Acclaimed Bengali filmmaker Anik Dutta died on Wednesday afternoon at a private hospital in South Kolkata after suffering critical injuries in a fall from the terrace of his wife’s residence near Gariahat, family members confirmed. He was 66.

Dutta was taken to a nearby hospital in a critical condition following the incident but later succumbed to multiple injuries.

The filmmaker, grandson of Narendra Chandra Dutta, made his directorial debut with the acclaimed political satire Bhooter Bhabishyat in 2012. The film earned widespread praise for its unique blend of humour, political commentary and social satire, establishing him as a prominent filmmaker in the Bengali film industry.

Over the years, Dutta directed several notable films, including Aschorjo Prodip, Borunbabur Bondhu and Aparajito.

Released on the 101st birth anniversary of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, Aparajito paid tribute to Ray’s life and cinematic legacy. A devoted admirer of Ray, Dutta often reflected the celebrated filmmaker’s influence in his own storytelling and cinematic style.

Known for his Left-leaning political views, Dutta was also an outspoken critic of the government led by Mamata Banerjee.

His differences with the West Bengal government intensified in 2019 following the release controversy surrounding Bhobishyoter Bhoot, regarded as a spiritual successor to his debut film. The movie was allegedly prevented from screening in theatres, prompting protests and legal action.

Later, India’s Supreme Court directed the West Bengal government to pay Rs 20 lakh in compensation to the film’s producer, Kalyanmoy Billy Chatterjee, and imposed an additional fine of Rs 1 lakh on the state. In its observation, the court said, “Free speech cannot be gagged for fear of the mob.”

Dutta’s final directorial work was Joto Kando Kolkatatei, featuring actors Abir Chatterjee, Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed and Dulal Lahiri in key roles.

Source: NDTV