Basanta Choudhury
Basanta Choudhury (or Chowdhury; 5 May 1928 – 20 June 2000) was an Indian actor in Bengali and Hindi films. He worked with directors Asit Sen, Rajen Tarafdar, Ajay Kar and Bijay Bose, often in leading roles.[1] He is a former Sheriff of Kolkata.
Basanta Chowdhury | |
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![]() Basanta Chowdhury | |
Born | Nagpur, Bombay Province, British India | May 5, 1928
Died | 20 June 2000 72) Calcutta, India | (aged
Nationality | Indian |
Education | Deena Nath High School Nagpur |
Occupation | Actor, film producer |
Years active | 1952–1993 (41 years) |
Spouse(s) | Aloka Chowdhury |
Children | 2 |
Awards | Best Actor Prize for his film "Raja Rammohan" by B.F.J.A, Bangla Stage Centenary Star Theater award. |
Honours | Sheriff of Kolkata, Chairman of Nandan-West Bengal Film Center. |
Choudhury's collection of Kashmiri and Persian shawls were enviable. Director Satyajit Ray admired those collections and used for his masterpieces.
Birth and childhood
Basanta Chowdhury was born into an affluent Datta Chowdhury family of Andul, Howrah.[2] In the circa year of 1886 AD, his great-great forefather Apurba Krishna Dutta Chaudhuri discontinued with the surname 'Dutta' and moved from his ancestral place Andul to Nagpur to practice Law. He later became the Law Lecturer in the Morris College (the present-day Vasantrao Naik Government Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (VNGIASS)). His son was Phani Bhusan Chaudhuri, whose son Shiddhish Chandra Chowdhury. Shiddhish and Kamala Devi had two sons - Basanta & Prashanta. Both of them grew up in Nagpur. Basanta graduated from Morris college. In 1945 AD he completed his Matriculation Examination from Deena Nath High School Nagpur.After shifting to Kolkata, Chowdhury used to stay at Ranikuthi in Tollygunge.[3]
He was a numismatist i.e. an expert collector of Ganesha idols, rare coins, paper currency and was a collector of Kashmiri and Persian shawls.[4]
Career
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His first film was Mahaprasthaner Pathe by director Kartik Chattopadhay in 1952. Some of his memorable films are, Bhagaban Shri Krishna Chaitanya, Jadu Bhatta, Andhare Alo, Deep Jwele Jaai with Suchitra Sen, Anushtoop Chhanda, Abhaya O Srikanta, Raja Rammohan Roy, Diba Ratrir Kabya, Devi Chaudhurani. He was also involved with amateur theater and radio.
Filmography
- 1952- Mahaprasthaner Pathey.
- 1953: Nabin Jatra Safar; Bhagwan Shri Krishna Chaitanya
- 1954: Jadubhatta; Bokul
- 1955: Aparadhi; Pather Sheshey; Bhalobasha; Du- Janay; Devimalini
- 1956: Shubharatri; Shankar Narayan Bank; Chhaya Sangini; Govindadas; Rajpath
- 1957: Shesh Parichaya; Madhu Malati; Andhare Alo; Basanta Bahar; Haar Jeet; Khela Bhangar Khela
- 1958: Jogajog
- 1959: Deep Jwele Jaai; Shashi Babur Sansar
- 1960: Khudha; Parakh
- 1962: Sancharini; Agnisikha; Bodhu; Nabadiganta
- 1963: Shreyasi
- 1964: Kashtipathar;Anustup Chhanda
- 1965: Alor Pipasa; Raja Rammohun; Abhoya-o-Srikanta; Eki Ange Eto Rup; Gulmohar
- 1966: Sankha Bela; Susanta Sha; Uttar Purush
- 1970: Diba Ratrir Kabya;Megh Kalo
- 1971: Pratham Pratisruti; Sansar; Grahan
- 1973: Pranta Rekha
- 1974: Debi Chaudhrani; Jadi Jantem; SanginiBasanta Chowdhury and Suchitra Sen in the movie Devi Chaudhurani in 1974 AD.
- 1975: Nishi Mrigaya
- 1976: Sankhabish
- 1977: Babu Moshai
- 1978: Parichay; Mayuri
- 1979: Chirantan; Jiban Je Rakam
- 1980: Bhagya Chakra
- 1981: Kalankini
- 1982: Sonar Bangla
- 1983: Indira; Deepar Prem
- 1985: Baidurya Rahasya; Putulghar
- 1987: Antarjali Jatra
- 1988: Antaranga; Sankhachur
- 1990: Raktorin; Ek Doctor Ki Maut
- 1990: Sankranti
- 1991: Raj Nartaki
- 1992: Hirer Angti; Apon Ghar; Satya Mithya
- 1993: Kacher Prithvi
![](../I/Basanta_Chowdhury_%2526_Uttam_Kumar..jpg.webp)
Awards
In 1965, actor Chowdhury was awarded the Best Actor Prize for his film "Raja Rammohan" by B.F.J.A. In 1996, he also received Bangla Stage Centenary Star Theater award from Calcutta University. He had also acted in several Hindi films.
The actor had been the Sheriff of Kolkata. He was also appointed as the Chairman of Nandan-West Bengal Film Centre in Kolkata.
Death
The actor suffered from lung cancer for quite some time. He died on 20 June 2000 in Kolkata.[5]
References
- "Films from the heart". The Hindu. 3 September 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- আবসার, নুরুল. "আন্দুল রাজবাড়িকে ঘিরে জাদুঘরের ভাবনা - Anandabazar". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). Retrieved 26 July 2018.
- "রাগ বসন্ত". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). Retrieved 26 July 2018.
- "6 best films of Basanta Choudhury - a sophisticated actor almost forgotten| Half Samosa". Half Samosa. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
- http://pib.nic.in/archive/releases98/lyr2000/rjun2000/r21062000.html. Missing or empty
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