Santosh Dutta

Early life Dutta was a lawyer by profession. Essentially a comedian, he elevated comedy acting to the levels of character roles. Satyajit Ray gave him the first break with a small role in his immortal film Parash Pathar. After Sonar Kella, he became so associated with the role of "Jatayu" that Satyajit Ray later reframed the appearance of Jatayu and started making the sketches of Jatayu resembling Dutta in Feluda novels. After the death of this actor, Ray once remarked that there will be no further movies in the Feluda series as Jatayu cannot be thought of without Santosh Dutta. Though after the death of Ray, the role of Jatayu was later played by artists such as Anup Kumar, Bibhu Bhattacharya, and even Rabi Ghosh. These actors agreed that it was impossible to play the character without the influence of Santosh Dutta in mind.

Career Apart from playing Jatayu, Dutta played crucial roles in Satyajit Ray's masterpieces for children like Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne and Hirak Rajar Deshe. In Goopy Gayen Bagha Bayen, Dutta played dual roles of the kings of "Halla" and "Shundi". In Hirak Rajar Deshe, which is a sequel to Goopy Gayen Bagha Bayen, Dutta played the role of a mysterious scientist (known as Gobeshok Gobuchondro Gyanotirtho Gyanorotno Gyanambudhi Gyanochuramoni), in addition to a small appearance for the same 'King of Shundi'.

Another milestone in Dutta's career was playing Gopal Bhar in the film of the same name. Gopal Bhar being a humorous character known for centuries in India, particularly the state of West Bengal.

The role of Abalakanto in Ogo Bodhu Sundari has also become legendary.

Dutta played important roles in films like Teen Kanya, Paras Pathar, Kapurush O Mahapurush, Streer Patra, Marjina Abdallah, Jana Aranya, Char Murti and Gana Devata. He played the roles of comedians in some commercial theaters. Kone Bibhrat was one of the plays in his later years which was a mega hit. He worked in a TV serial called Goenda Bhagabandas with Rabi Ghosh, another famous actor of his time.

Filmography Year Title Director Role Notes 1958 Parash Pathar Satyajit Ray Atanu (the announcer) Uncredited 1958 Headmaster Agragami Actor 1961 Teen Kanya Satyajit Ray Kishori (segment "Samapti") 1965 Mahapurush Satyajit Ray Professor Nandi / Nani 1968 Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne Satyajit Ray King of Shundi & Halla 1972 Streer Patra Purnendu Pattrea Doctor 1973 Shriman Prithviraj Tarun Majumdar Nobin Master 1973 Marjina Abdulla Dinen Gupta Ali Baba 1974 Sonar Kella Satyajit Ray Lalmohan Ganguly / Jatayu 1974 Jadu Bansha Partha Prathim Choudhury Actor 1976 Jana Aranya Satyajit Ray Hiralal Saha 1976 Asadharan Salil Sen Actor 1977 Sister Pijush Bose Actor 1977 Ek Je Chhilo Desh Tapan Sinha Actor 1977 Ei Prithibir Panthanibas Aravind Mukherjee Actor 1977 Shesh Raksha Shankar Bhattacharya Actor 1978 Charmurti Umanath Bhattacharya Meshomoshai 1979 Joi Baba Felunath Satyajit Ray Lalmohan Ganguly / Jatayu 1979 Ghatkali Bimal Roy Jr. Actor 1979 Ganadevata Tarun Majumdar Surveyor 1979 Brajabuli Pijush Bose Actor 1980 Paka Dekha Aravind Mukherjee Actor 1980 Hirak Rajar Deshe Satyajit Ray King of Shundi / scientist in Hirak Raj 1980 Sandhi Amal Dutta Actor 1980 Abhi Apurba Kumar Mitra Actor 1980 Gopal Bhar Amal Sur Gopal Bhar 1981 Subarnalata Bijoy Bose Actor 1981 Ogo Bodhu Shundori Salil Dutta Abolakanta 1982 Khelar Putul Tarun Majumdar Actor 1982 Malancha Purnendu Pattrea Actor 1982 Rasamoyeer Rasikata Amal Sur Actor 1983 Rajeswari Salil Dutta Actor 1983 Kauke Bolo Na Vishwanath Mukherjee Actor 1983 Duti Pata Bimal Roy Jr. Actor 1983 Srinkhal Abir Basu Actor 1984 Pujarini Partha Prathim Choudhury Actor 1984 Shilalipi Palash Bannerjee Actor 1984 Sorgol Biswajit Actor 1984 Lolita Tapan Choudhury Actor 1984 Amar Geeti Tarun Majumdar Actor 1984 Joy Parajoy Chandan Mukherjee Actor 1985 Baikunther Will Sushil Mukherjee Actor 1985 Nishantay Narayan Chakraborty Actor 1985 Aamar Prithibi Bimal Bhowmick Actor 1985 Nishante Narayan Chakraborty Actor 1985 Hulusthul Aravind Mukherjee Actor 1986 Dui Adhyay Goutam Mukhopadhyay Actor 1986 Urbashe Salil Dutta Actor 1986 Subho Kamon Aachho? Partha Pratim Chowdhury Actor 1987 Abir Kamal Majumdar Actor 1987 Samrat-O-Sundari Bimal Roy Jr. Actor 1988 Agni Sanket Swarup Dutta Actor 1989 Gili Gili Gay Ishwar Chakraborty Actor 1991 Palataka Saran Dey Actor