Raj Kapoor's 'Boot Polish' Cameraman Baidyanath Basak Passes Away In Kolkata

Baidyanath Basak left his heavenly abode at the age of 96 in Kolkata. He was facing financial crisis since the past several years.

Mumbai: Baidyanath Basak, who worked as an assistant cameraman in Raj Kapoor's film ‘Boot Polish’ (1954), passed away in Kolkata. He was 96. Basak was facing financial crisis since many years and was also not keeping well. He was living in a rented housed in Kolkata with his son and grandson’s family for the past several years. Baidyanath's grandson Rakesh Basak, while talking to ABP News over phone from Kolkata, said "My grandfather died in his sleep at 3pm yesterday. He was ill for several days. He suffered a paralytic attack four days back due to which one of his arms and legs had stopped functioning. We couldn’t take him to any hospital due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Somehow we managed to get a doctor’s appointment at 8pm last night. However, he left for his heavenly abode before we could take him to the hospital.” Baidyanath Basak also worked as a cameraman in Manoj Kumar’s ‘Hariyali Aur Rasta’ and ‘Kitne Door Kitne Paas’. He went back to Kolkata due to lack of work in Mumbai. He did the cinematography for several Bangla films including Uttam Kumar’s ‘Khokababur Pratyabartan’, 'Sabar Uparey' and 'Chhadmabeshi'. His last film as a cinematographer was ‘Paar’. He received fame with Bengali films but he faced financial struggles till his last breathe. Baidyanath Basak's son Sanjay Basak told ABP News, "We have been facing financial trouble for many years. Trinamool Congress MP and actor Dev Adhikar provided us financial assistance in 2018 but we never received any help from the industry. We are unable to pay Rs 2500 for our room rent as there is no work due to the lockdown.” While Baidyanath Basak's grandson Rakesh is a video editor, his son Sanjay Basak manages to earn a living by doing small jobs. The Basak family’s financial woes have increased as they are left with no work due to the lockdown.