Shekhar Chatterjee

Shekhar Chatterjee
Born c. 1924[1]
Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Occupation Actor, director
Years active 1950–1989

Shekhar Chatterjee (born c. 1924 in Calcutta) is a Bengali actor and director. Chatterjee began his career in the Bengali theatre in the 1950s. He was associated with a number of leftist theatre groups, including the Commmunist Party's Indian People's Theatre Association, Utpal Dutt's Little Theatre Group, and Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, as well as his own group, Theatre Unit, which he formed in 1958.[2] As a stage actor he was well known for his Shakespearean roles and for playing Shardul Singh in Dutt's 1965 play Kallol.[2] His directorial work focused on works by German-language playwrights Bertold Brecht, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Peter Handke, and Franz Xaver Kroetz.[2] Chatterjee's Brecht productions were rarely adapted to a local setting, and while critics unanimously praised this approach as "authentic", his colleague Dutt attacked it for failing to communicate Brecht's political symbolism to an Indian audience.[3]

Chatterjee was also active in Bengali, Indian, and world cinema, having acted in nearly a hundred films by the time he was sixty.[1] Among his first credited roles was in Agradoot's 1955 film noir Sabar Uparey; he later had memorable roles in several of Mrinal Sen's films, including Bhuvan Shome, Ek Adhuri Kahani, Chorus, and Mrigayaa.[2][1] His biggest international role was that of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy in Richard Attenborough's biographical epic Gandhi. Casting director Dolly Thakore recommended Chatterjee for the role after seeing him onstage in Calcutta and noting that he shared Suhrawardy's large stature.[4]

In 1983, Chatterjee directed the film Vasundhara, which was awarded Best Bengali Film at the 31st National Film Awards. The Directorate of Film Festivals cited it for "its sincere attempt to depict the struggle against social injustice".[1]

Filmography

As actor

Year Title Role Notes
1989 Judge Saheb as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1989 Nishi Trishna
1988 Kidnap
1987 Raj Purush as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1984 Maa
1984 Rashifal
1983 Samapti
1982 Gandhi Suhrawardy
1981 Abichar
1978 Anugraham
1978 Man Abhiman
1978 Die Zauberwurzel
1977 Pratima
1977 Mrigayaa
1975 Sansar Seemantey
1975 Raag Anurag as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1975 Chorus Mr. Mukherjee
1974 Thagini as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1974 Debi Chowdhurani Rangalal
1974 Sangini
1974 Mouchak
1973 Marjina Abdulla Kashem
1973 Achena Atithi
1973 Ali Baba Captain as Sekhar Chattopadhyay
1973 Ami Sirajer Begam
1972 Ek Adhuri Kahani
1972 Eine unvollendete Geschichte Nemiar
1972 Sesh Parba
1972 Ajker Nayak
1971 Kuheli Station master
1971 Interview
1970 Ichhapuran
1969 Bhuvan Shome as Sekhar Chatterjee
1968 Gar Nasimpur as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1967 Der Zoo as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1967 Abhishapta Chambal
1966 Kal Tumi Aleya Lawyer
1966 Joradighir Chowdhury Paribar as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1965 Ghoom Bhangar Gaan as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1965 Rajkanya
1965 Trishna
1963 Dakather Hatey Bulu as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1962 Abhijaan Rameshwar as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1955 Sabar Uparey

As director

Year Title Notes
1983 Vasundhara as Sekhar Chatterjee

As screenwriter

Year Title Notes
1975 Raag Anurag as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
1973 Basanata Bilap as Shekhar Chattopadhyay

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 31st National Film Festival (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals, National Film Development Corporation Limited. June 1984. p. 21. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Interview (Mrinal Sen)". Indiancine.ma. Pad.ma. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  3. ↑ Bharucha, Rustom (1983). "Beyond Brecht: Political Theatre in Calcutta". The Brecht Yearbook. Wayne State University Press. 11: 72–90. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  4. ↑ Das, Mohua; Roy, Priyanka (2014-08-26). "Gandhi did not come to Calcutta…". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-04-20.


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