Soumitra Chatterjee's death created eternal void in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

Chatterjee breathed his last at around 12-15 pm at the Belle Vue Clinic here, according to the hospital statement. He was 85.

In her message, the West Bengal Chief Minister said: "Soumitra Chatterjee was a stalwart persona in representing Bengal in the global platform."

Soon after the veteran actor was declared dead, Banerjee rushed to Belle Vue Clinic to pay her tributes.

"A possessor of multi-talents, Soumitra Chatterjee was equally a famous theatre personality, reciter, poet, writer and theatre director," said Banerjee.

The West Bengal CM also mentioned that she was very close to the legendary actor.

"His death created an eternal void in Bengal's public life," lamented Banerjee.

UPDATE ON CREMATION: His last journey  commenced from Belle Vue  Clinic where he breathed his last. He is taken to his residence at Golf Green and from there to Technician Studio, Tollygunge. From studio his body will be taken to Rabindra Sadan, the city's cultural hub. He will be kept there for two hours, and then final taken to Keoratala crematorium in south Kolkata.

Chatterjee (or Chattopadhayay in Bengali), who had tested Covid-19, was shifted to an intensive care unit after his Covid-19 symptoms worsened. However,  he was declared Covid negative later. But finally the end came on Sunday shortly after noon.

The actor, who was a favourite of  maestro Satyajit Ray having starred in his iconic Apu trilogy, and had later earned huge popularity playing Feluda, a private detective character also created by the late Oscar winning filmmaker, is survived by his wife Deepa Chatterjee, a son and a daughter.

Chatterjee, who had started his career in the All India Radio (AIR) as an announcer, made his film debut with Ray's Apur Sansar, which was the third part of Apu trilogy.

Following Apur Sansar, he went on to act in Ray masterpieces like Abhijan, Charulata, Aranyer Din Ratri, Sonar Kella, Joi Baba Felunath, Ghare Baire and Jhinder Bandi.