Sunday Reflection – Kunal Roy

Celebrating the 100th Birthday of Bhanu Bandyopadhyay, but in some other part of the universe: A Remembrance

It would not be an act of hyperbole to utter that Bhanu Bandyopadhyay was the truest legend in the Bengali movies of the golden era of cinema. He was certainly not a court jester, but his acts of comedy enthralled the audience beyond one’s fancy! There is hardly any one who can be compared to such a tall figure who descended on this earth on 26th August, 1920 and left for the heavenly abode on 4th March, 1982.

Acted in more than 300 movies in a career of more than three decades, he never failed to entertain his audience in a quite apt manner. The audience still manage to burst into a peal of laughter as they switch on any mode of social media to watch his timeless movies. Graduated in Arts, he moved to Calcutta to make his fortune! However, his association with the Anushilan Samity in Dhaka made the police suspect him and he was put behind the doors for 30 days. His involvement in the quit India movement and other revolutionary activities in Dhaka bred a difficult atmosphere for him. And this was the true reason behind his arrival in Calcutta in 1950, which was a blessing in disguise for him indeed! He worked with the eminent directors and the films viz “Jomaloye Jibonto Manush”, “Miss Priyongboda” “Ashiteo Ashilo Na” and many more did extremely well at the box office! In fact he did not have to look back as soon as he managed to join the film industry. The tale of success was woven one after the another. The breathtaking achievements perhaps turned others green in envy! A happily married person whose son Soumitra was an actor too in Tollywood.
Had he been alive today, he would have turned a century! But unfortunately, he trod the earth for a span of 62 years. It is unbelievable that he did not receive any filmfare for his stupendous performance nor leave any legacy behind! Comparing to his contemporaries, one can easily comment that whatever had been given by him was utterly impossible for anyone else to cater to the industry. A tall figure, a humble personality and a hilarious performer, we would certainly love to call up in some solitary moments beyond any doubt!!