Mukherjee, Madhabi (b. 1943)

Bengali actress, originally Madhuri Mukherjee. Worked on stage with e.g. Sisir Bhaduri, Ahindra Choudhury, Nirmalendu Lahiri and Chhabi Biswas. Acted in plays like Naa (at the Kashi Vishwanath Manch) and Kalarab (at the Netaji Manch) before débuting as child actress in films with Premendra Mitra’s Kankantala Light Railway. Achieved an exemplary Tagore characterisation in Satyajit Ray’s Charulata. When Ray later returned to Tagore with Ghare Baire (1984), his heroine, Swatilekha Chatterjee, bears a striking resemblance to Madhabi. Ritwik Ghatak also extensively alludes to her way of performing literary figures, e.g. in Subarnarekha: the way Seeta flicks her long hair dry or sits on the runway or by the river after eloping with Abhiram. Her first major film was Mrinal Sen’s Baishey Shravan. For Ray she played the housewife who becomes a saleswoman in Mahanagar. Also acted in Harisadhan Dasgupta’s first foray into fiction, Eki Ange Eto Rup. Later work includes Purendu Pattrea’s Swapnaniye and 70s Tagore adaptations Streer Patra and Malancha. Apart from Tagore, also played Saratchandra characters, e.g. in Ramer Sumati, Bindur Chheley, Biraj Bou et al. Wrote her autobiography, Ami Madhabi (1995).

FILMOGRAPHY: 1950: Kankantala Light Railway; 1952: Prarthana; 1956: Tonsil; 1960: Baishey Shravan; 1961: Aaj Kal Parshu; 1962: Subarnarekha; 1963: Mahanagar; 1964: Swarga Hotey Biday; Godhuli Belaye; Charulata; Sindoore Megh; Binsati Janani; 1965: Thana Theke Aschhi; Ghoom Bhangar Gaan; Kapurush; Eki Ange Eto Rup; Devatar Deep; 1966: Joradighir Choudhury Paribar; Sankha Bela; Swapnaniye; 1967: Ajana Shapath; Kheya; 1968: Adwitiya; Chhoto Jignasa; Garh Nasimpur; Parishodh; 1969: Agni Yuger Kahini; Duranta Charai; Teer Bhoomi; 1970: Swarna Sikhar Pranganey; Samanaral; Diba Ratrir Kabya; 1971: Chhadmabeshi; 1972: Biraj Bou; Calcutta ’71; Chinnapatra; Archana; Chhayatir; Streer Patra; 1973: Andhar Periye; Bindur Chheley; Bon Palashir Padabali; Haraye Khunji; Jiban Rahasya; 1974: Chhutir Ghanta; Natun Surya; 1975: Agniswar; Phool Sajya; Amriter Swad; 1976: Yugo Manab Kabir; 1977: Avatar; Ramer Sumati; 1978: Ganadevata; 1979: Shuparna; Malancha; 1980: Moyna Tadanta; Bancharamer Bagan; 1981: Manikchand; Subarnalata; Saheb; 1982: Matir Swarga; Prafulla; Chhoto Maa; Bandini Kamala; Chokh; Durer Nadi; 1983: Kauke Bolo Na; Samapti; 1984: Jog Biyog; 1985: Bhalobasha Bhalobasha; Jiban Sathi; Antaraley; Dadu Nati-o-Hati; Putulghar; 1986: Anurager Choa; Artanad; Uttar Lipi; Madhumoy; Jiban; 1987: Arpan; Bandookbaj; Rudrabina; Pratikar; 1988: Hirer Shikal; Maa Ek Mandir; Anjali; Dipshikha; Kalankini Nayika; Surer Sathi; 1989: Kari Diye Kinlam; Aghaton Ajo Ghatey; Chhandaneer; Agni Trishna; Bandhobi; Shubha Kamana; 1990: Manasi; Ekti Jiban; 1991: Sadharan Meye; Antarer Bhalobasha; Antardhan; 1993: Mon Mane Na; Shrimati; Prithibir Shesh Station; Ishwar Parameshwar; 1994: Atikram; Bidrohini; 1995: Boumoni; Rangeen Basanta.

Actor