Veteran Bengali actress Supriya Devi passes away...
Veteran actor of the Bengali film industry Supriya Devi passed away early in the morning on Friday following a cardiac arrest, at her residence on Ballygunge Circular Road, in central Kolkata. Born on January 8, 1933, Benudi, as she is fondly called, had recently celebrated her 85th birthday at home. She had been suffering from several ailments for sometime. Supriya is survived by her daughter.
She had made her debut on stage when she was seven years old, in two plays directed by her father. She made her first appearance on the silver screen in 1952 with the film Basu Paribar, opposite legendary actor of the Bengali films, Uttam Kumar. She spent over 50 years in the Bengali film industry and had performed with elan on screen, stage and even television. A recipient of Padma Shree, she had also been conferred with Banga Bibhusan, the highest civilian award of West Bengal.
Among her memorable works are Amrapali, Teen Adhyay, Meghe Dhaka Taara and Komal Gandhar.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached her residence after the Republic Day parade on Red Road. She had earlier tweeted ‘Very saddened at the passing of legendary actress of Bengal, Supriya Chowdhury (Debi). We will fondly remember her through her films. Condolences to her family and fans’.
While leaving the actor’s residence after paying her tribute Mamata said Supriya Devi had become a household name along with Uttam Kumar because of her contribution to Bengali cinema. “She was a golden artist and would receive a guard of honour at the Keoratala crematorium, on behalf of the state,” she said.
Her body was kept at Rabindra Sadan from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm for the people in general to pay their tribute and then taken away for her last rites. Mamata, along with some of her cabinet ministers walked all the distance, about 4.6 km from Rabindra Sadan to the crematorium.
Most of the bigwigs of Bengali film industry reached her residence as well as Rabindra Sadan, to pay homage.
Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee said that the Bengali film industry is like a family and a member of the family was lost. “A phase is ending gradually. With age they will leave but their contribution to Bengali film industry is unforgettable. I still ask new-comers and youngsters to watch films of people like Supriya aunty,” Chatterjee said.
Actor Rituparna Sengupta said she felt like she had lost her mother. “She was like my mother. It has been my good fortune that I got mother-like love from her and had been acting with her since the beginning of my career,” she said.
Filmmaker Goutam Ghose said, “She was a good actor and a very good human being. She had invited me over to her place a number of times and cooked several delicacies.”
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 "RIP Supriya Devi")
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