Tulsi Chakraborty (also Tulsi Chakrabarti; 3 March 1899 – 11 December 1961) was an Indian actor and comedian who worked in Bengali cinema in the 1940s and 50s. His most notable role could be the lead role in ''

Parash Pathar ''Parash Pathar'' ( ''Porosh Pathor''; English: ''The Philosopher's Stone''; French: ''La Pierre Philosophale'') is a 1958 Bengali language Indian fantasy comedy film. It was Satyajit Ray's first film outside of ''The Apu Trilogy''. It was also ...

'', directed by

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 ...

Childhood

Tulsi Chakraborty was born on 3 March 1899 in the small village called Goari. His father, Ashutosh Chakraborty, was an employee of the

Indian Railways Indian Railways is a state-owned enterprise that is organised as a departmental undertaking of the Ministry of Railways (India), Ministry of Railways of the Government of India and operates India's national railway system. , it manages the fou ...

and the family had to move around various places in undivided

Bengal Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...

. So, young Tulsi had to spend a lot of time in

Calcutta Kolkata, also known as Calcutta (List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern ba ...

staying with his paternal uncle Prasad Chakraborty, the elder brother of Asutosh Chakraborty. Prasadbabu was a talented tabla and harmonium player who was an employee of the renowned Star Theatre, the legendary Bengali commercial theatre stage and production company. He had a small group of musicians who used to play live background music during theatrical performances. It was through his uncle's contacts that Tulsi was able to watch the finest actors of the generation at work and this fostered his own ambitions to become a singer-actor. Before launching in theatre, Tulsi Chakraborty engaged himself in a number of odd-jobs, starting from dish-washer in a small North Calcutta eatery to working as a clown in a circus in Burma (now

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

). In films, he started with character roles before performing as a comedian. He was known for his realistic acting. He never used any make-up or extra arrangements. Usually, he was clad in a white dhoti accompanied by a sacred thread on his shoulder.

Career

One of Chakraborty's notable performances was in ''

Sharey Chuattor ''Sharey Chuattor'' () is a 1953 Indian Bengali-language comedy film, directed by Nirmal Dey, based on a story novel by Bijon Bhattacharya. The film stars Tulsi Chakraborty and Molina Devi in the lead and co-stars Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Bhan ...

'', which was the debut film of the popular pair of Bengali cinema:

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 ...

and

Uttam Kumar Uttam Kumar (born Arun Kumar Chattopadhyay; 3 September 1926 – 24 July 1980), widely known as Mahanayak (), was an Indian film actor, producer, director, screenwriter, composer, and playback singer who predominantly worked in Bengali cinema ...

. In ''

'' directed by

, he acted in the lead role as Paresh Chandra Dutta. He unleashed memorable roles in

starrers ''

Ekti Raat ''Ekti Raat'' ( ''One Night'') is a 1956 Indian Bengali-language comedy film directed by Chitta Basu and produced by Harendranath Chattopadhyay based on, ''Bhimpalashree'', a story of Bengali novelist Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay. The film stars ...

'' and '' Chaowa Pawa''. In both these films, Chakraborty played a sceptical inn owner; in the latter, he teamed up with Rajlakshmi Devi. He also had a small role that of a village ''pandit'' cum grocer in ''

Pather Panchali (, ) is a 1955 Indian Bengali language, Bengali-language Drama (film and television), drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray in his directorial debut. It is an adaptation of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's 1929 Bengali Pather Panchali ...

''. Ray once remarked that if Chakraborty has been born in the United States, he would have been awarded an

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...

for his acting. He died on 11 December 1961.

Life

Chakraborti spent the latter part of his life in utmost poverty. His widow was also known to have lived in abject poverty as was revealed by a television programme. Due to his poverty, he had to take a walk from

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 ...

studio to his home in

Shibpur Shibpur is a neighbourhood in Howrah of Howrah district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). It is well known for being the ...

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 ...

Selected filmography

*'' Punarjanma'' (1932) *''Sree Gouranga'' (1933) *''Rajnati Basantsena'' (1934) - Amatya *'' Dhruba'' (1934) *''Dakshayajna'' (1934) - Brahma *''Kanthahaar'' (1935) *'' Manmoyee Girls' School'' (1935) - Damodar Chakraborty *''Prabas Milan'' (1937) - Nanda *''Bekar Nashan'' (1938) - Pitambar *''Bamanabatar'' (1939) - Kashyap *''Nara Narayana'' (1939) - Jambaban

Nara Narayan Naranarayan ( 1554–1587) was the last ruler of the undivided Koch dynasty of the Kamata Kingdom. He succeeded his father, Biswa Singha. Under him the Koch kingdom reached its cultural and political zenith. Under his rule, and under the mi ...

*''Janak Nandini'' (1939) - Janak *''Nimai Sanyasi'' (1940) - Adwaita *''Kamale Kamini'' (1940) - Bachal *''Uttarayan'' (1941) - Ramrup *''Pratisruti'' (1941) *''Shesh Utter'' (1942) *''Saugandh'' (1942) - Jogeshwar *''Pashan Devata'' (1942) *''Garmil'' (1942) - Jamidar's uncle *'' Dikshul'' (1943) *''Devar'' (1943) *''Dampati'' (1943) *''Udayer Pathey'' (1944) *''Subah Shyam'' (1944) *'' Meri Bahen'' (1944) - Chaudhary *''Hamrahi'' (1944) *'' Dui Purush'' (1945) - Mahabharat *''Mane Na Mane'' (1945) - Nayeb *''Kalankini'' (1945) *''Bhabikaal'' (1945) *''

Path Bendhe Dilo ''Path Bendhe Dilo'' was a Bengali language, Bengali Drama Film, drama film directed by Premendra Mitra based on his novel. This film was released in 1945 under the banner of Deluxe Pictures. Plot Cast * Chhabi Biswas * Kanan Devi * Tulsi ...

'' (1945) *''Pratima'' (1946) *''Suleh'' (1946) *''Mandir'' (1946) *''Biraj Bou'' (1946) *''Alakananda'' (1947) *''Anirban'' (1948) *''Sir Sankarnath'' (1948) *''Samapika'' (1948) *''Purabi'' (1948) *''Banchita'' (1948) *''Sakahigopal'' (1949) *''Manzoor'' (1949) *''Kavi'' (1949) *''Bishnupriya'' (1949) *''Ashabari'' (1949) *''Mandanda'' (1949) *''Bamuner Meye'' (1949) *'' Kamona'' (1949) *''Mandanda'' (1950) *''Baikunther Will'' (1950) - Bannerjee (Barujye)- Teacher *''Rupkatha'' (1950) *''Sheshbesh'' (1950) *'' Mej Didi'' (1950) - Nabin *''Pandit Mashai'' (1951) *''Ananda Math'' (1951) *''Swapno O Samadhi'' (1952) *''Darpachurna'' (1952) *'' Yatrik'' (1952) - Gopal Modi *''Meghmukti'' (1952) *''

'' (1953) - Rajanibabu *''

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 * ...

'' (1953) *''Bana Hansi'' (1953) *''Atom Bomb'' (1954) *''Naramedh Yagna'' (1954) *''Sadanander Mela'' (1954) *'' Ora Thake Odhare'' (1954) *''Moner Mayur'' (1954) *'' Chheley Kaar'' (1954) *''Jaydev'' (1954) - Digambar *'' Jadubhatta'' (1954) *''Grihapravesh'' (1954) *''Chheley Kaar'' (1954) *'' Champadangar Bou'' (1954) *'' Moyla Kagaj'' (1954) *''Sajher Pradip'' (1955) *''Joymakali Boarding'' (1955) *''

'' (1955) - Prasanna, school teacher *''

Sabar Uparey ''Sabar Uparey'' (; ''English: Beyond All'') is a 1955 Indian Bengali-language crime thriller film produced by M.P Production Private Ltd and directed by Agradoot, based on A.J. Cronin's 1953 novel, '' Beyond This Place''. It stars Uttam Kumar a ...

'' (1955) - Editor of Court Newspaper (Rita's relative) *''Kalindi'' (1955) *''Upahar'' (1955) - Ghatak *''Shribatsa Chinda'' (1955) *''Shap Mochan'' (1955) *''Nishiddha Phal'' (1955) *''Godhuli'' (1955) *''Dujane'' (1955) *''Devimalini'' (1955) *''Bhalobasa'' (1955) *''Aparadhi'' (1955) *''

'' (1956) - Gossainji *''Asamapta'' (1956) *'' Shyamali'' (1956) *''Amar Bou'' (1956) *''Surjamukhi'' (1956) *''Sadhak Ramprasad'' (1956) *''Chore'' (1956) *''Harjit'' (1957) *''

Pyaasa ''Pyaasa'' (; ) is a 1957 Indian Hindi drama film directed and produced by Guru Dutt, who also stars in the film alongside Mala Sinha, Waheeda Rehman, Rehman, and Johnny Walker. Set in Calcutta, the film tells the story of Vijay (played by D ...

'' (1957) *'' Prithibi Amare Chaay'' (1957) *''

Adarsha Hindu Hotel ''Adarsha Hindu Hotel'' (''Ideal Hindu Hotel'') is a Bengali novel written by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. The novel was first published in 1940. Plot Hajari Thakur, a middle-aged Bengali Brahmin is the male protagonist of the novel. He works ...

'' (1957) *''Khela Bhangar Khela'' (1957) *''Harishchandra'' (1957) *''Kancha-Mithey'' (1957) *''Ogo Shunchho'' (1957) *

Chandranath ''Chandranath'' () is a 1984 Bangladeshi film directed by Chashi Nazrul Islam. This was the adaptation of the novel of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay by the same title. It stars Abdur Razzak, Shuchanda, Doyel and Golam Mustafa in the lead. Cas ...

(1957) *''Abhoyer Biye'' (1957) *'' Bardidi'' (1957) *''Kangsa'' (1958) *''

Rajlakshmi O Srikanta ''Rajlakshmi O Srikanta'' is a 1958 Bengali drama film directed by Haridas Bhattacharya and produced by Kanan Devi based on the iconic and famous novel ''Srikanta'' of the legendary Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. This film was released in 1958 un ...

'' (1958) - Ratan *''

'' (1958) - Paresh Chandra Dutta *''

Ajantrik ''Ajantrik'' (known internationally as ''The Unmechanical'', ''The Mechanical Man'' or ''The Pathetic Fallacy'') is a 1958 in film, 1958 Cinema of India, Indian Cinema of West Bengal, Bengali film written and directed by revered Parallel Cinema ...

'' (1958) *''Surya Toran'' (1958) *''Sonar Kathi'' (1958) *''Joutuk'' (1958) *''Rajdhani Theke'' (1958) *''Swarga Martya'' (1958) *''Sonar Kathi'' (1958) *''

Jamalaye Jibanta Manush ''Jamalaye Jibanta Manush'' () is a 1958 Indian Bengali-language fantasy action comedy film directed by Prafulla Chakraborty and produced by Ananta Singh, member of Chittagong armoury raid. This film, based on the novel of Dinabandhu Mitra ...

'' (1958) *''

Indrani Indrani (Sanskrit: इन्द्राणी, IAST: ''Indrāṇī''), also known as Shachi (Sanskrit: शची, IAST: ''Śacī''), is the queen of the Deva (Hinduism), devas in Hinduism. Described as tantalisingly beautiful, proud and kind, ...

'' (1958) *''Derso Khokhar Kando'' (1959) *''Gali Theke Rajpath'' (1959) *''Personal Assistant'' (1959) - Publisher *'' Mriter Martye Agaman'' (1959) *''

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 ...

'' (1959) *'' Chaowa Pawa'' (1959) *''Abak Prithibi'' (1959) *''Dui Bechara'' (1960) *''Shesh Paryanta'' (1960) *''Suno Baranari'' (1960) *''Ratan Lal Bangali'' (1960) *''Nader Nimai'' (1960) *'' Maya Mriga'' (1960) *''Kuhak'' (1960) - Adhikary *'' Khokababur Pratyabartan'' (1960) *''Mr. & Mrs Choudhury'' (1961) *''Bishkanya'' (1961) *''Kanchanmulya'' (1961) *''Aaj Kal Parshu'' (1961) *''

Saptapadi Saptapadi () or ''saat phere'' (), is regarded to be the most important rite (Sanskrit: ) of a Hindu wedding ceremony. In this rite, the bride and the groom tie a knot and take seven steps together, or complete seven rounds around a sacred fir ...

'' (1961) - Hospital Employee *''Kanamachi'' (1961) *''Manick'' (1961) *''Dui Bhai'' (1961) - Banamali (Factory Worker) *'' Carey Saheber Munshi'' (1961) *'' Bipasha'' (1962; released after his death) - Shopkeeper At Red Light Area *''Banarasi'' (1962) *''Agun'' (1962) *''Dui Bari'' (1963) *''Hasi Shudhu Hasi Noy'' (1963) *''Khudha'' (1975) - (final film role)

References

External links

*
Tulsi as clown
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chakraborty, Tulsi 1899 births 1961 deaths Male actors in Bengali cinema Indian male film actors People from Howrah University of Calcutta alumni 20th-century Indian male actors