11 most unforgettable performances by Soumitra Chatterjee

Soumitra Chatterjee has managed to break all those preconceived notions of retirement- even at age of 83, he is more active than ever. He still remains an inspiration to actors all around the world and has shown us how to live life to the fullest. How lucky are we to be born in such an era of a wonderful maestro! Although he has appeared in around a hundred movies and enjoys an equally active theatre life, this elite movie list can’t be considered a final one. In reality, it’s the list of those films we loved so much that we can watch it again and again.

We have to start with this Bengali classic because it was his first movie and the rest is history. Thanks to Satyajit Ray for finding out this scintillating gem of Indian cinema. Soumitra and Ray went on to work together in as many as fourteen films since then. The journey started in 1959 and ended in 1990.

This film is one of director Tapan Sinha’s finest works. No one would have fitted this character better than the romantic and charming Soumitra, who is doomed by a haunting past love. A must watch for all movie buffs.

Not only did Madhabi turn out to be synonymous with the character Charulata but also Soumitra as the young attractive Amal. Whenever you think of this film, all you can remember are the dreamlike sequences of the beautiful conversations with dual meanings between the two.

This Satyajit Ray classic portrayed Soumitra from a different perspective. Initially, his character is shown as a loafer- singing and dancing on the streets teasing girls. Next, he becomes the gentle lover who rebuilds his image for his unconditional love for Tanuja. The cherry on the cake was that ‘Teen Bhubaner Parey’ had some memorable songs like ‘Jibon e ki pabona’ and ‘Hoeto Tomari Jonno’.

Soumitra perfectly portrayed the egoistic yet embarrassed male with an attitude that only a Bengalee can handle. It was once again a completely different avatar of the legendary actor that will always keep you glued. The best thing at the end of this Ray masterpiece is that you finally realise you have perhaps fallen in love with him!

If you are expecting a film with a serious storyline like the others, you would be disappointed. In ‘Basanta Bilap’ you can see Soumitra in a supreme comic role. The iconic actor locks horns with the gorgeous Aparna Sen in this comedy classic. Plus, the brilliant acting by his co-stars Anup Kumar, Chinmay Roy assists Soumitra to churn out his versatility.

Soumitra appears in a bearded rough look and he is not that gentleman we have seen before. His character in 'Abhijaan' is quite arrogant and thinks too highly of himself. But as we all know life subtly teaches us the necessary lessons. The same thing happens here. ‘Abhijaan’ is undoubtedly one of the best picks for a serious film buff to binge on.

It is difficult to imagine the gentle, romantic, soft-spoken Soumitra as a mean villain! It was the first movie in which Uttam and Soumitra appeared together. This Tapan Sinha directorial is a landmark in Bengali cinema. Uttam Kumar essayed out the double role as the abducted king’s doppelganger and Soumitra is brilliant in his portrayal as the cruel antagonist Mayurbahan.

This is the Soumitra Chatterjee we will remember forever. Gentle and tough, soft yet unbroken and intelligent but humble; wielding his famous Magajastra, Feluda became a complete man and a balanced human being.

A great family movie, 'Bela Seshe' gives us many learning experiences. It highlights the values of a relationship and the bonding between family members. ‘Bela Seshe’ gave a serious message about how we depend on our family to lead a healthy and happy life. No one could have played the challenging role better than Soumitra Chatterjee. His presence made the Shiboprasad Mukhopadhyay directorial a really special one.

With Prosenjeet Chatterjee's brilliant acting chops along with Soumitra Chatterjee and the supporting cast's performances, this film has amazed many people not just in Bengal but all over the country. ‘Mayurakshi’ is about a father-son relationship affected by long distance and the events that follow when the son gives his 84-year-old father a surprise visit only to realise he is gradually slipping into dementia. Soumitra as the aging father seemed to be the pillar of ‘Mayurakshi’s success.