Veteran filmmaker Tarun Majumdar passes away at 91, an era in Bengali cinema ends

A legendary filmmaker who made commercial Bengali films ranging from rom coms to social dramas that bridged the rural-urban space and were appreciated by both the masses and a more mature discerning audience, was hospitalized recently.

The filmmaker, who gifted the cinegoers films like Dadar Kirti, Balika Badhu, Ganadevata, Shriman Prithviraj and Palatak,  had introduced actresses like Bollywood heroine Moushumi Chatterjee and late Tollywood actor Tapas Paul.

Social values blended with the universal appeal of love, nostalgia, simplicity, family ties and feel-good vibes were hallmarks of his films that wooed audiences for generations and made him a hugely successful commercial and yet important filmmaker.

Majumder, on his preference for rural backdrops in his films, once told in an interview to PTI during shooting in Birbhum district known for its red soil: “Some rural scenes fascinate me. The green patches, the rows of palm trees skirting the horizon.  Especially the border areas of Birbhum and Burdwan. I seek to recapture the smell and feel of this stretch. Having visited the place so many times I have an affinity with those people.”

All major Bengali actors - from Uttam Kumar to Soumitra Chatterjee, Biswajit Chatterjee, Mohua Roychowdhury, Debasree Roy and Rituparna Sengupta- worked with him with many of them owing their commercial success to the filmmaker who had also directed Balika Badhu in Hindi in 1976 casting Sachin and Rajni Sharma. 

He was married to the talented yesteryear Bengali actress turned parliamentarian Sandhya Roy, one of the essential casts in his films.

Majumdar, who had studied Chemistry, received four national awards, seven BFGA awards, five Filmfare awards and an Anandalok award.

The Indian government had honoured him with the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri in 1990.

Filmography

1959 Chaowa Pawa 
1960 Smriti Tuku Thak 
1962 Kancher Swarga 
1963 Palatak 
1965 Alor Pipasa 
Ektuku Basa 
1967 Balika Badhu 
1969 Rahgir 
1971 Nimantran 
1971 Kuheli 
1973 Shriman Prithviraj 
1974 Thagini 
1974 Fuleswari 
1974 Jadi Jantem 
1975 Sansar Simante 
1976 Balika Badhu 
1978 Ganadevata 
1980 Dadar Kirti 
1981 Shahar Theke Dure 
1982 Meghmukti 
1982 Khelar Putul 
1984 Amar Geeti 
1984 Aranya Aamar Documentary Feature film 
1985 Bhalobasa Bhalobasa 
1986 Pathbhola 
1988 Agaman 
1988 Parasmoni 
1990 Apan Aamar Apan 
1991 Path-O-Prasad 
1991 Sajani Go Sajani 
1994 Katha Chhilo 
2003 Alo 
2005 Bhalobasar Onek Naam 
2007 Chander Bari 
2018 Bhalobashar Bari 
2018 Adhikar Documentary Feature Film

Reactions

Mourning his demise, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "I am grieving the death of eminent filmmaker Tarun Majumdar...His demise has left a void in the film world. I offer condolences to Tarun Majumdar's family, relatives and followers."

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar tweeted, "Saddened to learn about the demise of Veteran Bengali Filmmaker #TarunMajumdar. His classics like Dadar Kirti, Balika Badhu are eternally imbibed in our hearts and earned him 4 National Awards & Padma Shri in 1990. Prayers and condolences to the bereaved family and his fans. RIP."

"I have lost an eminent filmmaker, an incomparable human being and a teacher. Heartfelt condolences to Jethu's family and well-wishers," tweeted Tollywood superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee.

Bengali actor-MP Mimi Chakraborty says in a tweet, "Tarun Majumdar's death is a great loss in the Bengali film industry."