Sombhu Mitra
Sombhu Mitra | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 August 1915 |
| Died | 19 May 1997(aged 81) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, director, playwright |
| Spouse | Tripti Mitra |
| Children | Shaoli Mitra |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan(1970) |
Sombhu Mitra(22 August 1915 – 19 May 1997) was an Indian film and stage actor, director, playwright, reciter and anIndian theatrepersonality, known especially for his involvement inBengali theatre,where he is considered a pioneer. He remained associated with theIndian People's Theatre Association(IPTA) for a few years before founding theBohurupeetheatre group in Kolkata in 1948. He is most noted for films likeDharti Ke Lal(1946),Jagte Raho(1956), and his production ofRakta Karabibased onRabindranath Tagore'splay in 1954 andChand Baniker Pala,his most noted play as a playwright.[1][2][3][4][5]
In 1966, theSangeet Natak Akademiawarded him its highest award, theSangeet Natak Akademi Fellowshipfor lifetime contribution, then in 1970, he was awarded thePadma Bhushan,India's third highest civilian honour,[6]and in 1976 theRamon Magsaysay Award.
Early life and education
[edit]Born inCalcutta(nowKolkata), India, on 22 August 1915, Sombhu Mitra was the sixth child of three sons and four daughters born of Sarat Kumar Mitra, an employee of the Geological Survey of India, and Satadalbasini Mitra. His mother died when he was 12 years old.[7]
He started his schooling in Chakraberia Middle English School, Calcutta and later continued in theBallygunge Government High School,Calcutta, where he developed interest reading Bengali plays and became active in school dramatics. He joinedSt. Xavier's Collegeof theUniversity of Calcuttain 1931, and soon started attending the local theatre.[7]
Career
[edit]His first appearance inBengali theatrewas in Rangmahal Theatre in north Kolkata in 1939, thereafter he moved to the Minerva, Natyaniketan and Srirangam theatres.
In 1943, he joinedIndian People's Theatre Association(IPTA). In 1944, several old theatrical conventions were broken when the playNabannawritten byBijon Bhattacharyaand co-directed by Sombhu Mitra for IPTA was staged. In 1948, Sombhu Mitra formed a new theatre group,Bohurupeein Kolkata, which ushered in the group-theatre movement inWest Bengal.
He marriedTripti Mitranée Bhaduri, who was also a celebrated personality in theBengali theatre.Their daughter,Shaoliwas a noted actress, director and playwright.[8][9]
The Bohurupee productions
[edit]Under Sombhu Mitra's direction, the Bohurupee staged several successful productions. In December 1950, the Bohurupee presented three plays in the New Empire theatre –Tulsi Lahiri'sPathikandChenda Tarand Sombhu Mitra's own creation,Ulukhagra.In 1954,Rabindranath Tagore'sRakta Karabiwas staged by the Bohurupee, followed by hisBisarjan,RajaandChar Adhyay.Other notable productions include Bidhyak Bhattacharya'sTahar Namti RanjanaandKanchanranga.Under his direction, this group also presented the Bengali adaptations of several well-known dramas from the world stage.Henrik Ibsen'sPutul Khela(Doll's House),Dashachakra(An Enemy of the People) and Sophocles'Raja Oidipaus(Oedipus Rex) are notable amongst them.
He has also acted inThe Life of GalileobyBertolt Brechtdirected byFritz Bennewitzin the title role.[10]
In these productions he performed asRahimuddininChenda Tar,AtininChar Adhyay,BinodinUlukhagra,TapaninPutul Khela,Dr. Purnendu GuhainDashachakra,OidipausinRaja Oidipaus.
He died in Kolkata.
Filmography
[edit]Sombhu Mitra performed in several movies in Bengali and Hindi. The notable among them are:
- Dharti Ke Lal(1946) (Hindi)
- Abhiyatri(1947) (Bengali)
- Dhatri Debata(1948) (Bengali)
- Abarta(1949) (Bengali)
- '42(1949) (Bengali)
- Hindustan Hamara(1950) (Hindi)
- Pathik(1953) (Bengali)
- Bou Thakuranir Haat(1953) (Bengali)
- Maharaj Nandakumar(1953) (Bengali)
- Maraner Pare(1954) (Bengali)
- Shivashakti(1954) (Bengali)
- Durlabh Janma(1955) (Bengali)
- Manik (1961)(Bengali)
- Suryasnan(1962) (Bengali)
- Panna(1967) (Bengali)
- Natun Pata(1969) (Bengali)
- Nishachar(1971) (Bengali)
He wrote the story and screenplay ofJagte Raho(1956) and also co-directed it along with Amit Maitra. He also directed a Bengali movie,Shubha Bibahain 1959.
Major works
[edit]- Abhinay Natak Mancha(in Bengali) (1957)
- Sanmarga-Saparya(in Bengali)
- Natak Raktakarabi(in Bengali)
- Chandbaniker Pala(in Bengali)
Honours and awards
[edit]Sombhu Mitra received many national and international awards, which include theCrystal GlobeforJagte Rahoat the 1957Karlovy Vary International Film Festival,theDesikottamafromVisva Bharati Universityin 1989,[11]an honorary D. Litt. from bothRabindra Bharati UniversityandJadavpur Universityin Kolkata, the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1976[12]for journalism, literature and creative communication arts and the Padmabhushan in the same year. He received theSangeet Natak Akademi Fellowshipin 1966. For his contribution in the movies, he won the Grand-Prix Award at theKarlovy Vary International Film Festival.Madhya PradeshGovernment honoured him withKalidas Samman(1982–83).[13]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^Chand Baniker Pala:Shombhu MitraInterterxt: a study of the dialogue between texts,by R.Kundu, Rama Kundu Ghosh. Published by Sarup & Sons, 2008.ISBN81-7625-830-X.Page 277-78
- ^History of Indian Literature: [2].1911–1956, struggle for freedom: triumph and tragedy,by Sisir Kumar Das, various. Published bySahitya Akademi,1995.ISBN81-7201-798-7.Page 163.
- ^Shombhu MitraAuthors speak,by Sachidananda. Published bySahitya Akademi,2006.ISBN81-260-1945-X.Page 277-289.
- ^Shombhu MitraPop culture India!: media, arts, and lifestyle,by Asha Kasbekar. Published by ABC-CLIO, 2006.ISBN1-85109-636-1..
- ^Shobhu MitraNot the other avant-garde: the transnational foundations of avant-garde performance,by James Martin Harding, John Rouse. University of Michigan Press, 2006.ISBN0-472-06931-4.Page 203-205.
- ^"Padma Awards"(PDF).Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015.Retrieved21 July2015.
- ^abBiography of Sombhu MitraArchived5 January 2009 at theWayback MachineThe 1976Ramon Magsaysay Awardwebsite.
- ^Sombhu MitraCPI,Index August 1997.
- ^A thespian who touched dizzy heightsIndian Express,20 May 1997.
- ^Calcutta, Life."Life of Galileo in Calcutta".www.indiatoday.in.Retrieved13 February2018.
- ^List of DesikottamasArchived15 February 2015 at theWayback Machine
- ^Ramon Magsaysay Award citation for Sombhu Mitra
- ^A thespian who touched dizzy heightsIndian Express,20 May 1997
- ^"4th National Film Awards"(PDF).Directorate of Film Festivals.Retrieved2 September2011.
External links
[edit]
- 1915 births
- 1997 deaths
- 20th-century Indian people
- Hindi-language film directors
- Indian male film actors
- Male actors in Hindi cinema
- Male actors in Bengali cinema
- Indian People's Theatre Association people
- Indian male dramatists and playwrights
- Indian theatre directors
- Film directors from Kolkata
- St. Xavier's College, Kolkata alumni
- University of Calcutta alumni
- Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
- Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
- Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts
- Ramon Magsaysay Award winners
- Bengali theatre personalities
- 20th-century Indian male actors
- 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
- Male actors from Kolkata
- Screenwriters from Kolkata
- Bengali screenwriters
- 20th-century Indian male writers
- 20th-century Indian screenwriters
- Dramatists and playwrights from West Bengal
- Recipients of Kalidas Samman