Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee will receive the Dada Saheb Phalke award — India’s highest cinematic recognition — for his lifetime contribution to the world of films.
The award jury has finalised 77-year-old Chatterjee’s name and an announcement in this regard would soon be made.
“People’s love, which is my capital, largely contributed to this honour which is a recognition of my lifelong work,” Chatterjee was quoted by The Daily Star, a local newspaper, as saying while reacting to the honour accorded to him. “It gives me a feeling that my work has not gone unnoticed,” he noted.
Chatterjee, who was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2004, won the national award for best actor in 2008 for his role in Suman Ghosh-directed “Padakkhep”. He continues to add on to his huge body of work with new films, mostly commercial.
Having made his debut in Ray’s 1959 film “Apur Sansar” opposite Sharmila Tagore; Chatterjee went on to act in several other of his masterpieces like “Devi”, “Charulata”, “Ghare Baire”, “Ashani Sanket” [opposite Babita of Bangladesh], “ Aranyer Din Ratri”, “Ganashatru”, “Sakha Prosakha” and “Mahanagar.”
 
BBN/SSR/AD-22Mar12-11:58 pm (BST)