Kanu Banerjee

Kanu Banerjee
Kanu Banerjee in Pather Panchali (1955)
Kanu Banerjee in Pather Panchali (1955)
Born(1905-06-20)20 June 1905
Jodhpur, Jodhpur State, British India
Died27 January 1983(1983-01-27) (aged 77)
Calcutta, India
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Theatre actor and director
Notable workPather Panchali (1955)
Aparajito (1956)

Kanu Banerjee (Kanu Bandyopadhyay)[1] (20 June 1905 – 27 January 1983) was an Indian actor and director of Bengali cinema and theatre.[2] He is best known for his portrayal of Harihar Ray, father of Apu, in Satyajit Ray's classic Pather Panchali (1955) and Aparajito (1956), part of the Apu Trilogy.[3] He was born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. He first appeared as an amateur artiste with Sisir Kumar Bhaduri in Biraj Bou (1934) as Netai at Naba Natyyamandir.[4] In 1955, he also appeared as saint Ramakrishna in Prafulla Chakraborty’s biographical film Bhagaban Sri Sri Ramakrishna.[2]

Legacy

In 2012, his memoirs titled, Hariharer Panchali, based on his long interview published in Sharadiya (Durga puja) magazine Baro Maas in 1979 and other interviews was published by Sutradhar and released by Sandip Ray, son of Satyajit Ray, at Nandan theater in Kolkata.[2][5] Previously, on 20 June 2012, on the occasion of his 108th birth anniversary, his statue was unveiled on Banamali Chatterjee Street in Tala neighbourhood of North Kolkata, where he used to stay.[2][6]

Filmography

  • Krishnakanter Will (1926)
  • Durgesh Nandini (1927)
  • Rajgee (1937) - Ramjadu
  • Desher Mati (1938)
  • Chanakya (1939) - Kaulak
  • Rikta (1939)
  • Shap Mukti (1940) - Astrologer
  • Mayer Pran (1941)
  • Epar Opar (1941) - Charan
  • Nandini (1941)
  • Pashan Devata (1942)
  • Garmil (1942) - Nilmani Ghatak
  • Avayer Biye (1942)
  • Sahar Thekey Durey (1943)
  • Dampati (1943)
  • Sahadharmini (1943)
  • Jogajog (1943) - Jayanta's friend
  • Bideshini (1944)
  • Nandita (1944)
  • Pratikar (1944)
  • Kato Door (1945)
  • Bhabhi Kaal (1945)
  • Mane Na Mane (1945) - Priest
  • Grihalakhmi (1945)
  • Mandir (1946)
  • Swapna-o-Sadhana (1947)
  • Purabi (1948)
  • Jayjatra (1948)
  • Sadharan Meye (1948)
  • Abhijatya (1949)
  • Kuasha (1949)
  • Mandanda (1950)
  • Baikunther Will (1950)
  • Digbhranta (1950)
  • Pandit Mashai (1951)
  • Bindur Chheley (1952) - Priyababu
  • Palli Samaj (1952)
  • Siraj-Ud-Dowla (1952)
  • Natun Yahudi (1953)
  • Champadangar Bou (1954) - Setap Moral
  • Mantra Shakti (1954)
  • Moner Mayur (1954)
  • Sadanander Mela (1954) - Jagadish
  • Bhangagara (1954) - Biren (Sulata's brother)
  • Dukhir Imaan (1954)
  • Sajher Pradip (1955)
  • Pather Panchali (1955) - Harihar Ray
  • Upahar (1955) - Kangalibabu
  • Aparadhi (1955)
  • Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna (1955)[2][7]
  • Tonsil (1956)
  • Aparajito (1956) - Harihar Ray
  • Saheb Bibi Golam (1956)[8]
  • Nabajanma (1956)
  • Bhola Master (1956)
  • Daner Maryada (1956) - Prasanna Babu
  • Subharatri (1956)
  • Punar Milan (1957)
  • Neelachaley Mahaprabhu (1957)
  • Marmabani (1958)
  • Pankatilak (1961)
  • Kathin Maya (1961)
  • Aaj Kal Parshu (1961)
  • Ke Tumi? (1964)
  • Mahashweta (1967) - Pandit Moshai (Mahashweta's father)
  • Banajyotsana (1969)
  • Eai Korecho Bhalo (1970) - Abhayankar
  • Alo Amar Alo (1971) - Atashi's father
  • Agnibhramar (1973) - (final film role)

References

  1. ^ Also credited as Kanu Banerji and Kanu Bandyopadhyay
  2. ^ a b c d e Soumitra Das and Dalia Mukherje (5 August 2012). "The matter-of-fact actor of many parts" Kolkata, India: The Telegraph. OCLC 27171794
  3. ^ Kany Banerji New York Times.
  4. ^ Sushil Kumar Mukherjee (1982). The story of the Calcutta theatres, 1753-1980. K.P. Bagchi. p. 698.
  5. ^ "Kolkata Notebook:Honouring Harihar". The Statesman. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  6. ^ Statue of 'Harihar' of Pather Panchali 11 June 2012.
  7. ^ "The film - Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna - revised file" on YouTube; English subtitles give credits for Kanu Banerji (Sri Ramakrishna, 0:08), Bibhuti Chakravarty (photography, 0:11), Baidyanath Chaterji (producer, 0:30), Pulin Ghosh (stage setting, 0:44), New Theatre Studio (production location, 0:53), Officials of Dakshineshwar Kali Temple (thanks, 1:05), Chabi Bishwas (Mathur, 1:23), Shobha Sen (Sri Ma Saradadevi, 1:23), Kalyani Films (production, 1:38), Prafulla Chakravarty (script writer and director, 1:43) (accessed 14 Jan 2013); See also Bhagaban Sree Sree Ramkrishna Archived 14 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine listing at Gomolo.
  8. ^ In English this film is titled "King, Queen, Knave (1956)" and there is also a West German film entitled King, Queen, Knave (1972)