Sukhen Das | |
---|---|
Born | Sukhendranath Das 28 July 1938 |
Died | 4 April 2004[1] | (aged 65)
Occupation(s) | Actor director Screenplay/story writer |
Known for | Pratisodh (1981) Daan Pratidaan (1992) Amar Kantak (1987) |
Children | 3 |
Relatives | Piya Sengupta (Daughter)[2] Anup Sengupta (Son-in-law)[3] Bonny Sengupta (Grandson)[3] |
Sukhen Das (28 July 1938 – 4 April 2004) was an Indian actor,[4][5] director,[6] screenwriter and story writer of Bengali cinema.
Das was born as Sukhendranath Das in Kolkata.[7][8] He spent parts of his childhood in an orphanage i.e The Ramkrishna Society-Anath Bhandar. He did not finish his education because of financial problems.[3] Later he fled the orphanage and took shelter in a doctor's chamber. During this time he roamed around near film studios, and he was spotted by director Debnarayan Gupta who gave him a role as a child actor (Master Sukhen) in the movie Dasiputra (1949).[9]
Das acted in many commercially successful movies[5][10] including Pratishodh (1981)[11] and Maa Ek Mandir (1988).[11] His roles in the movies Lalu Bhulu (1959), Dhonyi Meye (1971), Rajnandini (1980) and Dadamoni (1984) earned him critical acclaim. He also directed a large number of movies, including Milan Tithi, Sayani,[12] Maan Abhiman (1978)[13] and Singhaduar (1978), and wrote scripts for a number of others.[4] His play 15th July was translated into Hindi. He acted in a large number of jatras as well.
Das was typecast in tragic roles,[14] although he sometimes played comic roles as well,[15] as exemplified by his role in Dhonyi Meye. A typical role for him would be a man who became handicapped in an accident while trying to rescue younger brother or friend, and who was being ill-treated by others. His role in Pratisodh, where he played the role of an action hero, was unusual.
Das married twice. His son Rajat Das was an actor and a director. His brother Ajay Das ( 22 January 1941 – 15 April 2013 ) was a music director, and scored the music in many of Das' movies.
He died on 4 April 2004 in a nursing home in Kolkata due to cardiac arrest.[16]