Asit Bandopadhyay

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Asit Banerjee developed an abiding interest in drama while still in college in 1955. He joined BOHURUPEE as a trainee in 1959 and after completing a year’s course under the tutelage of The Doyen of Indian Theatre Sri Sambhu Mitra ,founded the eminent theatrical organization NANDIKAR in 29th June 1960 in association with Sri Ajitesh Banerjee.

Even as he joined Government service in 1960, Asit Banerjee appeared in almost all the Nandikar plays such as Natyakarer Sandhane, Sher Afgan, Manjari Amer Manjari, Jakhan Eka, Bitangsha and Tin Paishar Pala until he was transferred to Siliguri in 1972. In the meantime, he also directed Parineeta and Purbarag for Nandikar. In Siliguri, he joined MITRA SAMMILANI as actor and director. The Group staged Bitangsha, Kabikahini, Ek Je Chillo Ghora and Suryabadal (written by himself). He also toured Calcutta with the Siliguri team.

Since 1978, an eminent and successful writer & director of Jatra plays (Folk-plays).He was awarded Govt. Of West Bengal award twice for Best Director for the years 1984 and 1998 respectively. He has been conferred with “DISHARI AWARD”, “PRAMOTHESH CHANDRA BARUA AWARD”, “UTTAM KUMAR AWARD”etc. for his directorial and writing abilities. About 40 plays were written, directed and staged all over West Bengal which include Daini, Pagla Raja, Kalo Meyer Kanna, Hira Jhiler Kanna, Billa Mangal, Kumari Janani, Banik Badir Bou, etc.

So far as his film career is concerned, he is deeply indebted to Sri Mrinal Sen. He played attractive roles in Sen’s Calcutta-71 , Mrigaya, Mahaprithivi and Chorus for which he has bagged the B.F.J.A. award for the best supporting actor. He has also played some important roles in Sri Nabyendu Chatterjee’s National Award winning films Parashuramer Kuthar, Atmaja and Shilpi and Sri Chidananda Dasgupta’s Amodini. He has written scripts for Bengali films.

An enlisted and established actor of Calcutta T.V. and All India Radio he has acted and written scripts for Radio and T.V. serials . He is presently the Chairman of a Public Charitable Trust Inner Voyage Communication