Eminent director, actor and playwright Manoj Mitra passed away at the age of 86. He breathed his last on Tuesday morning at 8:50 am in a Kolkata hospital. The celebrated playwright had been battling age-related health issues for several years. The news of his passing was confirmed by his brother, noted writer Amar Mitra.
Mitra was widely respected for his contribution to Bengali theatre, with a legacy of influential works that resonated deeply within the people of the state.
About Manoj Mitra
Born on December 22, 1938, in Dhulihar, in what was then the undivided Bengal, Mitra’s career spanned several decades, beginning with his entry into Kolkata’s theatre scene in 1957. He made his big-screen debut in 1979, marking the start of a prolific film career.
Mitra also also acted in numerous television serials and films, collaborating with iconic filmmakers such as Tapan Sinha, Satyajit Ray, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Basu Chatterjee, Tarun Majumdar, Shakti Samanta, and Goutam Ghose. In addition to theatre and acting, Mitra was also an educator, having taught philosophy at various colleges before eventually joining Rabindra Bharati University as the head of its drama department.
Manoj Mitra's theatre career
His debut play 'Bogol Dhiman' won first prize at a statewide competition. Over the years, he has penned more than a hundred plays, including 'Sajano Bagaan', 'Chokhe Angul Dada', 'Kaalbihongo', 'Parabas', 'Alokanandar Putra Kanya', 'Narak Guljar', 'Aswathama', 'Chakbhanga Madhu', 'Mesh O Rakhash', 'Noisho Bhoj', 'Chhayar Prashad', 'Galpo Hekim Saheb', 'Rajdarshan', 'Debi Swarpamasta', 'Munni O Saat Chowkidar', 'Ranger Haat', and 'Ja Nei Bharatey'. Many of these works have been produced by renowned theatre groups such as Sundaram and Bohurupee.
In addition to his theatrical achievements, he portrayed a memorable role in the 1998 film 'Hothat Brishti' (Sudden Rain), a collaborative production between Bangladesh and India. His works have been translated into various languages, and he has also authored several books on film and theatre.
He served as the President of the Paschim Banga Natya Akademi until he stepped down in August 2019 due to health concerns.