Ruma Guha Thakurta

Ruma Guha Thakurta (21 November 1934 – 3 June 2019) was an Indian actress and singer primarily associated with Bengali language films. She founded Calcutta Youth Choir in 1958.

Early life Ruma Guha Thakurta was born as Ruma Ghosh on 3 November 1934 to Satyen Ghosh (Monty Ghosh) and singer Sati Devi. Her family was culturally inclined to Brahmo Samaj, a societal component of Brahmoism. Her mother Sati was eldest sister of Bijoya Ray, the wife of Satyajit Ray.

Guha Thakurta was a trained vocalist and a dancer. She started training in music at Swarabitan in Kolkata, which had been established by her parents. In later years, she studied under Abdul Rehman Khan of Patiala gharana, the Ustad of Nirmla Devi and Lakshmi Shankar in Bombay. She also trained in dance at "Uday Shankar India Cultural Centre" at Almora. The couple had two children, Ayan and Sromona. Sromona is also a singer.

Career Guha Thakurta made her acting debut in Amiya Chakravarty's Jwar Bhata (1944) at age ten. This was the debut film of Dilip Kumar. Her next film as Ruma Ghosh was Nitin Bose, whose first cousin was her aunt's father-in-law,'s Mashaal (1950) in Hindi, which had a Bengali version called Samar, adapted from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel Rajani. She portrayed a blind girl, Sarla.

After her divorce, Ruma moved to Calcutta to act in Rajen Tarafdar’s Ganga based on Samaresh Bose’s eponymous cult novel. She acted as one of two leading ladies, with Sandhya Roy. Ganga won the National award for Best Feature Film that year and Ruma's portrayal of Himi received critical acclamation. In the same year, she acted in Personal Assistant opposite to Bhanu Bandopadhayay and in Khaniker Atithi by Tapan Sinha.

Her film career revived in 1962 with Benarasi, produced by her and directed by her husband. It was the tale of a courtesan who tries to lead a life of dignity and respect, when her childhood sweetheart, Ratan, takes her away from her terrible environment. It flopped, but won the BFJA Award for Best Feature Film the following year.

Filmography

As an actress Year Title Role Director Language Notes 1944 Jwar Bhata Amiya Chakrvarty Hindi 1950 Mashaal Sarala Das Nitin Bose Hindi Afsar Chetan Anand Hindi 1952 Rag Rang Digvijay Ruma Devi Hindi 1959 Personal Assistant Rumali Sen Chitrakar Bengali (as Ruma Devi) Khaniker Atithi Mita Tapan Sinha Bengali (as Ruma Ganguly) Ganga Rajen Tarafdar Himi Bengali 1960 Benarasi Sona Arup Guhathakurta Bengali 1962 Banarasi Abhijan Neeli Satyajit Ray Bengali Benarasi 1963 Polatak Moyna Tarun Majumder Bengali Nirjan Saikate Chhoto Bou Tapan Sinha Bengali 1964 Kinu Gowalar Gali Theater Actress O. C Ganguly Bengali Subha O Debatar Gras Sindoore Megh Prabhater Rang Ajoy Kar Bengali 1966 Joradighir Chowdhury Paribar Ajit Lahiri Bengali 1967 Antony Firingee Jogweshwari Sunil Bannerjee Bengali Balika Badhu Tarun Majumdar Bengali Ashite Ashiona Bengali 1968 Hangsa Mithun Bengali Garh Nasimpur Bengali Panchashar Arup Guhathakurta Bengali Baghini Bijoy Bose Bengali 1969 Arogya Niketan Pradyot's mother Bijoy Bose Bengali 1973 Nishi Kanya 1974 Jadi Jantem Ranu Basu Yatrik Bengali 1976 Bairaag Pushpa Asit Sen Hindi 1979 Dour 1980 Dadar Kirti Saraswati, Beena's Mother Tarun Majumdar Bengali Bandhan 1981 36 Chowringhee Lane Nandita's Mother English Swami Stree Bengali Maa Bipat Tarini Chandi 1982 Troyee Bengali Amrita Kumbher Sandhane Bengali 1983 Samarpita Bengali 1984 Paar Didi 1985 Bhalobasa Bhalobasa Keya's Mother Bengali 1986 Anurager Chhonya Bengali 1987 Gayok Shantanu Bhowmick Amar Sangi Jhilik's Mother Sujit Guha Bengali Ekanto Apon Ranajoy's Mother Biresh Chattopadhyay Bengali 1988 Agun Tumi Koto Sundar Aagoon Victor Banerjee Bengali 1989 Ganashatru Maya Gupta Satyajit Ray Bengali Asha O Bhalobasha Roopa's Mother Sujit Guha Bengali Aakrosh Samrat's Foster Mother Sujit Guha Bengali 1990 Anuraag Garmil Papi Abhishkar 1991 Path O Prasad Bengali Bidhilipi 1992 Indrajit Anjan Choudhury Bengali 1994 Wheel Chair Sushmita's Mother Tapan Sinha 1995 Sangharsha Haranath Chakraborty Bengali 1996 Himghar Bengali 1998 Choudhury Paribar 2000 Malabadal Raj Mukherjee Bengali 2006 The Namesake Ashoke's Mother English (final film role)

As a playback singer Year Title 1958 Lukochuri 1963 Barnali Polatak 1961 Tin Konya 1966 Joradighir Chowdhury Paribar 1967 Antony Firingee 1968 Baghini 1970 Bakso Badal 1974 Jodi Jantem 1976 Mera Dharam Meri Maa 1982 Amrita Kumbher Sandhane

Awards BFJA Awards (1964) for Best Actress in supporting role – Palatak IFFI Best Actor Award (Female) (1965) for "Nirjan Saikate" at 3rd IFFI