Indian Film Culture - 16.cdr - federation of film societies of india

Premendra Mazumder is the Vice
President of FFSI, Eastern Region,
a noted film critic, and consultant /
p r o g r a m m e r f o r s e v e r a l
International film festivals in Asia,
Europe and America. He has served
as a member of the jury at various
film festivals and has contributed
articles on cinema in several film
journals. Premendra in this article
for IFC has sketched the profile of
one of our renowned Actor Soumitra
Chatterjee, who has been honoured
with Dadasaheb Phalke award for
the year 2011.
A Tribute to
Soumitra Chattopadhyay
Premendra Mazumder
Soumitra Chattopadhyay, a.k.a. Soumitra Chatterjee, the
living legend of the Bengali Cinema, the recipient of the
'Officier des Arts et Metiers' – the highest award of arts given
by the Government France and also the recipient of the
'Lifetime Achievement Award' from Italy, has finally been
selected to be honored with the coveted 'Dadasaheb Phalke
Award' – the highest recognition by the Government of India
for the lifetime contribution to Indian Cinemas. He was
awarded 'Padma Shri' in 1970 and 1972 but refused to accept
the award both the times. However, he accepted 'Padma
Bhushan' in 2004. He also refused to accept a National Award
for acting in 2001 to protest against the bias of the
Government to praise the mainstream cinema. But in 2008 he
accepted the National Award for Best Actor for his role in a
Bengali feature film Padakshep (2006) directed by Suman
Ghosh. In 1995 he got the 'Filmfare Lifetime Achievement
Award'.
42
June 2012
Indian Film Culture