Basanta Choudhury also known as Basanta Chowdhury (5 May 1928 – 20 June 2000), was an Indian actor in

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

and

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

films. He worked with directors Asit Sen,

Rajen Tarafdar Rajen Tarafdar (7 July 1917 – 23 November 1987) was an Indian film director, actor, and screenwriter. He was the recipient of two National Awards and two BFJA Awards. He graduated from the Government College of Art & Craft in Calcutta ...

, Ajay Kar and Bijay Bose, often in leading roles. He is a former

Sheriff of Kolkata The Sheriff of Kolkata is an apolitical titular position of authority bestowed for one year on a prominent citizen of Kolkata (Calcutta). The Sheriff has an office and staff in Calcutta High Court but does not have executive powers. Mumbai (Bo ...

. Choudhury's collection of

Kashmiri Kashmiri may refer to: * People or things related to the Kashmir Valley or the broader region of Kashmir * Kashmiris, an ethnic group native to the Kashmir Valley * Kashmiri language, the language of the Kashmiris ethnic group People with the nam ...

and

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

shawl A shawl (from ''shāl'') is a simple item of clothing, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually a rectangular piece of Textile, cloth, but can also be Square (geometry), square or tr ...

s were enviable. Director

Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray (; 2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, author, lyricist, magazine editor, illustrator, calligraphy, calligrapher, and composer. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influ ...

admired those collections and used for his masterpieces.

Birth and childhood

Basanta Chowdhury was born into an affluent

Kayastha Kayastha (or Kayasth) denotes a cluster of disparate Indian communities broadly categorised by the regions of the Indian subcontinent in which they were traditionally locatedthe Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas of North India, the Chandraseniya Ka ...

Zamindar A zamindar in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semi-autonomous feudal lord of a ''zamindari'' (feudal estate). The term itself came into use during the Mughal Empire, when Persian was the official language; ''zamindar'' is the ...

Datta Chowdhury family of Andul,

Howrah Howrah (; ; alternatively spelled as Haora) is a city in the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, opposite to its twin city of Kolkata. Administratively ...

. In circa 1886, his great-great forefather Apurba Krishna Dutta Chaudhuri discontinued the surname 'Dutta' and moved from his ancestral place

Andul Andul is a census town in Sankrail CD Block of Howrah Sadar subdivision in Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Geography Area of Andul is 17.98 km². Andul is located at . It is situated between Mourigram and Argari. Demogr ...

Nagpur Nagpur (; ISO 15919, ISO: ''Nāgapura'') is the second capital and third-largest city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is called the heart of India because of its central geographical location. It is the largest and most populated city i ...

to practice law. He later became the Law Lecturer in the Morris College (the present-day Vasantrao Naik Government Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (VNGIASS)). His son was Phani Bhusan Chaudhuri, whose son Shiddhish Chandra Chowdhury. Shiddhish and Kamala Devi had two sons – Basanta & Prasanta. Both of them grew up in Nagpur. Basanta graduated from Morris college. In 1945 he completed his Matriculation Examination from Deena Nath High School

. After shifting to

Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...

, Chowdhury stayed in

Ranikuthi Ranikuthi is an urban area in South Kolkata, India. It is a part of Tollygunge Tollygunge (; nicknamed 'Mini Mumbai' or 'Mini Bombay') is a locality of South Kolkata, in West Bengal, India. It is known for being the center of Indian Beng ...

Tollygunge Tollygunge (; nicknamed 'Mini Mumbai' or 'Mini Bombay') is a locality of South Kolkata, in West Bengal, India. It is known for being the center of Indian Bengali-language cinema, with filming locations used for other regional Indian films. G ...

. He was a

numismatist A numismatist is a specialist, researcher, and/or well-informed collector of numismatics, numismatics/coins ("of coins"; from Late Latin , genitive of ). Numismatists can include collectors, specialist dealers, and scholar-researchers who use coi ...

i.e. an expert collector of

Ganesha Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...

idols, rare coins, paper currency and was a collector of Kashmiri and Persian shawls.

Family tree and royal seal

File:Basanta Chowdhury Family Tree.jpg, Basanta Chowdhury family tree. File:Emblem (or Seal) of the Dutta Chowdhury family of Andul.jpg, Seal of the Chowdhury family

Career

His first film was ''Mahaprasthaner Pathe'' by director Kartik Chattopadhay in 1952. Some of his memorable films are, ''Bhagaban Shri Krishna Chaitanya'', ''Jadu Bhatta'', ''Andhare Alo'', ''

Deep Jwele Jaai ''Deep Jwele Jaai'' () is a 1959 Indian Bengali language, Bengali-language film directed by Asit Sen (director), Asit Sen. The film is based on a Bengali short story titled ''Nurse Mitra'' by Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay, Ashutosh Mukherjee. It was re ...

'' with

Suchitra Sen Suchitra Sen, widely known as the Mahanayika (), was an Indian actress who worked in Cinema of West Bengal, Bengali and Hindi cinema. The movies in which she was paired opposite actor Uttam Kumar became classics in the history of Cinema of Wes ...

, ''Anushtoop Chhanda'', ''Abhaya O Srikanta'', ''

Raja Rammohan Roy Raja Ram Mohan Roy (22 May 1772 – 27 September 1833) was an Indian reformer and writer who was one of the founders of the Brahmo Sabha in 1828, the precursor of the Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious reform movement in the Indian subcontinent ...

'', ''Diba Ratrir Kabya'', '' Devi Chaudhurani''. He was also involved with amateur theater and radio.

Filmography

*1952: ''Mahaprasthaner Pathey'' – Probodh Kumar Sanyal *1952: ''Yatrik'' – Probodh Kumar Sanyal *1953: ''Bhagaban Shrikrishna Chaitanya'' – Sri Chaitanya *1953: ''

Nabin Jatra ''Nabin Jatra'' was a Bengali drama film directed by Subodh Mitra. This film was released on 11 September 1953 under the banner of New Theatres. Pankaj Mullick was the music director of the movie. Plot Cast * Uttam Kumar * Maya Mukherjee * ...

'' Safar *1954: '' Jadu Bhatta'' (Bokul) *1955: ''Bhalobasa'' *1955: ''Du-janay'' *1955: ''Devimalini'' *1955: '' Aparadhi'' (Pather Sheshey) *1956: '' Shankar Narayan Bank'' *1956: '' Shubharatri'' (

Chhaya Sangini Chhaya or Chaya (), also known as Savarna, is the Hindu personification and goddess of shadow, and a consort of Surya, the Hindu sun god. She is the shadow-image or reflection of Saranyu (Sanjna), the first wife of Surya. Chhaya was born from th ...

; Govindadas;

Rajpath Rajpath (), officially named Kartavya Path (), and formerly known as Kingsway, is a ceremonial boulevard in New Delhi, India, that runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill through Vijay Chowk and India Gate, National War Memorial to N ...

) *1956: '' Basanta Bahar'' *1957: ''Harjit'' *1957: '' Andhare Alo'' – Satyendra *1957: ''Khela Bhangar Khela'' *1957: '' Madhumalati'' *1957: ''Shesh Parichay'' *1958: '' Jogajog'' *1959: '' Shashi Babur Sansar'' *1959: ''

'' – Tapash *1960: '' Parakh'' – Pro. Rajat Sen *1960: '' Khudha'' *1962:

Yatrik Yatrik, a 1952 Indian film directed by ''Kartick Chatterjee'', depicts a group of pilgrims on an arduous trek in the high Himalayas. It is the Hindi-language version of the Bengali film '' Mahaprasthaner Pathey'', the film made from the book of ...

*1962: ''Bodhu'' *1962: ''Agnisikha'' *1962: ''Nav Diganta'' *1962: ''Sancharini'' *1963: ''Shreyasi'' *1964: ''Kashtipathar'' *1964: ''Anustup Chhanda'' *1965: ''

Alor Pipasa ''Alor Pipasa'' is a Bengali drama film directed by Tarun Majumder and produced by Debesh Ghosh based on a novel named "Agniswar" of Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay. This film was released on 15 January 1965 under the banner of D.R. Productions. Music o ...

'' *1965: '' Abhoya-o-Srikanta'' – Srikanta *1965: ''Gulmohar'' *1965: '' Raja Rammohun'' – Raja Rammohan Roy *1965: '' Eki Ange Eto Rup'' *1966: ''

Uttar Purush ''Uttar Purush'' is a 1966 Bengali-language film directed by Chitrakar. The film was remade as '' Uyarndha Manithan'' (1968) in Tamil, and '' Anubandham'' (1984) in Telugu. Cast * Vasant Choudhury * Rabi Ghosh * Anup Kumar * Amar Mullick Soun ...

'' *1966: ''Sankha Bela'' *1966: '' Susanta Sha'' *1969: ''Rahgir'' *1970: ''Megh Kalo'' *1971: '' Pratham Pratisruti'' – Raam Kaali *1971: ''

Grahan ''Grahan'' ( English: ''Eclipse'') is a 2001 Indian crime drama film directed by Shashilal K. Nair, starring Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala and Raghuvaran. The film follows the story of Parvati, a rape victim who quests for justice, and lear ...

'' *1974: '' Pranta Rekha'' * Basanta Chowdhury

1974: '' Jadi Jantem'' *1974: ''Sangini'' *1974: ''Debi Chaudhrani'' – Bhabani Pathak *1975: ''Nishi Mrigaya'' *1975: ''Khudha'' *1976: ''Sankhabish'' *1977: '' Babu Moshai'' *1978: '' Parichay'' *1978: ''

Mayuri Mayuri may refer to: * ''Mayuri'' (film), a 1984 Telugu film produced by Ramoji Rao * ''Maya'' (2015 Tamil film), released as ''Mayuri'' in Telugu * Mayoori (actress) Mayoori (1983–2005), credited as Shalini in Tamil films, was an India ...

'' *1979: '' Chirantan'' *1979: '' Jiban Je Rakam'' *1979: ''Heerey Manik'' *1980: ''

Bhagya Chakra ''Bhagya Chakra'' (''Wheel of Fate'') is a 1935 Indian Bengali-language film directed by Nitin Bose. The film was remade in Hindi in the same year, titled '' Dhoop Chhaon''. Cast * Biswanath Bhadhuri as Shamlal * Haricharan Bandyopadhyay as H ...

'' *1981: ''Kalankini'' *1982: ''Sonar Bangla'' *1983: ''

Indira __NOTOC__ Indira may refer to: People * Indira (name) Films and books * ''Indira'', an 1873 novella by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee * ''Indira'' (film), directed by Suhasini Manirathnam Others * Indira is a byname of Lakshmi Lakshmi ...

'' *1983: ''Deepar Prem'' *1985: '' Putulghar'' *1985: ''

Baidurya Rahasya ''Baidurya Rahasya'' (Mystery of the Electric Gem) is a Bengali thriller movie directed by Tapan Sinha. This movie was released on 8 May 1985 under the banner of Saraswati Chitram. Storylining and music direction was also done by Tapan Sinha. ...

'' *1987: ''

Antarjali Jatra (The Ultimate Journey, ), also known as ''Antarjali Yatra'', is a 1987 film directed by Kolkata-based Indian film director Goutam Ghose based on a novel, ''Mahayatra'', by Kamal Kumar Majumdar. It documents the institution of Kulin Brahmin pol ...

'' – Yashobati's Father *1987: ''Maha Yatra'' *1988: ''Antaranga'' *1988: '' Sankhachur'' *1990: ''

Sankranti Sankranti () refers to the transmigration of the sun from one zodiac to another in Indian astronomy. In ''Saurmana'' ''varsha'' (Hindu Solar year), there are twelve Sankrantis corresponding with twelve months of a year. The Sankrantis can be broa ...

'' *1990: '' Raktorin'' *1990: ''

Ek Doctor Ki Maut ''Ek Doctor Ki Maut'' () is a 1990 Indian Hindi-language drama film by Tapan Sinha, which depicts the ostracism, bureaucratic negligence, reprimand and insult of a doctor and his research, instead of recognition. The film is based on the 1982 R ...

'' – Dr. Ramanand *1991: ''

Raj Nartaki ''Raj Nartaki'' is a 1941 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Modhu Bose under the Wadia Movietone Wadia Movietone was a noted Indian film production company and studio based in Mumbai, established in 1933 by Wadia brothers J. B. ...

'' *1992: ''

Satya Mithya ''Satya Mithya'' is a 1989 Bangladeshi film directed by A. J. Mintu. It won five Bangladesh National Film Awards in the Best Producer, Best Screenplay, Best Dialogue, Best Editing and Best Child Artist categories. Cast * Shabana as Rabeya * ...

'' *1992: ''

Hirer Angti ''Hirer Angti'' () is a 1992 Bengali film by Rituporno Ghosh based on a story of the same name by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay. Plot Gandharva Kumar's arrival disrupts the festive mood of Durga Puja at Ratanlal Babu's house. Gandharva captivates Rat ...

'' *1992: ''Apon Ghar'' *1993: ''Kacher Prithvi'' *1994: ''Tabu Mane Rekho'' *1994: ''Dhusar Godhuli'' – (final film role)

Awards

In 1965, actor Chowdhury was awarded the Best Actor Prize for his film "Raja Rammohan" by B.F.J.A. In 1996, he also received Bangla Stage Centenary Star Theater award from

Calcutta University The University of Calcutta, informally known as Calcutta University (), is a Public university, public State university (India), state university located in Kolkata, Calcutta (Kolkata), West Bengal, India. It has 151 affiliated undergraduate c ...

. He had also acted in several Hindi films. The actor had been the

. He was also appointed the Chairman of Nandan-West Bengal Film Centre in Kolkata.

Death

The actor suffered from

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...

for quite some time. He died on 20 June 2000 in Kolkata.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Choudhury, Basanta Indian male film actors 20th-century Indian male actors Male actors in Bengali cinema Male actors in Hindi cinema 1928 births 2000 deaths Bengali Hindus Sheriffs of Kolkata