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Chhabi Biswas

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Chhabi Biswas
Born
Sachindranath Biswas

(1900-07-12)12 July 1900
Ahiritola, Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died11 June 1962(1962-06-11) (aged 61)
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
EducationVidyasagar College
OccupationActor
Years active1931–1962
SpouseSamira Bose
ChildrenDilip Biswas (son)
Malay Biswas (son)
Manjula Biswas (daughter)
ParentBhupatinath Biswas (father)
AwardsSangeet Natak Akademi Award (1960)

Chhabi Biswas (Chabi Biśbās; 12 July 1900 – 11 June 1962)[1] was an Indian actor, primarily known for his performances in Tapan Sinha's Kabuliwala and Satyajit Ray's films Jalsaghar (The Music Room, 1958), Devi (The Goddess, 1960) and Kanchenjungha (1962).

He is arguably best remembered for his roles as the quintessential aristocratic patriarch, and was himself the scion of a rich and cultured North Kolkata family.[2] He was born on 12 July 1900. His father, Bhupatinath Biswas, was well known for his charitable works. His first name was Sachindranath, but his mother nicknamed her son Chhabi (a beautiful picture!) and the name stuck throughout his life and career. His portrayal of the formidable father figure, though often typecast, yet was powerful and convincing enough to earn both popular and critical accolades. That portrayal also had cultural significance, as in the British Raj, it enlightened the Bengali to combine both the hoary tradition and the Anglicised urbanity.

Life and film career

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Passing his matriculation examinations from the Hindu School, Chhabi Biswas enrolled at the Presidency College and later at the Vidyasagar College. It was during this time he entered amateur theatre and got in touch with Sisir Kumar Bhaduri, the legendary star of Bengali theatre. The young actor was impressed by Sisir Kumar’s histrionic abilities and he became heavily involved with several amateur theatrical clubs. His powerful performance as Sri Gouranga in the play Nader Nimai sealed Biswas's popularity among the theatre lovers of the day.

He then took a break from acting and joined an insurance company, and later started a business dealing in jute products. But soon, unable to resist the temptations of the stage, Biswas rejoined the theatre circuit and made his debut as a professional actor in a social-melodrama, Samaj. Even after his success as a film actor Biswas continued his association with the professional stage and Jatra circuit. His performance in major roles in hit plays like Shoroshi (1940), Sita (1940), Kedar Roy (1941) and Shahjehan (1941), made him an admired figure both among the audience and his peers.

In 1936, Biswas made his cinematic debut in a film called Annapurnar Mandir. The film was directed by Tinkari Chakraborty and Biswas played the role of Bishu, the husband of the heroine. Trained in the over-melodramatic acting style of the contemporary Bengali stage, Biswas soon grasped the finer nuances of acting for cinema. He became a regular in films produced by the New Theatres and had major roles in Chokker Bali (1937), Nimai Sannyas (1940) and Pratisruti (1941). He was absolutely marvellous as a 90-year-old ascetic in Debaki Bose's film Nartaki (1940). Ironically, it was the success of his acting in Nartaki that limited his opportunities in lead roles but his reputation as a character actor par excellence was by now firmly in place. Biswas's second innings as an actor began with this film and he almost became an automatic choice as the paterfamilias or the suave noble. Using his perfect English diction to the hilt Biswas (along with Pahadi Sanyal and Bikash Roy to a certain extent) developed a unique way of delivering a dramatic dialogue, first in English, and then after a pause repeating the same in Bengali. Films such as Ashok (1942), Parineeta (1942), Dwanda (1943), Matir Ghar (1944), Dui Purush (1945), Biraj Bou (1946) and Mandana (1950) showcased his talents as an actor of great quality. He also essayed the role of the singing drunken husband of Sumitra Devi's character in Raj Kapoor's Ek Din Ratre (1956), the same character which was essayed by Motilal in its Hindi version Jagte Raho (1956).

In 1958, when Satyajit Ray needed someone to play an aging aristocrat in Jalsaghar, Biswas was an automatic choice. Subsequently, Biswas starred in two more Ray films; Devi (1960) and Kanchenjungha (1962).

Chhabi Biswas died at age 61 in an automobile accident, while he was driving to his ancestral home in Jagulia, on 11 June 1962. Satyajit Ray later wrote, "I doubt if I could ever make the film Jalsaghar without an actor of the calibre of Chhabi Babu... only a genius like him could portray these myriad emotions. Jalsgahar, Devi, Kanchenjunga, were all written with Chhabi Biswas in mind. Ever since he died, I have not written a single middle-aged part that calls for a high degree of professional talent."[3]

Filmography

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Year of release Title Role Director Notes
1936 Annapurnar Mandir Bishu Tinkari Chakraborty
1937 Haranidhi Tinkari Chakraborty
1938 Chokher Bali Bihari Satu Sen
1939 Chanakya Sikandar Sisir Kumar Bhaduri
Sharmistha Naresh Mitra
1940 Nimai Sanyasi Nimai Phani Burma
Nartaki Swamiji Debaki Bose
Swami Stri Satu Sen
1941 Pratisruti Paritosh Hemchandra Chunder
Pratishodh Sushil Majumdar
Karnarjun Karna Jyotish Bandyopadhyay
Epar Opar Ramen Sukumar Dasgupta
Banglar Meye Naresh Mitra
1942 Jiban Sangini Naren Choudhury Gunamaya Bannerjee
Saugandh Hemchandra Chunder
Pashan Devata Sukumar Dasgupta
Milan Paresh Jyotish Bannerji
Mahakabi Kalidas Niren Lahiri
Garmil Mukherjee Niren Lahiri
Avayer Biye Sushil Majumdar
Shodhbodh Saumyen Mukherji
Nari Prafulla Roy
Bondi Sailajanand Mukherji
Parineeta Pasupati Chatterjee
Ashok Ajay Bhattacharya
Pativrata Jagadish Chakraborty
Mahakavi Kalidas Niren Lahiri
1943 Dwanda Hemen Gupta
Dikshul Premankur Atorthy
Devar Rabin Jyotish Bannerji
Dampati Niren Lahiri
Nilanguriya Gunamaya Bannerjee
Daabi Dhirendranath Ganguly
Aleya Nabendusundar
Samadhan Premendra Mitra
1944 Chhadmabeshi Ajay Bhattacharya
Matir Ghar Alok Hari Bhanja
Pratikar Chhabi Biswas
1945 Bondita Hemanta Gupta
Dui Purush Nutu Bihari Subodh Mitra
Rajlaxmi Premendra Mitra
Path Bendhe Dilo Premendra Mitra
Sree Durga Sailajananda Mukherjee
Raj Lakshmi Premendra Mitra
1946 Sangram Ardhendu Mukherjee
Tumi Aar Aami Apurba Kumar Mitra
Prem Ki Duniya Jyotish Bannerjee
Mandir Phani Burma
Biraj Bou Nilambar Amar Mullick
Vande Mataram Sudhirbandhu Bannerjee
Nibedita Pratibha Sasmal
Saat Number Bari Sukumar Dasgupta
1947 Chandrasekhar Chandrasekhar Debaki Bose
Abhijog Sushil Majumdar
Nurse Sisi Subodh Mitra
1948 Anirban Soumyen Mukherjee
Shesh Nibedan Dhirendranath Ganguly
Sadharan Meye Niren Lahiri
Nandaranir Sansar Surendraranjan Sarkar
Shankha Sindur Manujendra Bhanja
Umar Prem Khagen Roy
Drishtidaan Nitin Bose
1949 Manzoor Subodh Mitra
Debi Chowdhurani Satish Dangupta
Jar Jetha Ghar Chhabi Biswas
Singhdwar Niren Lahiri
1950 Garabini Niren Lahiri
Mandanda Ratan Chatterjee
Vidyasagar Kali Prasad Ghose
Mahasampad Surendraranjan Sarkar
1951 Anurag Jatin Das
Kalsap Khagen Roy
Maldar Amit Moitra
Biplabi Kshudiram Hiranmoy Sen
Aparajita Partha Sarathy Drama
Durgesh Nandini (1951 film) Katlu Khan Amar Mullick
Sunandar Biye Sudhir Sarkar
1952 Ratrir Tapashya Sushil Majumdar
Krishnakanter Will Khagen Roy
Nirakshar Gunamaya Bannerjee
Prarthana Pranab Roy
Alladdin-o-ashcharya Pradeep Bijon Sen
Kar Pape Kali Prasad Ghose Dr. Bose
Jabanbondi Amar Dutta
Subhada Haran Chandra Niren Lahiri
Vidyasagar Kali Prasad Ghose
1953 Raja Krishnachandra Sudhirbandhu Bannerjee
Shesher Kabita Abanish Modhu Bose
Saat Number Kayedi Sukumar Dasgupta
Lakh Taka Niren Lahiri
Jog Biyog Pinaki Mukherji
Boudir Bon Khagen Roy
Sabuj Paharh Apurba Kumar Mitra
Baimanik Shyam Chakraborty
Blind Lane Sailajananda Mukherjee
Makarsar Jaal Pashupati Kundu
1954 Sati Beula  [as; bn] Sunil Ganguly
Bidhilipi Jagadish Babu Manu Sen
Sati Beula  [as; bn] Sunil Ganguly
Shorashi Jibananda Choudhury Pasupati Chatterjee
Sadanander Mela Mamubhai Sukumar Dasgupta
Ora Thake Odhare Sukumar Dasgupta
Jadubhatta Niren Lahiri
Dhuli Pinaki Mukherjee
Chheley Kaar Chitta Bose
Bhanga Gora Jogen Sushil Majumdar
Prafulla Chitta Bose
Banglar Nari Sailajananda Mukherjee
Naa Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay
Shobha Niren Lahiri
Maa-o-chhele Gunamaya Bannerjee
Kalyani Niren Lahiri
1955 Sanjher Pradeep Sudhangsu Mukherjee
Rani Rashmoni Rajchandra Das Kali Prasad Ghose
Joymakali Boarding Sadhan Sarkar
Jharer Pare Debnarayan Gupta
Hrad Ardhendu Sen
Dasyu Mohan Mr. Shome Ardhendu Mukherjee
Sabar Upare Prashanta Chatterjee Agradoot
Upahar Sunil's father Tapan Sinha
Shribatsa Chinta Phani Burma
Prashna Sumitra's Father Chandrasekhar Bose
Debi Malini Niren Lahiri
Dattak Kamal Ganguly
1955 Kalo Bou Silpi Sangha
Katha Kao Sailajananda Mukherjee
Pather Sheshey Ardhendu Chatterjee
Bhagaban Sree Sree Ramkrishna[a] Mathur Prafulla Chakraborty
Drishti Chitta Bose
Parishodh Sukumar Dasgupta
Joy Maa Kali Boarding Sadhan Sarkar
Bratacharini Kamal Ganguly
1956 Kirti Garh Soumyen Mukherjee
Shankar Narayan Bank Niren Lahiri
Asamapta Ratan Chatterjee
Madan Mohan Amal Kumar Bose
Putrabadhu Chitta Bose
Raat Bhore Mrinal Sen
Sinthir Sindoor Ardhendu Sen
Trijama Kushal's father Agradoot
Suryamukhi Bikash Ray
Shubharatri Sushil Majumdar
Saheb Bibi Golam Mejobabu Kartick Chattopadhyay
Sadhak Ramprosad Bangsi Ash
Paradhin Modhu Bose
Daner Maryada Amarnath Sushil Majumdar
Bhola Master Bhola Master Niren Lahiri
Asabarna Pinaki Mukherjee
Falgu Satish Dasgupta
Rajpath Gunamaya Bannerjee
Govindadas Prafulla Chakraborty
Mamlar Phal Pasupati Chatterjee
Ekdin Ratre Sombhu Mitra
Chhaya Sangini Bidyapati Ghosh
Taka-ana-pai Jyotirmoy Roy
Manraksha Satish Dasgupta
1957 Prithibi Amare Chay Niren Lahiri
Adarsha Hindu Hotel Ardhendu Sen
Khela Bhangar Khela Ratan Chatterjee
Harishchandra Rishi Durbasa Phani Burma
Shesh Parichoy Sushil Majumdar
Rastar Chhele Chitta Bose
Kabuliwala Rahmat the Kabuliwala Tapan Sinha
Kancha-mithey Jyotirmoy Roy
Garer Math Aaj Production Unit
Pathe Holo Deri Mallika's father Agradoot
Baksiddha Bireswar Bose
Antariksha Rajen Tarafdar
Abhoyer Biye Sukumar Dasgupta
Kari-o-komal Moni Ghosh
Bardidi Ajay Kar
Abhishek Chitra Pali
Tapasi Chitta Bose
Madhabir Jonye Nitin Bose
Chhaya Path Gunamaya Bannerjee
Mathur Sudhirbandhu Bannerjee
Ghum Agrani
Sandhan Chitta Sen
Natun Prabhat Bikash Ray
Surer Parashe Chitta Bose
Bara Maa Niren Lahiri
Ektara Hiren Bose
Nilachaley Mahaprabhu King Gajapati Prataprudradeb Kartick Chattopadhyay
1958 Louha-kapat Tapan Sinha
Parash Pathar Guest at Cocktail Party Satyajit Ray
Tansen Akbar Niren Lahiri
Nagini Kanyar Kahini Salil Sen
Daily Passenger Sadhan Sarkar
Daktar Babu Bishu Dasgupta
Jalsaghar Huzur Biswambhar Roy Satyajit Ray
Priya Salil Sen
Surya Toran Agradoot
Marmabani Sushil Majumdar
Sadhak Bamakshyapa Narayan Ghosh (2)
Jamalaye Jibanta Manush Prafulla Chakraborty
Indrani Niren Lahiri
Headmaster Krishna Prasanna (Ex-Head master) Agragami
O Amar Desher Mati Pathikrit
Nupur Dilip Nag
Bandhu Chitta Bose
Dhoomketu Gouranga Prasad Basu
1959 Derso Khokhar Kando Kamal Ganguly
Gali Thekey Rajpath Prafulla Chakraborty
Sonar Harin Mangal Chakraborty
Shubha Bibaha Bar-da (Gayatri's father) Sombhu Mitra
Sashibabur Sansar Sudhir Mukherjee
Mriter Martye Agaman Pasupati Chatterjee
Khelaghar Ajay Kar
Kshaniker Atithi Tapan Sinha
Chaowa Pawa Tarun Majumdar, Yatrik
Bicharak Prabhat Mukherjee
Chhabi Niren Lahiri
Amrapali Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay
Nirdharita Silpir Anupastithi Tey Nirmal Dey
Rater Andhakare Agrani
Thakur Haridas Gobinda Ray
Bhranti Prafulla Chakraborty
Agnisambhabha Sushil Majumdar
1960 Devi zamindar Kali Kinkar Roy Satyajit Ray
Smriti Tuku Thaak Shova's father Tarun Majumdar
Shesh Paryanta Sudhir Mukherjee
Tailangaswami Chitrasarathi
Shuno Baranari Ajay Kar
Raja-saja Bikash Ray
Nader Nimai Bimal Roy Jr.
Maya Mriga Chitta Bose
Kshudhita Pashan Tapan Sinha
Hospital Sushil Majumdar
Surer Piyasi Bishu Dasgupta
Haat Baralei Bandhu Sukumar Dasgupta
Gariber Meye Ardhendu Mukherjee
Sakher Chor Prafulla Chakraborty
Debarshi Narader Sansar Panchaboot
Ajana Kahini Sunil Baran
Chupi Chupi Ase Beni (Inspector Ghosh) Premendra Mitra
1961 Bishkanya Shri Jayadratha
Kanchanmulya Nirmal Mitra
Saptapadi Krishnendu's father Ajay Kar
Maa Chitta Bose
Manik Bijoli Baran Sen
Dainee Manoj Bhattacharya
Carey Saheber Munshi Bikash Ray
Agni Sanskar Agradoot
Madhya Rater Tara Pinaki Mukherjee
Madhureno Shanti Bannerjee
Kancher Swarga Tarun Majumdar
Ashay Bandhinu Ghar Kanak Mukherjee
Necklace Dilip Nag
Swayambara Asit Sen
1962 Mayar Sansar Kanak Mukherjee
Bodhu Bhupen Roy
Sorry Madam Dilip Bose
Kancher Swarga Judge Tarun Majumdar
Kanchenjungha Indranath Chowdhury Satyajit Ray
Agnisikha Rajen Tarafdar
Bipasha Saradindu Chatterjee Agradoot
Shubhoddristi Chitta Bose
Dhupchhaya Chitta Bose
Dada Thakur Dada Thakur Sudhir Mukherjee
Suryasnan Ajay Kumar
Atal Jaler Ahwan Mr. Chowdhury Ajay Kar
Shiulibari Pijush Bose
Kajal Sunil Bannerjee
1963 High Heel Dilip Bose
Surya Sikha Salil Dutta
Chhakka Panja Prafulla Roy
1964 Kantatar Bireshwar Mukherjee
1973 Bignam O Bidhata Bimal Roy Jr.
1977 Shri Shri Maa Lakshmi Prabhat Chakraborty
1982 Agni Sambhaba Sushil Majumdar
2007 Bandhu Chitta Basu (final film role)

Awards and recognitions

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References

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna on YouTube; (accessed 30 August 2017)

Citations

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  1. ↑ Seagull Theatre Quarterly. Seagull Foundation for the Arts. 1998. p. 54. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  2. ↑ Rekha Menon (1961). Cultural profiles. Inter-National Cultural Centre. p. 47. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. ↑ Ray, Satyajit. "The Odds against Us," in Our Films, Their Films. New York: Hyperion, 1994, p. 61 ISBN 0-7868-6122-3
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