Goutam Ghosh releases book on Sushil Majumdar

‘Action’ a book on the life and times of Sushil Majumdar, the doyen of Indian cinema, was launched on Saturday, March 19. Renowned filmmaker...

‘Action’ a book on the life and times of Sushil Majumdar, the doyen of Indian cinema, was launched on Saturday, March 19. Renowned filmmaker Gautam Ghosh released the book at the erstwhile residence of Majumdar in Lake Gardens in the presence of film personalities and media. The launch was done in the very study room where Majumdar would deliberate upon and come out with his classic films.

It was on March 19, 1988, that the legendary filmmaker and actor had breathed his last making Saturday his 34^th death anniversary.

Meticulously compiled and edited by his grandson, Sanjay Mishra, the book features booklets, posters newspaper advertisements, and working stills of around 40 films that Majumdar directed and acted in. All the research has been published in chronological order in which the films were released from the 1940s to the 1980s.

“This book is a collector’s item as it is a well-researched book on the legendary filmmaker. Books such as these will help today’s generation understand the greatness of Majumdar. It’s truly a great initiative taken by his grandson. We from the film fraternity are indebted to him,” said Ghosh after the launch.

Mishra who has been with the media world for over three decades and a filmmaker as well took a little over two years to research and compile all the material needed for the book.

“This is my own humble tribute to my grandfather to keep his legacy alive in the minds of people today. Today’s generation can learn so much from his films. He believed in entertaining people along with touching on topics that were socially relevant. I feel he was a filmmaker much ahead of his times,” said Mishra.

Mishra is already working on a docu feature on Majumdar with feature and docu filmmaker Indranil Sarkar. The docu includes interviews of film artists and technicians both from Kolkata and Mumbai with whom Majumdar worked closely like Sabitri Chatterjee, Nirmal Kumar, Paintal, Hema Malini, Dev Kohli among others. Sarkar is looking at a July-August release.

‘Action’ has been published by Simika Publishers. Mishra is also planning to bring out a biography on the doyen, work for which has already started.

The son of freedom fighters Basanta Kumar Majumdar and Hemprova Majumdar, Sushil Majumdar worked as an actor and general assistant for Bengal Movies and Talkies after which he joined Barua Pictures as an assistant director to PC Barua. He went on to make classics like Muktisnan, Jogajog, Hospital, Lal Patthar and Rikta among others.

He also acted in many films including Dui Prithibi, Chiriyakhana. Nidhiram Sardar, Lal Patthar and Jeebon.