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VASANTA CHOUDHURY -- AN INSTITUTION
BY HIMSELF

One of the most prolific actors of the Bengali screen and stage, Vasanta Choudhury passed away on June 20. With his demise, an era of the most classic icons of Bengali cinema, that defined a beautiful blend of high intellect, eminent scholarship and aesthetic creativity in histrionics came to an end...

AT 72, Vasanta Choudhury was still active as chairman of Nandan, the cultural complex of the West Bengal government and actively participated in the programming of the Calcutta International Film Festival. As per his last wishes, his sons cremated him at the Garia Crematorium quietly, soon after his death and only then announced his passing away.

Choudhury was born in Nagpur on May 5, 1928 to parents Siddheswar Chandra Choudhury and Kamala Devi. Despite his growing up years in Maharashtra, Choudhury was a Bengali to the core, in lifestyle, in culture, in upbringing, et al. He graduated in Science from Morris College after clearing his matriculation in 1945 from Dinanath School, both in Nagpur. He then left for Calcutta with Rs 22 in his pocket to realise his dream of becoming an actor.

He easily drew attention to his golden honey voice and his regal personage with his classic debut in Mahaprasthaner Pathey, directed by Kartick Chatterjee, (Yatrik in Hindi) based on the life and teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in 1951, in which he portrayed the Bengali saint who perpetuated the spiritual philosophy of advait in Bengal. Arundhati Devi, also in her debut performance, played his wife in the film.

His next film, Nabin Jatra, did not do too well. But his third film, Bhagaban Srikrishna Chaitanya, directed by Debaki Bose, opposite a very young Suchitra Sen, was a box office grosser. There was no looking back. For four decades following this, Vasanta Choudhury made his mark as one of the most aristocratic, handsome and golden-voiced actors in the history of Bengali cinema.

With Bengal’s numero uno Uttam Kumar, Choudhury acted in five films. These were - Nabin Jatra, Shankar Narayan Bank, Haarjeet, Shankhabela and Jodi Jaantem. He acted in around 200 films and out of this, he did major roles in not less than 100. Some of his notable performances were in biographical features like Jodu Bhatto, Basant Bahar and Raja Rammohan Roy.

Among his other notable performances in socials based on literary classics are - Shesher Porichoy, Bokul, Subharaatri, Abhaya Srikanto, Khsudha, Bodhu, Anustup Chhanda, Eki Angey Eto Roop, Diba Raatrir Kabya, Deep Jele Jai, Andharey Alo, Debi Choudhurani, Alor Pipasha, Pratham Pratisruti, Baidurya Rahasya, Antaranga, Rituparno Ghosh’s Hirer Angti and Gautam Ghosh’s Antarjali Jatra. His portrayal in and as Raja Rammohan Roy fetched him the prestigious Bengal Film Journalist’s Award in 1965.

He made his Hindi debut in Bimal Roy’s Parakh opposite Sadhana, but could not make a mark because the film was a flop. He acted in a few more Hindi films such as Grahan and Mayuri. Many years later, he did another Hindi film, Ek Doctor Ki Maut directed by Tapan Sinha which bagged the Critics’ Award at the National Film Awards in 1991.

Choudhury has to his credit over 2000 stage performances beginning in 1956. His journey through the Bengali professional stage was triggered off by two contemporary actors of great merit, Tarun Kumar and the late Kali Banerjee. His solo performance in Notun Bouthan was staged all over the world in the 1980s. Some of his most successful plays are some valued productions of Biswaroopa and Star, which, sadly, no longer exist on the Calcutta city map. The plays that are synonymous with Choudhury’s performance in them are Kshudha, Arogya Niketan, Dena Paona and Bipradas. He also did quite a few radio plays among which, the memorable ones are Kanu Kahe Rai, Bijoya and Pata Jhorey Jaye. He also toyed with the Jatra form of folk theatre performance by joining the Natta Compnay for a brief phase. He was greatly in demand for poetry recitals because his voice was golden and his diction, flawless.

Other than histrionics, Choudhury was noted for his historic, four-decade-old collection in three very different fields - rare coins from Tripura, Cooch Behar and Arakan, more than 101 Ganesha icons in miniature in different forms gathered from across the world including Japan and Germany, and an unique array of beautifully handcrafted shawls.

A keen numismatist, he was an expert in art and archeology. His scholarly treatises on the coins of Tripura, Cooch Behar, the Arakan and other areas of North-East India and South-East Asia have been published in many international and national books and journals. He recently gave away his entire collection of 101 Ganeshas to the Indian Museum, Calcutta. He gave away his antiques to friends and well-wishers before his death. He also had a priceless collection of silver, picked up over the past four decades, from the oldest jewellery houses of Boubazar in Calcutta.His was a familiar face and figure that continued to haunt the northern end of the city’s legendary and traditional sweet shops that have established their trademark over the past 150 years. Besides being the Sheriff of Calcutta some years ago, Choudhury was a trustee of the Indian Museum, a life member of the Asiatic Societies of India and Bangladesh, the Numismatic Society of India and the North-eastern History Association, among other academic bodies. He leaves behind two established sons in Srinjoy who is a leading correspondent with The Statesman in Delhi and Sanjit, who makes documentary films. His wife, Aloka, from who he was separated since 1978, predeceased him a few years ago. With the passing of Vasanta Choudhury, the entire cultural scene of Calcutta and West Bengal bids a sad farewell to a classic persona, the likes of who they do not really make up there anymore.

Shoma A Chatterji"