Shekhar Chatterjee (1924–1990) was an Indian actor and film director.
Career Chatterjee was born in Kolkata in 1924. He began his career in the Bengali theatre in the 1950s. He was associated with a number of leftist theatre groups, including the Communist Party's Indian People's Theatre Association, Utpal Dutt's Little Theatre Group, and Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, as well as his own group, Theatre Unit, which he formed in 1958. As a stage actor he was well known for his Shakespearean roles and for playing Shardul Singh in Dutt's 1965 play Kallol. His directorial work focused on works by German-language playwrights Bertold Brecht, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Peter Handke, and Franz Xaver Kroetz. Chatterjee's Brecht productions were rarely adapted to a local setting, and while critics unanimously praised this approach as "authentic", his colleague Dutt attacked it for failing to communicate Brecht's political symbolism to an Indian audience.
Chatterjee was also active in Bengali, Indian and world cinema, having acted in nearly a hundred films by the time he was sixty. Among his first credited roles was in Agradoot's 1955 film noir Sabar Uparey; he later had memorable roles in several of Mrinal Sen's films, including Bhuvan Shome, Ek Adhuri Kahani, Chorus, and Mrigayaa. His biggest international role was that of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy in Richard Attenborough's biographical epic Gandhi. Casting director Dolly Thakore recommended Chatterjee for the role after seeing him onstage in Calcutta and noting that he shared Suhrawardy's large stature.
In 1983, Chatterjee directed the film Vasundhara, which was awarded as best Bengali film at the 31st National Film Awards. The Directorate of Film Festivals cited it for "its sincere attempt to depict the struggle against social injustice".
Filmography
As actor Year Title Role Notes 1989 Judge Saheb as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1989 Nishi Trishna 1988 Kidnap 1988 Hirer Shikal 1987 Raj Purush as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1984 Maa 1984 Rashifal 1983 Samapti 1983 Duti Pata 1982 Gandhi Suhrawardy 1981 Abichar 1978 Anugraham 1978 Man Abhiman 1978 Die Zauberwurzel 1977 Pratima 1977 Mrigayaa 1975 Sansar Seemantey 1975 Raag Anurag as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1975 Chorus Mr. Mukherjee 1974 Thagini as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1974 Debi Chowdhurani Rangalal 1974 Sangini 1974 Mouchak 1973 Marjina Abdulla Kashem 1973 Achena Atithi 1973 Ali Baba Captain as Sekhar Chattopadhyay 1973 Ami Sirajer Begam 1972 Ek Adhuri Kahani 1972 Eine unvollendete Geschichte Nemiar 1972 Sesh Parba 1972 Ajker Nayak 1971 Kuheli Station master 1971 Interview 1970 Ichhapuran 1969 Bhuvan Shome as Sekhar Chatterjee 1968 Gar Nasimpur as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1967 Der Zoo as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1967 Abhishapta Chambal 1966 Kal Tumi Aleya Lawyer 1966 Joradighir Chowdhury Paribar as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1965 Ghoom Bhangar Gaan as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1965 Rajkanya 1965 Trishna 1961 Dakather Hatey Bulu as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1962 Abhijaan Rameshwar as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1955 Sabar Uparey
As director Year Title Notes 1983 Vasundhara as Sekhar Chatterjee
As screenwriter Year Title Notes 1975 Raag Anurag as Shekhar Chattopadhyay 1973 Basanta Bilap as Shekhar Chattopadhyay
References
External links