Manoj Mitra (মনোজ মিত্র) was a famous Indian Bengali theatre, film, and television actor, director, and playwright. He first acted in the 1980 film Banchharamer Bagan, directed by Tapan Singh, which was adapted from the play Sajano Bagaan, written by him in 1977. His first play, Bogal Dhiman, won the first prize in a statewide competition. He co-founded the theatre group Sundaram.
Personal Information
| Full Name | Manoj Mitra |
| Date of Birth | December 22, 1938 |
| Birth Place | Dhulihar village, Satkhira District, Khulna Division, Bengal Province, British India (now in Bangladesh) |
| Died | November 12, 2024 (aged 85) Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Parents | Ashok Kumar Mitra (father) Radharani Mitra (mother) |
| Occupation(s) | Teacher, Actor, Theatre Artist, Dramatist |
| Spouse | Aarti Mitra |
| Daughter | Mayuri Mitra |
| Brother | Amar Mitra (died 2024) |
Early Life and Education
Manoj Mitra was born on December 22, 1938, in Dhulihar village, Satkhira District, Khulna Division, Bengal Province, British India (now in Bangladesh). He came from a traditional Bengali family. He was the eldest child and had a younger brother, Amar Mitra, who was a Bengali writer. His father, Ashok Kumar Mitra, was a judge in the British government's mobile court, and his mother, Radharani Mitra, was a housewife. His father had worked as a teacher earlier in his life. He was admitted to the first grade of Dhulihar Primary School on January 5, 1945.[1] Later, his father worked as a judge in the British government's mobile court. As a result, Manoj had to live in various parts of Bengal during his childhood due to his father's transferable job.
He was deeply fascinated by the street plays and jatras (folk theatre) performed during Durga Puja, although his family did not allow him to participate. However, at one point, the rules were relaxed. He first acted in Rabindranath Tagore's comedy play Roger Chikitsa, which was performed on the occasion of the village's Vijaya Sammilani.
After the Partition of India, his family moved to West Bengal, where he continued his education at Dandirhat N.K.U.S. Niketan near Basirhat. He later attended Scottish Church College in Kolkata, where he graduated with honours in philosophy in 1958. It was at the Scottish Church that he was introduced to theatre. The college regularly hosted shows, where students like Badal Sarkar, Rudraprasad Sengupta, and others performed. He pursued an M.A. in philosophy from the University of Calcutta and began research for a doctorate. However, his passion for theatre led him to co-found the theatre group Sundaram with friends like theatre and film director Partha Pratim Chowdhury.
While studying for his M.A. at Calcutta University, he wrote his first one-act play, Mrityur Chokhe Jal (1959). From this time on, he shifted his focus from short stories to writing plays. He sought to make drama a medium for expressing all his thoughts.
Academic Career
Manoj Mitra taught philosophy at Suri Vidyasagar College for a day but soon joined the Drama Department of Rabindra Bharati University, where he became the head of the department and retired as the Sisirkumar Bhaduri Professor of the University. His academic career was paralleled by his success as a playwright and actor. He authored various books on film and theatre, including The Theatre of Conscience (2007), Banchharam's Orchard and an Encounter with Royalty (2000), and Saiyan Beiman (2012). His works have been translated into many languages.
Theatre Career
Manoj Mitra started acting in stage plays while studying at Scottish Church College, but he fully entered the world of theatre with the play “Chak Bhanga Madhu” (1972). In 1977, he played the lead role in the play “Sajano Bagaan”, which depicted human happiness and sorrow, the fluctuations of hopes and aspirations, and the simple coexistence of the natural and the unnatural. He co-founded the theatre group “Sundaram”. He later left Sundaram and formed a theatre group called “Ritayan” but returned to Sundaram within a few days.
He was a leading playwright in West Bengal. He was writing, directing, and acting in plays. He authored over a hundred plays, including Chokhe Angul Dada, Kaalbihongo, Parabas, Alokanandar Putra Kanya, Narak Guljar, Aswathama, Chak Bhanga Madhu, Mesh O Rakhash, Noisho Bhoj, Chhayar Prashad, Galpo Hekim Saheb, Rajdarshan, Debi Swarpamasta, Munni O Saat Chowkidar, Ranger Haat, and Ja Nei Bharatey. His plays were produced by Sundaram and other theatre groups like Bohurupee. He learned about theatre from his theatre guru, Manmath Roy. He also played a soulful role in the movie Hothat Bristy (Sudden Rain) in 1998, which was produced by both Bangladesh and India.
Film Career
Manoj Mitra’s talent extended beyond the stage to the silver screen. His film career took off with his role in Tapan Sinha’s Banchharamer Bagan (1980), which was based on his own play Sajano Bagaan (1977). He played the lead role of Banchharam, a character that became iconic in Bengali culture. He continued to work with eminent directors such as Tapan Sinha, Satyajit Ray, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Basu Chatterjee, Tarun Majumdar, Shakti Samanta, Arabinda Mukhopadhyay, Haranath Chakraborty, Prabhat Roy, Anjan Choudhary, and Goutam Ghose. According to IMDB records, he played comedic and antagonist roles in eighty-seven Bengali movies.
Some of his notable films include Ghare Baire (1984), Shatru (1984), The Home and the World (1984), Ganashatru (1989), Ajker Santan (1997), Simul Parul (1998), Hothat Brishti (1998), Jiban Niye Khela (1999), Dui Prithibi (2000), Wheel Chair (2000), Charachar (2000), Rakhi Purnima (2001), Teen Murti (2009), Kagojer Nouka (2013), Manojder Adbhut Bari (2018), Uma (2020), Alinagarer Golokdhadha (2020), and Tritiyo Purush (2022).
He also wrote scripts for a few Bengali films, including Bancharamer Bagan (1980), Post Mortem (1980), Mohanar Dike (1984), and Narak Guljar (2009).
Awards and Recognition
Manoj Mitra received various awards and honours throughout his career. Some of the notable ones include:
- 1980: Filmfare Award East for Best Actor
- 1985: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Best Playwright
- 1986: Calcutta University Award for Best Playwright
- 1983 & 1989: West Bengal State Government Award for Best Playwright
- 2005: Asiatic Society's Gold Medal
- 2011: Munir Chowdhury Award from Bangladesh Theatre Society
- 2012: Dinabandhu Puraskar
- 2012: Kalakar Award
Death and Legacy
Manoj Mitra died on November 12, 2024, at Calcutta Heart Clinic & Hospital, Bidhannagar, at 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday, at the age of 85. He passed away due to age-related ailments. The actor had been admitted to the hospital on November 3, with a severe illness from which he did not recover. He is survived by his wife, Aarti Mitra, and only daughter, Mayuri Mitra. It is worth noting that his younger brother, Amar Mitra, passed away in September, 2024.
Manoj Mitra's legacy in Bengali theatre and cinema is profound. He acted in over 80 films with renowned Indian film directors. He worked on over 100 one-act and full-length plays. His plays have been translated into many languages, and his influence continues to inspire new generations of theatre artists and filmmakers. He served as the President of the Paschim Banga Natya Akademi until he resigned in August 2019 due to health issues.
Conclusion
Manoj Mitra's life and work reflect his deep commitment to the arts. His contributions to theatre and cinema have enriched Indian culture, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations. His journey from a small village in Bengal to becoming a towering figure in Bengali theatre and cinema is a testament to his talent, dedication, and passion for the arts.
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