Acting in films He acted in numerous films, including
Ratnadeep,
42,
Uttar Falguni,
Surya Toran,
Neel Akasher Neechey,
Marutirtha Hinglaj,
Jiban Kahini,
Jiban Trishna, and
Chhadmabeshi. In the early 1950s, he acted as Kamal, the protagonist in the
romantic comedy Chheley Kaar and also as a funny grandfather in the 1980 comedy
Ogo Bodhu Shundori, followed by similar roles during the end of his career. But what may be his most famous role was the character of the selfless
barrister Manish, who is committed to his beloved, a
courtesan (played by
Suchitra Sen), in
Uttar Falguni. He also did a number of radio plays for
Akashvani and shot into fame after being cast in the role of a ruthless, tyrannic military officer in the film
42 that included stars like
Abhi Bhattacharya,
Manju Dey, and
Sombhu Mitra among others as stalwarts. His acting prowess and versatility could be gauged in films like
Ratnadeep, where he plays the role of an imposter who reforms himself, as the prodigal hero in
Naa, as the strife-torn co-protagonist in
Surjamukhi (which he also produced), as the affluent businessman who rose from the rags in
Surya Toran, as a protagonist (opposite
Uttam Kumar) who aspires to beat his rival but is torn within himself in
Jiban Trishna, as a patriot in
Masterda Surya Sen, as the patriarch in
Kanch Kata Hirey, as a caring brother in
Dhuli, as the quiet and intense husband in
Smriti Tuku Thak (opposite
Suchitra Sen who plays a double role), as the quarrelsome husband in
Jatugriha (directed by
Tapan Sinha and starring Uttam Kumar,
Arundhati Devi, and Binota Roy), in
Baghini as a police officer, in negative roles -
Bibhas,
Agni Sanskar,
Jighansa,
Adwitiya,
Bhola Moira, and
Karcher Swarga, as a compassionate and humorous doctor in
Arohi, as a psychological patient in
Andhar Periye (both directed by Tapan Sinha), as a
quack in
Ramer Sumati, as the elder brother and head of the family in
Bindur Chheley, as the hapless and helpless father in
Maya Mriga in the early 1960s, and as the proud and high-handed father in
Devdas (starring
Soumitra Chatterjee,
Sumitra Mukherjee, Uttam Kumar, and
Supriya Devi) in the late 1970s and so on. One of the most prominent and best roles played by him was in
Arogya Niketan, playing the role of Jibon Moshay, an old village doctor who believes firmly in the
Vedic way of medical practice, however, not being absolutely illogical and apartheid to modern medicine and the treatments associated with it. The film won the
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali as well.
Acting in theatrical plays His foray in commercial plays was commendable; most worth mentioning being
Nahabat which ran for more than 1,200 nights. He pioneered the holding of stage-plays where the characters read out the play and their respective roles in front of the audience; known as "Shruti Natok" (audio drama). The most famous in this genre being
Shesher Kobita and
Chirakumar Sabha, based respectively on
a novel and a play by
Rabindranath Tagore. He also acted in a number of radio-plays on
Akashvani/All India Radio (AIR), most notably
Suk Sari (with
Tripti Mitra) and
Dui Bon.
Directing films His love for the silver screen drove him to produce and direct a number of films like
Marutirtha Hinglaj,
Raja Saja (both featuring
Uttam Kumar as the leading actor),
Basant Bahar,
Carey Saheber Munshi – a film based on the life and times of
Ramram Basu (1757–1813), and
Debotar Graash, based on a poem by
Rabindranath Tagore. ==Autobiography==