Kolkata, May 30
Renowned film director and 12-time national award winner Rituparno Ghosh died following a massive heart attack early this morning. He was 49.

Ghosh had been suffering from a pancreatic ailment for some time. He was found dead by his house attendant around 7.30 am.

The young film director was also a celebrated writer, poet and a novelist. Credited with ushering in a new wave in Bengali cinema with his trailblazing films like “Unishe April” and “Dahan”, Ghosh was known for glorifying women besides exploring the touchy subject of same-sex relationships.

Ghosh started his professional career as a script writer with an advertising agency before making a foray into the film industry. He also edited a Bengali film magazine for some time where he proved himself as a successful editor.

He was awarded with “Bangabhusan” title by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the completion of two years of her government last week.

Several political leaders, litterateurs, film personalities have mourned Ghosh’s death. They included Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Mamata along with several ministers and party leaders visited Ghosh’s house in the Tollygunge area and met his family members and friends.

The body was kept for over three hours in the lawns of Nandan auditorium for lovers and admirers to pay their last respects to the director. The body was then taken to Tollygune studio, which had been Rituparno’s second home. He was cremated in the evening.

Rituparno introduced a new era in Bengali film industry with his first two films — “Hirer Angti” (the diamond ring) and “Unishe April” (19 April) — in the 90s. He thereafter directed several films like “Dahan” (oppression), “Bariwali” (land lady), “Asukh” (disease), “Titli” , “Shubho Mahurat” (inauguration), “Khela” (play), “Shob Charitro Kalponik” (all characters imaginary), “Abohoman” (incarnation), etc. His other famous films included “Raincoat” (Hindi) and “The Last Lear” (English). Amitabh Bachchan played Lear’s role in the film. He also directed Rabindranath Tagore’s “Chitrangada” in which Rituparno played the title role and “Chokher Bali”.

He also made a documentary film on Tagore’s life. His last film based on Saradendu Bandopadhyya’s Bomkesh Bakshi was completed recently.

Kolkata, May 30
The Hindi and Bengali film industry today mourned the demise of director-actor Rituparno Ghosh, calling him a “great genius”, “torchbearer of new wave Bengali cinema” and “true artist”.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who acted in Ghosh’s “Chokher Bali” and “Raincoat”, said she was shocked to hear the news of his death.

Director Subhash Ghai, who dubbed one of the Ghosh’s Bengali film “Nauka Dubi” in Hindi, remembered him as the “finest filmmaker” of the industry.

Anupam Kher, whose wife Kiron worked with the late filmmaker in “Bariwali”, posted: “Deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden demise of Rituparno Ghosh.”

Mira Nair tweeted: “Tragic news of filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh passing away — so young, so brilliant, a great experimenter in all cinema and life — a flame dies." Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur posted: “Shocked by passing of Rituparno Ghosh. He was dreaming of getting into what he called his 'next phase'. Hugely creative explorer on film.” — PTI