Sabitri Chatterjee

Sabitri Chatterjee (born 21 February 1937) is an Indian actress who is known for her work in Bengali theatre and cinema. Her career spans more than seventy years. She twice won the BFJA Awards. In 1999, she was conferred with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for acting in Bengali theatre. In 2013, she was awarded by the Government of West Bengal its highest civilian award; the Banga Bibhushan.

In 2014, Government of India conferred upon her its fourth-highest civilian award the Padma Shri.

She was born in Comilla, in British India (now in Bangladesh). During the partition of Bengal, she was sent to the safety of an older, married sister's house in Kolkata located at Tollygunge. During her adolescence, she was noticed by Bhanu Banerjee who took her to Uttar Sarathi group theatre for a role in their play Natun Ihudi. Later she emerged as a prominent thespian personality for the title role in the play Shyamali which was staged at Star Theatre. She made her big screen debut in Uttam Kumar starrer Sahajatri (1951) directed by Agradoot and appeared as her first female lead in Sudhir Mukherjee's comedy film Pasher Bari (1952) which was a major success at box office. She is remembered for her roles in films such as Raat Bhor (1955), Upahar (1955), Abhayer Biye (1957), Nupur (1958), Gali Theke Rajpath (1959), Marutirtha Hinglaj (1959), Kuhak (1960), Badhu (1962), Bhranti Bilas (1963), Uttarayan (1963), Jaya (1965), Kal Tumi Aleya (1966), Nishipadma (1970), Dhanyi Meye (1971) and Malyadan (1971) to name a few. Soumitra Chatterjee described her as the finest actor he has worked with.

Early life and background Sabitri was born on 21 February 1937 in a small town of Kamalapur in Comilla District of present-day Bangladesh and is youngest among ten sisters. Her father Sashadhar Chatterjee, who belonged to a famous Kulin Rarhi Brahmin family from a Kulin Brahmin village called Kanaksar in Bikrampur, worked as a station master in Indian Railways. During the partition of Bengal, young Sabitri was sent to the safety of an older, married sister's house in Kolkata located at Tollygunge – the hub of filmmaking in Kolkata. Being brought up in Tollygunge she often saw filmstars of that time.

Career

Film career When Sabitri Chatterjee was in class ten, she was noticed by veteran actor Bhanu Banerjee who picked her up for a role in Natun Ihudi, a play of Uttar Sarathi group theatre on the refugees from East Pakistan. The play was being directed by Kanu Banerjee – the actor who would later perform as Harihar Roy, in Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali and Aparajito. Sabitri also acted the film version of the play which was released in 1953. She made her big screen debut in Uttam Kumar starrer Sahajatri (1951) directed by Agradoot and appeared as her first female lead in Sudhir Mukherjee's comedy film Pasher Bari (1952) which was a major success at box office.

Sabitri Chatterjee's next film assignment was Subhada (1952) – a film based on a novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and directed by Niren Lahiri along with Chhabi Biswas and Pahari Sanyal. In this film, she played the role of an unfortunate girl named Lalana. In the same year, she appeared in the Uttam Kumar starrer family drama Basu Poribar (1952), directed by Nirmal Dey, which had Supriya Devi in the role of Uttam Kumar's sister. Sabitri and Uttam Kumar had been friends since 1951, Uttam Kumar offered her to act in a theatrical production to be produced by his group Krishti O Srishti. The Uttam-Sabitri combination became a favourite of the Bengali cine-goers and their friendship withstood strong but false rumours of marriage. This TV serial is also aired in Star Jalsha. She acted in an Indian Bengali show named Andarmahal, which aired on the popular Bengali entertainment channel Zee Bangla.

Awards The Bengal Film Journalists' Association (BFJA) Award for Best Actress in Supporting Role in 1967 for "Kal Tumi Aleya" BFJA Award-Best Actress in Supporting Role in 1972 for "Malyadan" Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Acting in Bengali theatre in 1999. Kalakar Awards- Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. D.Lit degree from Kalyani University in 2012 Banga Bibhushan Award in 2013 for her contribution to Indian Cinema. Padma Shri Award in 2014 for contributions in Film arts.

Filmography

Television Year Serial Role Channel 2006 Sonar Horin ETV Bangla 2007–2008 Sanai Mrs. Choudhury Akash Bangla 2010–2012 Subarnalata Muktakeshi Zee Bangla 2011–2013 Tapur Tupur Star Jalsha 2011–2015 Ishti Kutum 2013–2015 Jol Nupur Kamalini Krishnendushekhar Basumallick 2014–2016 Chokher Tara Tui 2016–2017 Ei Chheleta Bhelbheleta Shaluk's Maternal Grandmother Zee Bangla 2016–2018 Kusum Dola Savitri Chatterjee Star Jalsha 2017–2018 Andarmahal Swatilekha Dutta Zee Bangla 2017–2018 Sanyashi Raja Rashmani Basu Star Jalsha 2019–2020 Mayurpankhi Kamalini Sen 2019–2022 Mohor Saraswati Bose 2021–2022 Dhulokona Ratulmani Ganguly 2023 Balijhor Srot's Grandmother 2025–2026 Chirosokha