by Jason Main
Bangla cinema has produced a long list of fine masterpieces since its early days up to the present. Along with the movies that have ranked up in recognition and popularity, are the actors and actresses whose performances made the films truly memorable.
Popular Bangla actors include:
1) Uttam Kumar
Advertising is a racket, like the movies and the brokerage business. You cannot be honest without admitting that its constructive contribution to humanity is exactly minus zero.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)
He is acknowledged as "the" super star of Bangla movies as well as the most popular Bangla actor ever. His first movie, Dristidaan, was released in 1948. Since then, he made countless of movies every year up until 1980 when he died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Movie fans especially loved his romantic movies with actress Suchitra Sen.
2) Saumitra Chatterjee
This talented actor is a favorite of Bangla director Satyajit Ray, appearing in about half of all movies made by the great director. He first appeared in the final film of the Apu Trilogy as the struggling Apu. He also appeared in another trilogy, this time in all three movies - Charulata, Samapti, and Ghare Baire, also by Satyajit Ray, called the Calcutta Trilogy. Aside from being an actor, Saumitra Chatterjee also wrote and directed plays in Bangla theatre.
The most popular Bangla actresses are:
But once more, office desks, radiators No! That is behind me.
No more dullness, only movies and love and laughter, sex and fun.
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)
1) Suchitra Sen
Considered as the most popular Bangla actress of all time, Suchitra Sen also has the distinction of being the first Indian actress to be given an award from an international film festival. This was the Best Actress award for the movie Saat Paake Bnadha, awarded to her in the 1963 Moscow Film Festival. She is also most loved as the other half of the enduring love team with Uttam Kumar.
2) Supriya Chaudhury
A favorite of film directors during the golden era of Bangla cinema, Supriya Chaudhury acted as the female lead in most of her films. She is mostly remembered for her role in the Bangla natok Meghe Dhaka Tara as Neeta, the breadwinner of a struggling refugee family. For more information on Bangla Natok, visit Bangla Cinema collection site.