Any interaction with Rituparno Ghosh was sure to leave one marvelling at his sensitivity and utter humility. The 49-year-old national award-winning filmmaker, who won critical acclaim for Bengali cinema in the last two decades, breathed his last on Thursday. Ghosh won 12 national awards and received international accolades in his two-decade career. His last released film, “Chitrangada” received the Special Jury Award at the National Film Awards this year.
Ghosh, who had been suffering from pancreatis, suffered a massive cardiac arrest and passed away in bed at his south Kolkata residence at 7:30 am. “I cannot believe that Rituparno is no more. It is very difficult to accept this news. We lost a very promising film director at a very early age,” said Soumitro Chatterjee, veteran actor and Dada Saheb Phalke awardee.
“Deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden demise of Rituparno Ghosh. He directed “Bariwali”, the first film I produced. Have amazing memories of him,” said Anupam Kher, actor.
Born on August 31, 1963 in Kolkata, the director went to South Point School and studied Economics at Jadavpur University.
Ghosh gained recognition after the release of a children’s film, ‘Hirer Angti’ in 1994 and went on to win his first national award for ‘Unishe April’ in 1995. ‘Dahan’, ‘Asukh’, ‘Chokher Bali’, ‘Raincoat’, ‘Bariwali, ‘Antarmahal’ and ‘Noukadubi’ earned him praise and popularity. Politicians and people from the film industry poured into his residence on Thursday to show their respect. “Golden age of Bengal has ended. The state has lost a very important artiste,” said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said, “Saddened to hear about unfortunate demise of Rituparno Ghosh. He will be remembered for his brilliant filmmaking. May his soul rest in peace.”
In his last few films, Ghosh was exploring same-sex relationships and his last released film, ‘Chitrangada’ was close to his heart. Even though the film didn’t perform well with mainstream audiences, it won him his last national award.
Ghosh, who had portrayed the role of a transgender in the film, however, remained unhappy about the fact that few people actually watched and appreciated the theme. “I was the poster-boy of the Bengali film industry for a decade since my first released film ‘Unishe April’...I had an intense relationship with my viewers till ‘Chokher Bali’...and then things started changing as I started exploring same-sex relationships in my movies,” Ghosh had said in a weekly column in March.
“As Ghosh was always innovative and bold in undertaking new themes for his films, his death has left a void which will be very difficult to fill,” said Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Manish Tewari.
His untimely, sudden demise left behind hundreds of mourners who thronged for a last glimpse of the acclaimed director and pay their respects at Nandan. His body was also kept at the Tollygunge Technician Studios before being cremated.
On May 28, Ghosh’s last tweet was about his unreleased film, ‘Satyanewshi’ and said, “Wrapped up the shoot of Satyanewshi, a crime thriller in the molten glow of the pensive falling afternoon”.