Supriya Debi: 5 of the best on-screen performances by the acting legend

For most of us who spent their childhood and grew up watching the spellbinding glitter of Bengali film industry and the mesmerizing enigma of acting legends like Suchitra Sen, Madhabi Mukherjee and Sabitri Chatterjee; Supriya Devi was no doubt one of her kind. She appeared in lead roles in a number of Bengali hits like ‘Baghbandi Khela’, ‘Sanyasi Raja’ and ‘Sonar Harin’, yet she is best remembered for posterity for her superlative performances in two of Ritwik Ghatak’s cult classics, ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ (1960) and ‘Komal Gandhar’ (1961). Here is a list of some of her best performances which still remain a must watch for Bengali movie buffs.

Based on the novel by Shaktipada Rajguru, Meghe Dhaka Tara is touted to be Ritwik Ghatak’s most celebrated movie. How can we forget the brilliant acting of Supriya Devi in this cult classic? ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ is perhaps the most touching portrayal of harsh life in Bengal following the dreaded partition. Ghatak worked as both the writer and director in this film and the way he scripted Supriya’s character Neeta is still regarded a milestone in Indian cinema.

Komal Gandhar explored three interconnected themes – Anusua, the lead character’s dilemma which Supriya Debi portrayed with elan, the infamous divided leadership of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and the tragic fallout after the partition of India. Unlike his other works, this one interestingly follows an upbeat mood with the lead pair (Vrigu and Anusua) being reunited ultimately. The music once again added a different flavor to this flick. Though it was a commercial failure, ‘Komal Gandhar’ is counted one of Ritwik Ghatak’s masterpieces.

Supriya Debi played a noted singer, finding it difficult to handle the downward spiral of her painter husband (Uttam Kumar) who is frustrated by his own failure and also disillusioned with her wife’s continuous success. It’s not an average run-of-the-mill role which heroines at that time were usually needed to portray. Rather, they were scripted with due consideration in order to extract the best creative prowess that Supriya possessed, and she nailed it, making the character like her own.

After making her debut in Uttam Kumar-starrer ‘Basu Parivar’ in 1952 as Uttam’s sister, Supriya Debi never looked back after the success of ‘Sonar Harin’ opposite Uttam Kumar in 1959. The crime thriller directed by Mangal Chakravarty is still regarded as one the finest mystery films ever made in Bengali cinema. The legendary actress playing Uttam Kumar’s love interest gave a stellar performance despite sharing the screen with acting legends Kali Bannerjee, Uttam Kumar and Bhanu Banerjee among others. This one is one of her classic romantic roles that once enthralled an entire generation.

Bhabesh Banerjee (Uttam Kumar) is a corrupt business aspiring to become a politician from Ranipur and involved with black market deals, smuggling and immoral trafficking. Supriya Debi playing the second wife of Bhabesh Banerjee reflected the reality of oppressed housewives in our society. At time when she is dominated by her husband, she finds solace in her step-son Rajesh’s approach towards life who is an honest man and loves Dolon. However, Bhabesh cheats Dolon's father using counterfeit documents. When Rajesh meets his father, Bhabesh gifts all his properties to Rajesh for political mileage. Bhabesh's second wife Bibha reveals the whole plot to Rajesh. When police ultimately knocks the door to arrest Bhabesh, he commits suicide.