OBITUARY: Manoj Mitra, the legendary Bengali actor and theatre personality, passed away at the age of 86 due to age-related health complications. He died early on Tuesday morning in a hospital in Kolkata, as confirmed by family sources.
Mitra had been admitted to the hospital on November 3 after his health deteriorated due to multiple ailments. Despite the medical team's efforts, his condition worsened, and he passed away at around 8:50 a.m. A doctor at the hospital mentioned that he had previously been hospitalized on September 20 for breathing issues, an imbalance of sodium and potassium, and other health problems, though he was discharged at the end of September.
Mitra's legacy in Bengali theatre is vast, with his farces and fantasy plays often delving into social and political themes. He was particularly renowned for his role in Tapan Sinha’s Banchharamer Bagan, which was adapted from his own play Sajano Bagaan. In addition to his work in theatre, Manoj Mitra also starred in iconic films by legendary director Satyajit Ray, such as Ghare Baire and Ganashatru. He collaborated with other notable directors including Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Basu Chatterjee, Tarun Majumdar, Shakti Samanta, and Goutam Ghose.