Rituparno Ghosh, an award-winning Indian filmmaker, died Thursday of a heart attack at his residence in the eastern city of Kolkata. He was 49. Affectionately known as “Rituda,” Mr. Ghosh was well known for his portrayal of human relationships and the suffering and passion of Indian women. He liked dressing as a woman and mostly donned female Indian-style clothes and wore makeup, over the last few years. Mr. Ghosh won a dozen national film awards and several international honors. He was also a successful television anchor and wrote a column in a local Bengali daily. Several actors and politicians expressed grief on television channels and social media at the news of his death. “Rituparno’s comparison is only Rituparno,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on television news channels in India Thursday morning. “In his sudden demise, Bengal has lost an eminent filmmaker,” Ms. Banerjee said. Noted Indian filmmaker Onir wrote on Twitter: “The man whose every frame spoke of cinematic beauty and gave a new identity to new wave Bengali cinema is no more.” Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee said “the void left after his death cannot be easily filled.” Rajeev Masand, an Indian film critic wrote on Twitter “Deeply saddened by passing of Rituparno Ghosh. He understood the human condition with all its complexities and conveyed them with such sensitivity.” Here’s a selection of some of Mr. Ghosh’s best movies: Hirer Angti (The Diamond Ring) – Mr. Ghosh made his directorial debut in 1992 with Bengali film Heerer Angti. The film starred Moon Moon Sen and Basanta Choudhury. Unishe April (19 April) – His second movie explores the strained relationship between a mother and a daughter. The movie won two national awards in 1995. Dahan (Crossfire) – The movie, made in 1997, won a national film award. It was also nominated for the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 1998. Bariwali (The Lady of the House) – Based on the tale of a lonely landlady (played by Indian actor Kirron Kher) who falls in love with a film director, the movie won a national award and recognition at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2000. Asukh (Malaise) – The film, released in 1999, is based on a troubled relationship between a daughter and her father. It won a national award and an international film critics’ award. Titli (Butterfly) – The film released in 2002 tells the story of an adolescent, played by Indian actor Konkona Sen Sharma and depicts a mother-daughter relationship. The movie won an international critics’ award. Shubho Mahurat (Auspicious Time) – Directed by Mr. Ghosh in 2003, the movie is based on the murder of a movie actress. It won two national awards for best film and best female actor. Chokher Bali (Sand in the Eye) – The Bengali movie released in 2003, is a story of unrequited love and betrayal and of trust and loyalty. Leading Indian film actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan , Raima Sen and Prasenjit Chatterjee played the main characters in the film. The movie won the national award and also the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival. Raincoat - The movie, released in 2004, is an adaptation of O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” and casts Ajay Devgn and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The film won a national award for best film in Hindi and was nominated for the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International film festival. The Last Lear – Mr. Ghosh’s only English film featured Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Arjun Rampal and Preity Zinta. It won the national award for best film in English in 2007. Abohoman (The Eternal) – Released in 2010, the movie deals with the story of a renowned director who falls in love with young actresses. It won three national awards. Recently Mr. Ghosh finished shooting for his latest film “Satyaneshi” – based on the character of a fictional Bengali detective called Byomkesh Bakshi.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:45:55 +0000
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