Bengali filmmaker Anik Dutta falls from roof, dies; letter addressed to Sweden-based daughter indicates suicide

KOLKATA: Award-winning director Anik Dutta, 66, the man behind a new genre of political satire in Bengali cinema, died after falling from the roof of a six-storey residential building at Hindustan Park near Gariahat on Wednesday. He was taken to anearby private hospital around 1.15pm but declared dead on arrival.

Police said prima facie it appeared to be death by suicide. A pair of leather sandals and a magazine, Cinematography Art, was found on the building’s roof. Tucked into the magazine was a handwritten one-page letter addressed to his Sweden-based daughter, in which he said no one was to blame for his death. Cops are verifying the handwriting in the letter.

The filmmaker, who lived on Dover Lane, had reached the Hindustan Park building, in which his wife has a flat, around 1pm. He did not visit his wife but went straight up to the roof. He fell to the ground around 1.05pm. Two passersby who heard the loud thud alerted the building’s security guards. His wife, Sandhi Dutta, was informed and she rushed him to hospital, police sources said.

“The family has not filed a complaint. An unnatural death case has been initiated by Gariahat Police,” said DCP (Southeast) Saikat Ghosh.Grandson of United Bank of India founder Narendra Chandra Dutta and grandnephew of Bimal Roy, Dutta directed seven feature films and was deeply influenced by the cinematic style of Satyajit Ray. Like Ray, he too started his career in an advertising agency in the late 1980s. His breakthrough film, the 2012 comedy ‘Bhooter Bhabishyat’, was a massive success.

Dutta went on to direct six more films: ‘Aschorjo Prodeep’ (2013), ‘Meghnad Badh Rahasya’ (2017), ‘Bhabishyater Bhoot’ (2019), ‘Borunbabur Bondhu’ (2020), ‘Aparajito (2022)’ and ‘Joto Kando Kolkatatei’ (2025). He earned numerous accolades, including awards from the West Bengal Film Journalists Association and Filmfare Awards East.

A Left-leaning filmmaker, Dutta was a critic of former CM Mamata Banerjee and had questioned the overwhelming presence of her cutouts at Nandan during Kolkata International Film Festival in 2018. “His ‘Bhabishyater Bhoot’ was abruptly pulled from halls across Bengal following verbal instructions from higher authorities,” said his writing collaborator Utsav Mukherjee.

“We were given lame excuses for the lack of screenings. The film’s producers moved SC, which ruled that the state cannot curtail freedom of speech and directed the chief secretary, home secretary and DGP to ensure smooth screening and to provide cop protection to theatres,” he added.

Though the film industry was abuzz with rumours that Dutta was suffering from depression, Mukherjee said he did not notice anything when he discussed an upcoming project with him this Monday. “He was worried about his health and at times thought he might not be able to make movies again.

But we motivated him, and he had started working on his upcoming films. We spoke about ‘Aparajito 2’. I also have a call recording from Monday where he spoke about another project involving AI and ghosts. It is odd that someone planning this kind of a film would be suffering from severe depression and would end his life,” Mukherjee said.

Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, who went to SSKM Hospital to pay his respects and spoke to the family, wrote on X, “Saddened by the untimely demise of renowned filmmaker Shri Anik Dutta. His contributions towards Bengali Cinema are priceless. Heartfelt Condolences to his family and friends. I trust Kolkata Police will investigate and unearth the mysterious circumstances shrouding his sudden death.”

Actor and BJP MLA Rudranil Ghosh said, “Anik-da’s cremation will be held on Thursday. His daughter Aishi will return from Sweden and review his documents. After that, his body will be taken to Nandan, where it will be kept for a while.” CM Adhikari may attend.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Bakrid wishes, messages and eid 2026