A still of Rituparno Ghosh from the film Memories in March
Kolkata:
Credited for ushering in a new wavein Bengali cinema by his trailblazing films like UnisheApril and Dahan, director-turned-actor Rituparno Ghosh wasknown for glorifying women besides exploring the touchysubject of same sex relationships.
(Also read: Bengal's brave young director)
As someone who had a different take on sexuality, life,filmmaking and equally adaptive to the trends and changes ofcontemporary filmmakers, Ghosh blazed the turf of Bengali filmindustry with his works.
Special coverage
Ghosh played an important role in the revival of the filmindustry post the nineties with his arty and sensitive filmslike Unishe April, Dahan, Chokher Bali, which were notessentially melodramatic.
A self-confessed Satyajit Ray fan, Ghosh's films glorifiedwomen, their inner feelings, passion and sufferings. Thefilmmaker also explored same sex relationship in his lastrelease Chitrangada.
Blog
Fondly known as Ritu da, Ghosh was never apologetic abouthis cross-dressing or his sexuality and in Kaushik Ganguly'sArekti Premer Galpo and Sanjoy Nag's Memories in March, heplayed pivotal gay roles.
Born on August 31, 1963, Ghosh grew up in Kolkata. Hisfather was a documentary filmmaker and so he was exposed tothe world of art and cinema right from childhood. He startedhis career as a creative artist in an advertising agency, andlater shifted to films. He made his directional debut in 1994with children's film Hirer Angti.
His second film Unishe April starring Aparna Sen andDebashree Roy won him his first of the 12 National Film Award.
Having an uncanny grasp on the acting prowess, Ghosh hasbeen credited to discover the other side of commercial actorslike Rituparna Sengupta.
Earlier only known to be part of hardcore formula Bengalifilms opposite Prosenjit Chatterjee mostly, Sengupta's secondinnings as an actor began after starring in Ghosh's 1997 filmDahan, which earned her a National Film Award for BestActress alongside co-star Indrani Halder.
Ghosh also mentored Raima Sen, grand-daughter of legendaryactress Suchitra Sen, and gave her the turning point of hercareer in Chokher Bali.
He later shifted from working with only Bengali actors toBombay-based ones. He worked with Kirron Kher in Bariwali,Raakhee in Shubho Mahurat, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Chokher Baliand Raincoat, which also starred Ajay Devgn.
For his first English language film The Last Lear, Ghoshroped in megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta and ArjunRampal. Bipasha Basu also made her debut in Bengali films withGhosh's Shob Charitro Kalponik in 2008.
His other National award winning films include Dahan,Asukh, Chokher Bali, Utsab, Raincoat, ShubhoMahurat, Abohoman, Shob Charitro Kalponik and The LastLear.
Ghosh made his acting debut in 2003 with an Oriya filmKatha Deithilli Ma Ku directed by Himanshu Parija.He hosted two celebrity chat shows- Ebong Rituporno andGhosh and co. He also was the scriptwriter of hit soapGaaner Opare for few initial episodes.
His last release was Chitrangada, a modern take onRabindranath Tagore's tale of the same name. The film won thespecial jury award at the 60th National Film Awards.
Charting a different course from his last few films onrelationship and alternative sexuality, Ghosh took up theambitious work of filming the exploits of popular Bengalisleuth Byomkesh Bakshi.
The film starring Kahaani director Sujoy Ghosh andactress Arpita Chatterjee, was in post-production stage.
Watch video:
(Also read: Bengal's brave young director)
As someone who had a different take on sexuality, life,filmmaking and equally adaptive to the trends and changes ofcontemporary filmmakers, Ghosh blazed the turf of Bengali filmindustry with his works.
Special coverage
Ghosh played an important role in the revival of the filmindustry post the nineties with his arty and sensitive filmslike Unishe April, Dahan, Chokher Bali, which were notessentially melodramatic.
A self-confessed Satyajit Ray fan, Ghosh's films glorifiedwomen, their inner feelings, passion and sufferings. Thefilmmaker also explored same sex relationship in his lastrelease Chitrangada.
Blog
Fondly known as Ritu da, Ghosh was never apologetic abouthis cross-dressing or his sexuality and in Kaushik Ganguly'sArekti Premer Galpo and Sanjoy Nag's Memories in March, heplayed pivotal gay roles.
Born on August 31, 1963, Ghosh grew up in Kolkata. Hisfather was a documentary filmmaker and so he was exposed tothe world of art and cinema right from childhood. He startedhis career as a creative artist in an advertising agency, andlater shifted to films. He made his directional debut in 1994with children's film Hirer Angti.
His second film Unishe April starring Aparna Sen andDebashree Roy won him his first of the 12 National Film Award.
Having an uncanny grasp on the acting prowess, Ghosh hasbeen credited to discover the other side of commercial actorslike Rituparna Sengupta.
Earlier only known to be part of hardcore formula Bengalifilms opposite Prosenjit Chatterjee mostly, Sengupta's secondinnings as an actor began after starring in Ghosh's 1997 filmDahan, which earned her a National Film Award for BestActress alongside co-star Indrani Halder.
Ghosh also mentored Raima Sen, grand-daughter of legendaryactress Suchitra Sen, and gave her the turning point of hercareer in Chokher Bali.
He later shifted from working with only Bengali actors toBombay-based ones. He worked with Kirron Kher in Bariwali,Raakhee in Shubho Mahurat, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Chokher Baliand Raincoat, which also starred Ajay Devgn.
For his first English language film The Last Lear, Ghoshroped in megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta and ArjunRampal. Bipasha Basu also made her debut in Bengali films withGhosh's Shob Charitro Kalponik in 2008.
His other National award winning films include Dahan,Asukh, Chokher Bali, Utsab, Raincoat, ShubhoMahurat, Abohoman, Shob Charitro Kalponik and The LastLear.
Ghosh made his acting debut in 2003 with an Oriya filmKatha Deithilli Ma Ku directed by Himanshu Parija.He hosted two celebrity chat shows- Ebong Rituporno andGhosh and co. He also was the scriptwriter of hit soapGaaner Opare for few initial episodes.
His last release was Chitrangada, a modern take onRabindranath Tagore's tale of the same name. The film won thespecial jury award at the 60th National Film Awards.
Charting a different course from his last few films onrelationship and alternative sexuality, Ghosh took up theambitious work of filming the exploits of popular Bengalisleuth Byomkesh Bakshi.
The film starring Kahaani director Sujoy Ghosh andactress Arpita Chatterjee, was in post-production stage.
Watch video:
