One of the most beautiful actresses of all time, Sumitra Devi is widely considered an icon of both Bengali and Hindi cinema. She appeared in films like “Abhijog (1947),” “Devi Chowdhurani (1949),” “Mashal” (1950),” ‘”Deewana (1952),” “Mamta (1952),” ‘”Mayurpankh (1954),” “Dasyu Mohan (1955),” ‘”Saheb Bibi Golam (1956),” and “Ekdin Ratre.”
Early Life and Career
Sumitra Devi was born Nilima Chattopadhyay on July 22, 1923, in Shiuri, Birbhum, West Bengal. Her father, Murali Chattopadhyay was a famous advocate from an affluent family. She spent her early years in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, where her father had a large estate. After an earthquake demolished her family home in Muzaffarpur, the family moved to Calcutta. Young Nalini was always fond of films and had dreams of being an actress, but her father was very strict. She had a younger brother, Ranajit Chattopadhyay, who supported her ambitions. She attended school in Muzaffarpur but did not pursue higher studies. Her interest in acting emerged during her teenage years, inspired by actresses like Kanan Devi and Chandrabati Devi.
Sumitra entered the industry in her teens. In 1943, she secretly sent an application and photograph to New Theatres, with Ranajit’s help. She impressed officials with a reading from Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay’s Ganadevata during her interview. The first film she signed was “Meri Bahen (1944)” opposite K. L. Saigal. But her debut came with Apurba Kumar Mitra’s Bengali film “Sandhi (1944).” The film get her immense success and the prestigious BFJA Award for Best Actress.
Sumitra Devi In Hindi Films
Sumitra Devi’s career in Hindi film flourished in the late 1940s, with significant roles in many films. Some of her notable films include “Vasiyatnama (1945),” “Bhai Dooj (1947),” “Oonch Neech (1948),” and “Vijay Yatra (1948).” She starred in Nitin Bose’s “Mashal (1950),” a film based on Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Rajani (1877). The film stars Ashok Kumar (Samar) and Sumitra Devi (Tarangini) as childhood lovers. The father of Tarangini marries her off to an old but wealthy zamindar. The heartbroken, dejected and angry Samar decided to take revenge against Tarangini and her family.
In 1952, she starred in Mamta, directed by Dada Gunjal and written by Chaturbhuj Doshi. In the film she played a rich girl who marries a poor poet despite her family’s objections. Her life took a tragic turn when her husband died in an accident and her newborn son was swapped with a stillborn child. The film also stars Ulhas, Mirza Musharraf, Rajan Haksar, and Kamal Mehra.
Sumitra Devi’s performances in “Deewana (1952),” “Ghungroo’ (1952),” “Mayurpankh (1954),” “Chor Bazaar (1954),” “Raj Yogi Bharthari (1954),” and her small role in “Jagte Raho (1956)” stand out as testaments to her acting prowess. Each of these films presented her with distinct characters that she brought to life with her unique blend of elegance and emotional intensity.
Sumitra Devi In Bengali Films
In Bengali cinema, Sumitra Devi continued to captivate audiences with her performances in “Abhijog (1947),” “Pratibad (1948),” “Pather Dabi (1947), “Joyjatra (1948),” “Swami (1949),” “Devi Chowdhurani (1949),” “Samar (1950),” “Niyoti (1951),” and “Dasyu Mohan (1955).”
Her portrayal of Bijali in “Aandhare Alo (1957)” won her overwhelming critical acclaim. It showcased her ability to portray complex characters with nuance and grace. She starred with Chhabi Biswas, Uttam Kumar and Nitish Mukherjee in “Saheb Bibi Golam (1956).” The film directed by Kartik Chattopadhyay was an adaptation of Bimal Mitra’s classic novel. Her portrayal of the beautiful alcoholic wife of a landlord, Pateshwari or Chhoto Bou is considered iconic for its emotional depth. Meena Kumari later immortalised the same role in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam directed by Abrar Alvi.
Later in her career, Sumitra Devi continued to deliver memorable performances in Bengali films such as “Ekdin Ratre (1956),” “Nilachaley Mahaprabhu (1957),” “Khela Bhangar Khela (1958),” “Joutuk (1958),” and “Kinu Gowalar Gali (1964).” Each of these roles added to her legacy as an actress who could seamlessly transition between various genres and character types.
Sumitra Devi’s contribution to Indian cinema was not just limited to her roles in front of the camera. She was widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women of her time, with veterans like Pradeep Kumar and Uttam Kumar acknowledging her exquisite beauty. Her legacy extends beyond the silver screen, as she was a recipient of the BFJA Award for Best Actress twice, cementing her status as a distinguished figure in the annals of Indian film history.
Personal Life
Sumitra Devi married actor Debi Mukherjee in 1946. Together, they have one son, Bulbul, who was born on December 1, 1947. In a tragic turn of events, Debi Mukherjee passed away on December 11, 1947, just 10 days after the birth of his son.
Sumitra Devi passed away on August 28, 1990, in Mumbai, India, but her legacy lives on through her films and the memories she has left with her audience
Sumitra Devi on IMDB
