Award-winning film director and actor Rituporno Ghosh, 49, is no more.
He died of a massive cardiac arrest at his Kolkata residence on Thursday.
Ghosh made 19 films, mostly Bangla but some in Hindi as well, and won 12 National Awards, the last in 2012 , a special Jury award, for Noukadubi.
Ghosh has been suffering from pancreatitis.
“I am shocked that he is no more. He had so much to offer, he was so creative,” said Souvik Mitra who worked as his assistant director in many films.
Mitra said Ghosh’s untimely death was great loss to Bengali cinema.
Film maker and leading actress Aparna Sen agreed.
“It is unbelievable,” was her anguished reaction to Ghosh’s death.
He started his career in advertising and his directional debut was Hirer Angti (The diamond ring) in 1994. The same year, he won the National Film Award for the best feature film for his ‘Unishe April”.
Ghosh received a National film award for Best Director for his Bengali film ‘Abohoman ‘starring Jishu Sengupta and Ananya Chatterjee in 2010.
Ghosh was also famous for his two chat shows on television — Ebong Rituporno on ETV Bangla and Ghosh & Co in Star Jalsa channels.
He was also scriptwriter of Gaaner Opare.
Ghosh never looked back after his ‘Unishe April’ won the best feature film award in India, in which rising actress Debashree Roy won the Best actress award.
Dahan, Bariwali, Asukh, Utsab, Shubo Mahurat, Dosar, Chokker Bali, Shob Charitro Kalponik, Abohoman, Chitrangda and Noukadubi are some of his award winning Bangla films.
His “Raincoat” won the best Hindi feature film award in 2004 and his “Last Lear” won the Best English feature film award in 2007.
Leading Bengali and Hindi film personalities have expressed profound grief and shock at Ghosh’s untimely demise.
Actress Divya Dutta tweeted, “Shocked to hear about Rituda! Not sinking in! Fondest memories of working with him in the Last Lear! RIP.”
Film director Onir expresses regret over Rituparno’s death. He tweeted, “His passing away will be a big loss not only to lovers of cinema and art, but a huge loss to the LGBT community.” He added, “Last met him at the day of the National awards. He was radiant and happy like a child.”
Still not able to come in terms with Rituparno’s death, Tamil actor Arvind Swami tweets, “Saddened and shocked to hear that Rituparno Ghosh has passed away at such a young age. A great loss for Indian Cinema.”
Born and brought up in Kolkata, Ghosh somehow had it in his genes. His father was a documentary film maker and Ghosh drifted to film making after studying Economics at Kolkata’s Jadavpur University.
Source: Bd news24