Soumitra Chatterjee Explained
Soumitra Chatterjee (also spelt as Chattopadhyay; 19 January 193515 November 2020)[2] was an Indian film actor, play-director, playwright, writer, thespian and poet. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. He is best known for his collaborations with director Satyajit Ray, with whom he worked in fourteen films.
Starting with his debut film, Apur Sansar (The Family of Apu, 1959), the third part of The Apu Trilogy, as adult Apu, he went on to work in several films with Ray, including Abhijan (The Expedition, 1962), Charulata (1964), Kapurush (1965), Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest, 1969), Ashani Sanket (Distant Thunder, 1973), Sonar Kella (The Fortress of Gold, 1974) and Joi Baba Felunath (The Elephant God, 1978) as Feluda, Hirak Rajar Deshe (1980), Ghare Baire (The Home and The World, 1984), Shakha Proshakha (1990) and Ganashatru (Enemy of the People, 1989).
He also worked with other noted directors of Bengali cinema, such as Mrinal Sen in Akash Kusum (Up in the Clouds, 1965); Tapan Sinha in Kshudhita Pashan (Hungry Stones, 1960), Jhinder Bandi (1961); Asit Sen in Swaralipi (1961), Ajoy Kar in Parineeta (1969), and Tarun Mazumdar in Ganadevata (1978). He acted in more than 210 films in his career. He also received critical acclaim for his directorial debut Stree Ki Patra (1986) which was based on the Bengali short story Streer Patra by Rabindranath[3]
Soumitra was the recipient of multiple honours and awards. Soumitra was the first Indian film personality who was conferred with France's highest award for artists 'Commandeur of, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1999). He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan (2004) and France's highest civilian award Commandeur de la Légion d' Honneur (Commander of Legion of Honour) (2017).[4] He received two National Film Awards as an actor and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his work in theatre. In 2012, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in cinema given by the government of India for lifetime achievement. In 2013, IBN Live named him as one of "The men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema".[5]
Early life and background
Soumitra Chatterjee was born in Mirjapur Street (now Surya Sen Street) near Sealdah railway station, in Calcutta in 1935. The first ten years of his early life were spent in Krishnanagar in West Bengal. The town under the influence of playwright Dwijendralal Ray, also from Krishnanagar, had a flourishing theatre culture, with numerous small theatre groups. His grandfather was the president of one such group while his father, though lawyer by profession and later a government worker, also worked as an amateur actor. Encouraged by the praise he received for his acting in school plays, gradually his interest in theatre grew with passing years. He was a very close friend of famous theatre personality, Mrityunjay Sil who is often regarded as a key influence on his career.
Soumitra and his family moved to Howrah where he studied at the Howrah Zilla School and Calcutta during his early years. Soumitra graduated from the City College, Kolkata with honours in Bengali literature, as a graduating student of the University of Calcutta.[6] He lived for a few years in Calcutta in Satyajit Ray's old apartment at 3-lake temple road. He studied for his M.A. in Bengali from the University of Calcutta. While still a student, he learnt acting under noted actor-director of Bengali theatre Ahindra Choudhury.[6] However a turning point came when in the final year of college he saw a play by Sisir Bhaduri, theatre director and the doyen of Bengali theatre. The play not only set a standard for acting for him, but also helped make up his mind to become an actor. He managed to meet Bhaduri, through his friend's mother, actress Shefalika Putul. Though, he met Bhaduri, towards the end of his career, when his theatre had closed, nevertheless over the next three years, till Bhaduri's death in 1959, Chatterjee made him a mentor, and learnt the craft of acting through their regular interactions. He even appeared in a small role in one of Bhaduri's productions.[7]
Subsequently, he started his career working in All India Radio as an announcer, While he was there he started pursuing a career in films. He came in touch with Ray during the casting for Aparajito (1956), who was looking for new faces. Ray thought he had the right look, however found him, age 20, and just out of college, too old for the role of adolescent Apu. Ray remembered him and offered him the role of adult Apu two years later. Meanwhile, he was rejected in his screen test for Bengali film, Nilachale Mahaprabhu (1957) directed by Kartik Chattopadhyay.[8]
Career
Work with Satyajit Ray: 1959–1990
Chatterjee had gone on the sets of Ray's fourth film, Jalsaghar (1958) to watch the shoot. He was unaware that he had already been selected for the title role in the Apu trilogy. That day, while he was leaving the sets, Ray called him over and introduced him to actor Chhabi Biswas as "This is Soumitra Chattopadhyay; he's playing Apu in my next film Apur Sansar" leaving him much surprised.[9] Despite being selected, as a debutant actor, Chatterjee was nevertheless unsure of his career choice and especially his looks, as he didn't consider himself photogenic. However, on 9 August 1958, when the first shooting of the film was accepted in a single take, he realized that he had found his vocation.[8] Thus Soumitra's film debut came in 1959 in Satyajit Ray's The World of Apu (Apur Sansar). In fact Ray believed with a beard Chatterjee looked like young poet laureate Tagore.
Soumitra would go on to collaborate with Ray in fourteen films. His centrality to Ray's work is akin to other key collaborations in the history of cinema — Toshiro Mifune and Akira Kurosawa, Marcello Mastroianni and Federico Fellini, De Niro and Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese, Max von Sydow and Ingmar Bergman, Jerzy Stuhr and Krzysztof Kieślowski, Klaus Kinski and Werner Herzog.[10] [11] After Apur Sansar, he also worked with Sharmila Tagore in a number of Ray's films, apart from working with leading star actor of the period, Uttam Kumar, with whom he has often been compared, in eight films.[12]
Chatterjee was cast in diverse roles by Ray and some of the stories and screenplays that Ray wrote were said to be written with him in mind. Soumitra featured as Feluda/Pradosh Chandra Mitter, the famous private investigator from Calcutta in Ray's Feluda series of books, in two films in the 1970s Sonar Kella (1974) and Joi Baba Felunath (1979). These two films were the first film series made for Feluda and are considered as the Feluda original film series. He was the first person who portrayed the iconic Bengali sleuth Feluda. Satyajit Ray made some illustrations of Feluda based on Soumitra's body figure and look in the 1970s Feluda books. After him Sabyasachi Chakrabarty took the role of the iconic Bengali hero Feluda in the mid-1990s.
Soumitra had approached Satyajit Ray to suggest a name for a little magazine founded by Soumitra and Nirmalya Acharya in 1961. Satyajit Ray had named the magazine Ekkhon (Now), he designed the inaugural cover page and illustrated the cover pages regularly even after Soumitra had stopped editing the magazine. Nirmalya continued editing the magazine, and several of Ray's scripts were published in the magazine.
Other works
Besides working with Ray, Soumitra excelled in collaborations with other well-known Bengali directors such as Mrinal Sen and Tapan Sinha. He earned critical acclaim for his role of an impostor in Mrinal Sen's Akash Kusum (1965). He was equally confident in playing the swashbuckling horse-riding villain in Tapan Sinha's Jhinder Bandi (1961) giving the legendary Uttam Kumar a tough challenge. In the romantic film Teen Bhubaner Pare (1969), he shared the screen with actress Tanuja, the film was noted for his "flamboyant" style of acting. Besides films, Chatterjee continued acting in Kolkata-based Bengali theatre, and also published over 12 poetry books.
Entering the 1980s and 1990s, he started working with contemporary directors, like Goutam Ghose, Aparna Sen, Anjan Das and Rituparno Ghosh, and even acted on television. In 1986, he played the role of a swimming coach, Khitish Singh(Khidda) in film Kony (1986) directed by Saroj Dey, who was part of the film collective Agragami. The film is about a young girl from a slum, who wants to become a swimmer.[12] At the 32nd National Film Awards, the film won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.[13] Later in a 2012 interview, he called Kony one of the best films of his career. He even recalled using film's catch-phrase "Fight-Koni-fight" in hard times, as a chant to himself to lift his "aging spirits". The phrase had become popular with middle-class Bengalis at the time.[12] He also starred in his biopic Abhijaan directed by Parambrata Chatterjee, an artist himself. The movie was released in April 2022 posthumously as a tribute to Soumitra featuring Jisshu Sengupta who portrayed the younger self of the late artist.
Theatre
He replaced Mrityunjay Sil as the lead artist in 1958. Mrityunjay Sil was at the peak of his theatre career at that time. But due to personal issues he suggested his friend, Soumitra's name. Mrityunjay Sil is often credited with being one of the few people to have helped Soumitra. But he soon left his job.[6]
After a two-decade long busy career as a leading man of Bengali cinema, he returned to theatre in 1978, with his production Naam Jiban, staged at Biswarupa Theatre in Kolkata. This led to other plays like Rajkumar (1982), Phera (1987), Nilkantha (1988), Ghatak Biday (1990) and Nyaymurti (1996), beside notable plays like Tiktiki (1995), an adaptation of Sleuth and Homapakhi (2006). Besides acting, he has written and directed several plays, translated a few and also branched out to poetry reading in recent decades.[6]
Since 14 November 2010, he regularly performed in the title role of the play Raja Lear directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay and produced by Minerva Repertory Theatre, a play based on King Lear by William Shakespeare. Soumitra received widespread critical and popular accolades for his acting in the play.[12]
Awards and recognition
Chatterjee received the 'Commandeur Officier des Arts et Metiers, the highest award for arts given by the French government in 1999, and the Lifetime Award at the Naples Film Festival, Italy.[14] [15] He turned down the Padma Shri award from the Indian government in the 1970s.[14] In 2004, he accepted the prestigious Padma Bhushan award from the President of India.[16] He has been the subject of a full-length documentary named Gaach by French film director Catherine Berge. In 1998, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama.[17]
Incidentally, besides receiving eight awards from the Bengal Film Journalists' Association for the best actor[18] and international recognition for his acting prowess, Chatterjee never won a National Film Award for acting in the early part of his career, which established his reputation as an actor, working with directors like Satyajit Ray, Tapan Sinha and Mrinal Sen. Thus, over the years, he has been vocal about his feelings of disappointment and alleging bias in the National Film Awards committee towards awarding popular and mainstream cinema.[19] Thus, in a gesture of protest against, he turned down the 2001 Special Jury Award for Dekha directed by Goutam Ghose. Later in an interview he stated "the National Film Awards, overlooked my performances in several powerful roles. When I did Kony, Shashi Kapoor was adjudged the best actor. Anil Kapoor was feted (Best Actor) for Pukar while Dekha was awarded a 'consolation' prize".[20] [21]
However, after receiving the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour given by Government of India in 2004, he changed his viewpoint towards awards, and stated "Now (after Padma Bhushan) I feel I don't have the right to hurt my viewers by rejecting an award."[20] A few years later, on 9 June 2008, he was awarded the 2007 National Film Award for Best Actor for Podokkhep (Footsteps) (2006),[22] which he accepted though stating "after decades of acting, I do not attach too much value to it".[23]
In 2010, he won Best Supporting Actor at 54th Asia-Pacific Film Festival for his role in Angshumaner Chhobi (2009).[24]
In 2012, he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.[25] [26] In 2014, he received the introductory Filmfare Awards East for Best Male Actor (Critics) for his role in Rupkatha Noy[27] and also he won Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South (1994).[28]
- Civilian awardsSource(s):
- National Film Awards
- Bengal Film Journalists' Association AwardsSource(s):[36]
- B.F.J.A. Best Actor Award for Teen Kanya (1961)
- B.F.J.A. Best Actor Award for Abhijan (1963)
- B.F.J.A. Best Actor Award for Baghini (1969)
- B.F.J.A. Best Actor Award for Ashani Sanket (1974)
- B.F.J.A. Best Actor Award for Sansar Simanthey (1976)
- B.F.J.A. Best Actor Award for Kony (1987)
- B.F.J.A. Best Actor Award for Agnisanket (1989)
- B.F.J.A. Best Actor Award for Krantikaal (2006)
- Filmfare Awards EastSource(s):[37] [38]
- Filmfare Awards South
Filmography
See main article: Soumitra Chatterjee filmography.
Works
Chatterjee has multiple works to his credit in Bengali, including:
- Books
- Charitrer Sandhane ("Search of Character"; 2004). Kolkata: Saptarshi Prakashan.[44]
- Pratidin Taba Gatha ("You Sing Everyday"; 2009). Kolkata: Aajkaal Publishers Pvt Ltd.[45] About Rabindranath Tagore in many aspects of his life.
- Agrapathikera ("Pioneers"; 2010). Kolkata: Aajkaal Publishers Pvt Ltd.[46] A memoir of his seniors and friends who are no more.
- Porichoy: ("Introduction"; 2013). Prakash Bhaban.[47]
- Manikdar Sange ("With Manik Da"; 2014). Kolkata: Aajkaal Publishers Pvt Ltd.[48] Translated as "The Master and I: Soumitra on Satyajit" by Arunava Sinha. Depicts the journey with his master Satyajit Ray (1959-1992).
- Poetry collections
- Śreshṭha Kabitā ("Best Poem", poetry collection; 1993). Calcutta: Dey's Publication. [49]
- Madhyarater Sangket: ("Midnight Signal"; 2012). Kolkata: Signet Press. .[50]
- Kabita Samagra: ("Poetry Collection"; 2014). Kolkata: Ananda Publishers Pvt Ltd. .[51]
- Shabdora Aamar Bagane ("Words in My Garden")[52]
- Dramas
- Natak Samagra 1: ("Drama Collection 1"; 2015). Kolkata: Ananda Publishers Pvt Ltd. .[53]
- Natak Samagra 2: ("Drama Collection 2"; 2017). Kolkata: Ananda Publishers Pvt Ltd. .[54]
- Natak Samagra 3: ("Drama Collection 3"). Kolkata: Ananda Publishers Pvt Ltd. .[55]
- In translationThe Master and I: Soumitra on Satyajit, Soumitra Chatterjee, tr. by Arunava Sinha. Supernova Publishers, 2014. .[56] Translation of Chatterjee's Manikdar Sange.
- Works about
- Soumitra Chatterjee: A Life in Cinema, Theatre, Poetry & Painting. Arjun Sengupta & Partha Mukherjee. Niyogi Books, 2021.
- Beyond Apu - 20 Favourite film roles of Soumitra Chatterjee. Amitava Nag. Harper Collins India, 2016. .[57]
- Soumitra edited by Alok Chattopadhyay and Manas Chakraborty. .[58]
- Gaach (1998), a documentary film by Catherine Berge; produced by Merchant Ivory Productions.[59]
- Palu: A film on Soumitra Chatterjee (2018), a Bengali documentary film by Partha Mukherjee and Arunendra Mookherjee; produced by Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata.[60]
Illness and death
On 5 October 2020, Chatterjee tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted on 6 October in Belle Vue Clinic, Kolkata.[61] [62] However, he tested negative to the second COVID-19 test conducted on 14 October. In the meantime, his complications (urinary tract infection, fluctuations in sodium potassium levels, etc.) made the condition critical and he had to be admitted to ITU. From 13 October, his condition started to improve marginally and on 14 October, he was transferred from a Covid unit to a non-Covid unit. He was kept on BiPAP support and invasive ventilation for in the critical times; after his improvement in health, the treatment mechanisms were changed. He was under the supervision of a medical team of 16 physicians. On 25 October, his condition further deteriorated.[63] On 15 November 2020, Chatterjee died due to COVID-19[64] induced encephalopathy at Bellevue hospital in Kolkata at 12.15 p.m.[65]
See also
Bibliography
External links
Notes and References
- News: Soumitra Chatterjee: India acting legend dies, aged 85. BBC News. 15 November 2020. 15 November 2020. 15 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201115154938/https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-india-54500364. live.
- Web site: Legendary Soumitra Chattopadhyay passes away . . 15 November 2020 . 16 November 2020 . 16 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201116024306/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/breaking-legendary-soumitra-chattopadhyay-passes-away/articleshow/79230598.cms . live .
- Web site: Feluda and fangirl!. Telegraph India. en. 9 December 2019. 8 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191208182749/https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/feluda-and-fangirl/cid/317592. live.
- Web site: 2020-11-16. After Honouring Him With The Highest Award, French Embassy Pays Tribute To Soumitra Chatterjee. 2021-01-06. IndiaTimes. en-IN. 17 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201117053527/https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/celebs/after-honouring-him-with-the-highest-award-french-embassy-pays-tribute-to-soumitra-chatterjee-527669.html. live.
- Web site: News18.com: CNN News18 Latest News, Breaking News India, Current News Headlines. https://web.archive.org/web/20130217023206/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/12600-28.html. dead. 2013-02-17. News18.
- Web site: Soumitra Chatterjee Profile . Upperstall . 21 May 2014 . 5 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140405143446/http://upperstall.com/people/soumitra-chatterjee . live .
- http://www.satyajitray.org/about_ray/SoumitraChatterjee.htm Soumitra Chatterjee, Actor
- Web site: Anuradha SenGupta. Being Soumitra Chatterjee: Star of the East. CNN-IBN. https://web.archive.org/web/20081201175954/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/being-soumitra-chatterjee-star-of-the-east/67961-19.html. dead. 1 December 2008. 29 June 2008. 21 May 2014 .
- Web site: Soumitra Chatterjee on his master Satyajit Ray. 9 May 2014. 21 May 2014. The Times of India. 8 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140608235005/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/Soumitra-Chatterjee-on-his-master-Satyajit-Ray/articleshow/34684501.cms. live.
- Web site: Salil Tripathi. A master of his craft. Mint. 28 March 2012. 21 May 2014. 21 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140521164651/http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/pTss8eMEpqv03OhqNN9j1L/A-master-of-his-craft.html. live.
- Web site: Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay. Soumitra Chatterjee, a cultural tour de force. Frontline. 18 December 2020. 7 January 2021. 27 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127135629/https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/about-soumitra-chatterjee-tribute-obituary/article33229996.ece. live.
- Web site: Soumitra Chatterjee: I don't have much faith in awards . Rediff.com Movies . 1–7 . 16 May 2012 . 22 May 2014 . 22 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140522143847/http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-interview-with-soumitra-chatterjee/20120516.htm#4 . live .
- Web site: 32nd National Film Awards. International Film Festival of India. 23 May 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130926054317/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm32ndNFAAward.aspx. 26 September 2013.
- Book: Amitava Nag. Beyond Apu - 20 Favourite Film Roles of Soumitra Chatterjee. 10 January 2016. HarperCollins Publishers India. 978-93-5029-862-6. 6. 16 November 2020. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430144829/https://books.google.com/books?id=T7SSCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT6#v=onepage&q&f=false. live.
- Outlook. 44. 1–7. Outlook. 2004. Hathway Investments Pvt Limited. 68. 16 November 2020. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430144759/https://books.google.com/books?id=LvMvAQAAIAAJ. live.
- Web site: Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013). Ministry of Home Affairs. 21 May 2014. 15 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf. dead.
- Web site: SNA: List of Akademi Awardees. Sangeet Natak Akademi Official website. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150530204253/http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm. 30 May 2015.
- Web site: BJFA Awards – Official Listings, 1938 onwards (Yearwise). Bengal Film Journalists' Association. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141112143810/http://www.bfjaaward.com/award-winners.php. 12 November 2014. dmy-all.
- My search for man . Frontline Magazine, the Hindu . Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay . 29 . 8 . 21 April 2012 . 23 May 2014 . 24 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140524022631/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2908/stories/20120504290811100.htm . live .
- Web site: I have no right to hurt my viewers . 30 June 2008 . 21 May 2014 . The Times of India . 12 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170312130940/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/interviews/I-have-no-right-to-hurt-my-viewers/articleshow/3178668.cms . live .
- Web site: 48th National Film Awards. Directorate of Film Festivals. 13 March 2012. 29 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195537/http://dff.nic.in/2011/48th_nff_2001.pdf. live.
- Web site: 54th National Film Awards. International Film Festival of India. 21 May 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140505172308/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm54NFAAward.aspx. 5 May 2014.
- Web site: Award comes "too late in the day" for Soumitra . https://web.archive.org/web/20080613114225/http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/11/stories/2008061159881100.htm . dead . 13 June 2008 . 11 June 2008. . 21 May 2014.
- Web site: Asia-Pacific Film Festival: List of Winners - Hear in Taiwan. blog.rti.org.tw. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043459/http://blog.rti.org.tw/english/2010/12/06/asia-pacific-film-festival-list-of-winners/. 4 March 2016.
- News: Phalke Award conferred on Soumitra Chatterjee. The Hindu. 4 May 2012. 22 May 2014. Tankha, Madhur. 4 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120904231736/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3381464.ece. live.
- Soumitra Chatterjee to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2011 (PIB). Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. 23 March 2012. 22 May 2014. 22 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140522142405/http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=81549. live.
- Web site: Star-struck tryst with Black Lady . 31 March 2014 . 22 May 2014 . The Times of India . 2 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140402095727/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Star-struck-tryst-with-Black-Lady/articleshow/32987014.cms . live .
- http://www.filmfare.com/features/lifetime-achievement-award-south-winners-down-the-years-6684.html "Lifetime Achievement Award (South) winners down the years..."
- https://www.sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/citation_popup.php?id=205&at=2 Soumitra Chatterjee (Akademi Awardee): Theatre - (Acting - Bengali)
- https://www.sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/citation_popup.php?id=205&at=4 Soumitra Chatterjee (Tagore Akademi Fellow): Theatre - (Acting - After 2004)
- Web site: Soumitra and Kazi Arif receive Kazi Sabyasachi Award. 4 March 2016. 26 June 2021. 26 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210626175934/https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/event/soumitra-and-kazi-arif-receive-kazi-sabyasachi-award-785890. live.
- Web site: 10 June 2017. Soumitra Chatterjee to be honoured with Legion of Honor, France's highest civilian award. 10 June 2017. 10 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170610121151/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/soumitra-chatterjee-to-be-honoured-with-legion-of-honor-france-highest-civilian-award-4697517/. live.
- Web site: Soumitra Chatterjee to receive Legion d'Honneur. 10 June 2017. 30 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170730014823/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/soumitra-chatterjee-to-receive-legion-dhonneur/1072349. live.
- News: Soumitra Chatterjee Awards: List of awards and nominations received by Soumitra Chatterjee Times of India Entertainment. 15 November 2020. The Times of India. 15 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240315072256/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Soumitra-Chatterjee/awards. live.
- Web site: 15 November 2020. Awards Legendary Actor Soumitra Chatterjee Won in His Acting Career. 15 November 2020. News18. en. 15 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201115105721/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/heres-the-list-of-awards-legendary-actor-soumitra-chatterjee-won-in-his-acting-career-3082385.html. live.
- Web site: 12 November 2014. BENGAL FILM JOURNALISTS' ASSOCIATION. 16 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20141112143810/http://www.bfjaaward.com/award-winners.php. 12 November 2014.
- Web site: The Times of India directory and year book including who's who 1984 .
- Web site: Filmfare Obituary - Soumitra Chatterjee. 16 November 2020. filmfare.com. en. 29 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211129205340/https://www.filmfare.com/features/obituary-soumitra-chatterjee-44893-1.html. live.
- Web site: Indian and Pakistan Year Book and Who's who . Reed . Sir Stanley . 1984 . 3 April 2023 . 30 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240430144830/https://books.google.com/books?id=kh-2AAAAIAAJ&q=sansar . live .
- Web site: The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Reed. Sir Stanley. 1984. 24 August 2021. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430144817/https://books.google.com/books?id=kh-2AAAAIAAJ&q=Bbabu+Moshai. live.
- Web site: The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Reed. Sir Stanley. 1984. 24 August 2021. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430144831/https://books.google.com/books?id=kh-2AAAAIAAJ&q=Ganadevta. live.
- Web site: The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Reed. Sir Stanley. 1984. 24 August 2021. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430144832/https://books.google.com/books?id=kh-2AAAAIAAJ&q=Agradani. live.
- Web site: Lifetime Achievement Award (South) winners down the years. 12 August 2021. 10 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210810192700/https://www.filmfare.com/features/lifetime-achievement-award-south-winners-down-the-years-6684.html. live.
- Web site: Charitrer Sandhane. 16 November 2020. boighar.in. en-US. 28 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201128022437/https://boighar.in/product/charitrer-sandhane/. live.
- Book: Pratidin Taba Gatha (Bengali). Apple Books. en-us.
- Web site: Agrapathikera. 16 November 2020. boighar.in. en-US. 27 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127093440/https://boighar.in/product/agrapathikera/. live.
- Web site: পরিচয়. 16 November 2020. Goodreads.com.
- Web site: Manikdar Sange. 16 November 2020. boighar.in. en-US. 18 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200918192441/https://boighar.in/product/manikdar-sange/. live.
- Web site: Shrestha Kavita, Soumitra Chattopadhyay. 16 November 2020. deyspublishing.com. 7 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211207192852/https://www.deyspublishing.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=3612. dead.
- Web site: Madhyarater Sangket. 16 November 2020. Ananda Publishers. 28 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211128165519/https://www.anandapub.in/book-detail/476. live.
- Web site: Kabita Samagra. 16 November 2020. Ananda Publishers. 28 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211128173550/https://www.anandapub.in/book-detail/708. live.
- Web site: শব্দরা আমার বাগানে. 16 November 2020. Goodreads.com.
- Web site: Natak Samagra 1. 16 November 2020. Ananda Publishers. 28 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211128175027/https://www.anandapub.in/book-detail/812. live.
- Web site: Natak Samagra 2. 16 November 2020. Ananda Publishers. 28 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211128173626/https://www.anandapub.in/book-detail/1092. live.
- Web site: Natak Samagra 3. 16 November 2020. Ananda Publishers. 28 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211128183113/https://www.anandapub.in/book-detail/1228. live.
- Web site: The Master And I : Soumitra on Satyajit . supernovapublishers.com . 16 November 2020 . 28 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220328052323/https://www.supernovapublishers.com/web/general/biography/the-master-and-i.php . live .
- Book: Nag, Amitava. Beyond Apu - 20 Favourite Film Roles of Soumitra Chatterjee. 26 January 2016. Harper Collins India. .
- Book: Soumitra- Alok Chattopadhyay. .
- Web site: Gaach (1998) . Indiancine.ma . 16 November 2020 . 4 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211204134203/https://indiancine.ma/AQCV/info . live .
- Web site: Palu: A film on Soumitra Chatterjee . indianculture.gov.in . en . . 16 November 2020 . 15 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201115143403/http://indianculture.gov.in/video/palau-phailama-ana-saaumaitara-cayaataarajaipalu-film-soumitra-chatterjee . live .
- Web site: Soumitra Chatterjee moved to ICU, remains in 'high-risk zone' after testing positive for Covid-19. Pres Trust of India. 11 October 2020. 12 October 2020. 11 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201011102216/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/soumitra-chatterjee-moved-to-icu-remains-in-high-risk-zone-after-testing-positive-for-covid-19/story-gpadymyuHohzjCEy9fW8CP.html. live.
- Web site: Concern Grows For Actor Soumitra Chatterjee As Covid Stokes Cancer Fears. Monideepa. Banerjie. NDTV. ndtv.com. 12 October 2020. 12 October 2020. 11 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201011225533/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/concern-grows-for-actor-soumitra-chatterjee-as-covid-stokes-cancer-fears-2308653. live.
- Web site: Soumitra Chatterjee Put On Ventilator Support; "It Is A Steep Challenge," Says Doctor. NDTV.com. 27 October 2020. 27 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201027131653/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/soumitra-chatterjee-put-on-ventilator-support-it-is-a-steep-challenge-says-doctor-2316183. live.
- News: প্রয়াত সৌমিত্র চট্টোপাধ্যায় । জীবনের মঞ্চ ছেড়ে মহাকালের গ্রিনরুমে বাঙালির প্রিয় নায়ক. Nagarik News.
- News: 15 November 2020. Legendary Actor Soumitra Chatterjee Dies At 85 In Kolkata. NDTV. 15 November 2020. 15 November 2020. https://archive.today/20201115130458/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/actor-soumitra-chatterjee-one-of-bengals-most-celebrated-actors-dies-at-85-in-kolkata-2325402. live.
- News: 15 November 2020. Soumitra Chatterjee: Legendary actor passes away at 85. The Indian Express. 15 November 2020. 15 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201115070501/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/actor-soumitra-chatterjee-passes-away-6719929/. live.
- News: 15 November 2020. Soumitra Chatterjee: India acting legend dies, aged 85. BBC News. 15 November 2020. 15 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201115072408/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-54500364. live. "প্রয়াত সৌমিত্র চট্টোপাধ্যায় । জীবনের মঞ্চ ছেড়ে মহাকালের গ্রিনরুমে বাঙালির প্রিয় নায়ক" Nagarik News . 15 November 2020