collaboration with veteran actor Prosenjit Chatterjee brought him into the limelight. His first feature film Autograph (2010), was a critical and commercial success, where he had written the script with Chatterjee in mind. His fifth film, Jaatishwar, won four national awards at India's 61st National Film Awards (2014). He won the National Film Award for Best Direction and Best Original Screenplay for his sixth film, Chotushkone, at India's 62nd National Film Awards. His eighth film, Rajkahini had been remade into a Hindi film titled, Begum Jaan, starring Vidya Balan in 2017. His 2018 release Ek Je Chhilo Raja won the 'Best Bengali Film' Award at India's 66th National Film Awards. His 2019 film Gumnaami won him the Best Bengali Film and Best Adapted Screenplay Awards at the 67th National Film Awards.

<i>Autograph</i> (2010 film) 2010 Indian film

Autograph is a 2010 Indian Bengali drama film by debutant director Srijit Mukherji. The movie is a tribute to Satyajit Ray's 1966 film Nayak and yesteryear Bengali actor Uttam Kumar, who portrayed the title role in the film. This was the first collaboration between Srijit Mukherjee and Prosenjit Chatterjee. The movie is being remade in Malayalam.

Birsa Dasgupta is an Indian Bengali film director based in Tollywood.He has directed films such as Shudhu Tomari Jonyo, Gangster, Mukhosh and Byomkesh O Durgo Rahasya

Lokesh Ghosh is an Indian Bengali actor who is known for his work in Bengali cinema. Ghosh was born and brought up in Mumbai. He began his acting career doing small roles in Bollywood. Ghosh got his break through in the Bengali film industry with Anjan Choudhury's 1996 political drama Mukhyamantri, where he played the role of Ashok, the momentarily spoilt son of the protagonist Bimal Chowdhury. He was simultaneously cast in Choudhury's other venture of the year Nach Nagini Nach Re where he played the role of Rajat opposite Anjan Choudhury's daughter Chumki Chowdhury. With the massive success of both films, Ghosh became a frequent face in Choudhury's movies like Boro Bou (1997), Sriman Bhootnath (1997), Jiban Niye Khela (1999), Gunda (1999), Rakhi Purnima (2001) and so on. Remaining under Choudhury's wing, he featured in a number of successful collaborations with director Bablu Samaddar; like, Loafer (1996) Asol Nokol (1998) and Neoti (1999). Around early 2000s, Ghosh appeared in a number of films directed by Swapan Saha like Sneher Pratidan (2003), Sabuj Saathi (2003) and Kartabya (2003), most of which starred Prosenjit Chatterjee in the lead.

<i>Mahanayak</i> (TV series) Indian Bengali drama TV serial

Mahanayak was a Bengali mini-television drama series of 112 episode that premiered on 27 June 2016, on Star Jalsha. The series starred Prosenjit Chatterjee, Paoli Dam, Tanushree Chakraborty, Priyanka Sarkar, Manali Dey, Biswanath Basu and Biswajit Chakraborty in lead roles. The series is loosely based on the life of megastar Uttam Kumar.

Basu Poribar is a 1952 Bengali film directed by Nirmal Dey under the banner of M.P Productions. Uttam Kumar, Sabitri Chatterjee, Supriya Devi, Bhanu Banerjee and Jiben Bose play lead roles. The film was released on 11 April 1952. It was the debut film of legendary Bengali actress Supriya Devi. It was the first successful film starring Uttam Kumar it's become superhit at the box office. After seven back to back flop films he was called 'flop master general', and he considered to leave the film industry. The success of this film saved his career. The film was remade in Hindi as Hum Hindustani in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">51st International Film Festival of India</span> 2020 Indian film festival

The 51st International Film Festival of India was held from 16 to 24 January 2021 in Goa. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the festival went hybrid, there was physical and virtual screening of 50 films out of 224 films across various categories. Bangladesh was country of focus in the festival with four films of the country included in 'country of focus' section.

Gar Nasimpur is a popular Bengali film directed by Ajit Lahiri. Barindranath Das wrote the screenplay and story in this movie. The film was released under the banner of Shadow Productions in 1968 and it's music was directed by Shyamal Mitra. The film stars Uttam Kumar, Biswajit Chatterjee, Madhavi Mukherjee, Ruma Guhathakurta.

References

  1. 1 2 अनुप्रिया वर्मा (23 December 2018). "Happy Birthday Biswajit: ऐसा क्या हुआ था कि विश्वजीत के बेडरूम में ही तीन दिन तक पड़े रहे थे धर्मेंद्र". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  2. Ruman Ganguly (3 January 2018). "To me, Soumitra jethu is no less than a father: Prosenjit – Times of India". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  3. Screen Weekly, "The hero who was made up to look like a girl", India FM, 23 January 2007.
  4. "Smooch, Sindoor and Suicide: Rekha biography gives shocking details on the star's life". www.indiatoday.in. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  5. PTI (1 February 2015). "People will know real side of Netaji through my film: Biswajit". Zee News . Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  6. "Constituencywise-All Candidates". Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  7. 1 2 IANS (19 February 2019). "Veteran Indian actor joins BJP, praises Modi". Khaleej Times . Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  8. "IFFI: Biswajit Chatterjee awarded 'Indian Personality of the Year'". The Indian Express. 17 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  9. Sen, Debolina (11 September 2019). "Another Lifetime Achievement award for Biswajit Chatterjee". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  10. "24th Kolkata International Film Festival celebrates 100 years of Bengali cinema". The New Indian Express. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  11. Bhattacharya, Roshmila (11 July 2020). "This Week That Year: Biswajeet Chatterjee and a dream that died with Guru Dutt". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 18 February 2021.