Nemai Ghosh

Nemai Ghosh (8 May 1934 – 25 March 2020) was a noted Indian photographer most known for working with Satyajit Ray, as a still photographer for over two decades, starting with Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne till Ray's last film Agantuk (1991). His work spans theatre, cinema, art, cultural documentation, and his home city of Kolkata, especially via black-and-white photography that captures both grand moments and intimate, fleeting ones.

He was a jury member at the 2007 National Film Awards, and was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India in 2010.

Early life and beginnings

Born in Kolkata (then Calcutta), British India. He began his artistic involvement in theatre, performing with Utpal Dutt’s Little Theatre Group. His interest in photography was not planned; around 1966, by chance he acquired a camera and began experimenting.

Personal life and family Nemai Ghosh was married to Shibani Ghosh, who died on 28 March 2022.

The couple had three children:

Their eldest son, Santanu Ghosh died of a brain tumour on 19 December 2001. He was survived by his wife Dalia Ghosh, daughter Shreya Ghosh, and son Soham Ghosh. Their younger son, Satyaki Ghosh, became a photographer, following in his father’s footsteps. He is married to Madhura Ghosh with two daughters, Opashona Ghosh and Pujarini Ghosh. Their youngest child, Sharmistha Ghosh, works as an educator.

Association with Satyajit Ray

His first work with Satyajit Ray was on the film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969). From that point until Ray’s last film Agantuk (1991), Ghosh served as Ray’s still photographer. Satyajit Ray referred to him as a kind of “Boswell” of his life with a camera, in reference to James Boswell, the famous biographer.

He died on 25 March 2020. He was 85.