Bengali veteran actor and Ray’s Apu Trilogy hero Soumitra Chatterjee will soon be conferred with France’s highest civilian award – Legion of Honour.
“I am overwhelmed to learn this. I received the communication and it is difficult to believe that I will be awarded with the same honour my mentor received,” the veteran actor told Mumbai Mirror. This comes thirty years after his mentor Satyajit Ray was awarded the Legion of Honour by then French President Francois Mitterrand in 1987.
Incidentally, Chatterjee also won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award – India’s highest award for cinema – in 2012. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2004.
Chatterjee had worked in 14 of Ray’s films including the Apu trilogy, Charulata and has also played the role of Feluda, the iconic detective in the film Sonar Kella. He has also worked with other noted directors of Bengali cinema, such as Mrinal Sen and Tarun Mazumdar.
The Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler will present the honour to the veteran actor in Kolkata.
West Bengal’s CM Mamta Bannerjee tweeted praises to the octogenarian awardee.
From Apu Sansar to Legion d Honour. The legendary Shri Soumitra Chattopadhay, hallmark of Indian and Bengali cinema… 1/2
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 10, 2017
A tribute and honour to the great actor of Bengali cinema by France. This makes us very proud. Congratulations 2/2
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 10, 2017
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Feature Image: Peacehaventhefilm.com
