Камал Митрэ

Kamal Mitra was an eminent Bengali actor who appeared in more than 90 films spanning more than four decades. Along with Chhabi Biswas and Pahari Sanyal he dominated the Bengali silver screen mostly in the 50s and 60s in elderly character roles; in fact, Mitra carried his bat well into the 70s. Though he is, perhaps, mostly remembered for the role of B.K.Roy he created a permanent niche for himself in the history of Bengali films. Kamal Mitra also performed in a number of plays in theatre and jatra. Many attribute his powerful performances on the screen and stage to his disciplinarian style which developed while he was in the military during his early years, immediately after his graduation. Hailing from the well-known Mitra family of Barddhaman, he was a keen sportsman and a good footballer in younger years. Before launching into films, he had worked in the District Magistrate & Collector's Office in Barddhaman. He was an avid reader and a collector of rare books. He donated his vast collection to Nandan, the centre of films, film studies and film-archive, in Kolkata. He also performed in radio-plays. His voice and height - both formidable - added extra muscle to his prowess and that created an impact on the audience, irrespective of the characters he portrayed on screen. His mastery over diction and his style of throwing catapulted him to the peak of success as an actor. His autobiography named as Flashback provides an insight to the world of Bengali cinema in the decades which were witness to his acting and is also a commentary on the gradual modernisation and growth of Bengali films as a medium that influenced the contemporary society. He left acting at a time when he was very much sought for by producers, directors, his co-performers and the audience in general.