Bikash Roy

Bikash Roy was an actor in Bengali cinema. He was known for his character roles in Bengali films from the late 1940s until the mid-1980s.

He fist attended Mitra Institution for his matriculation. Then he graduated with a BA from the University of Calcutta, and later earned a LLB from the same university.

Acting in films

He acted in the films Uttar Phalguni, Chaddabesi, Surjyo Toron, Neel Akaser Niche, Maruthirtha Hinglaj, Jiban-Trishna. He acted as a hero in the romantic comedy such as Chhele Kaarin early 1950s and also as the funny grandfather-in-law inOgo Bodhu Sundariin 1980, followed by similar roles during the end of his career. But, may be it was the character of the selfless barrister [Manish] whose commitment to his beloved,a courtesan (played by Suchitra Sen) in Uttar Phalguni. He did a number of radio plays in Akashvani and shot into fame after being cast in the role of a ruthless, tyrannic military officer in the film "42" that included stalwarts like Abhi Bhattacharyya, Manju Dey, Sambhu Mitra among others. His acting prowess and versatility could be gauged in films like "Ratnadeep", where he plays the role of an imposter who reforms himself, as the prodigal hero in "Naa", as the strife-torn co-protagonist in "Shurjomukhi" (which he also produced), as the affluent businessman who rose from the rags in "Shurjo Torun", as a protagonist (opposite Uttam Kumar)who aspires to beat his rival but is torn within himself in "Jeebon Trishna", as a patriot in "Masterda Shurjo Sen", as the patriarch in "Kach kata Hire",as a caring brother in "Dhuli", as the quiet and intense husband in "Sritituku Thaak" (opposite Suchitra Sen who plays double role) and as the quarrellsome husband in "Jotugriho" (Directed by Tapan Sinha and starring Uttam Kumar, Arundhati Devi, Binata Roy); in "Baghini" as a Police Officer; in negative roles - "Bibhash", "Agni Shonshkar", "Jighansa", "Adwitiya", "Bhola Moyra" and "Kacher Shorgo"; as the compassionate and humorous doctor in "Aarohi", as a psychological patient in "Andhar Periye" (both directed by Tapan Sinha), as 'Moshay' - the practitioner of traditional medical knowledge and therapy in "Arogya Niketan", as a quack in "Ramer Sumati"; as the elder brother and head of the family in "Bindur Chhele", as the hapless and helpless father in "Mayamriga" in early 1960s and as the proud and high-handed father in "Debdas" (starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Sumitra Mukherjee, Uttam Kumar, Supriya Devi)in late 1970s and so on.

Acting in theatrical plays

His foray in commercial plays was commendable; most worth mentioning being "Nahabat" which ran for more than 1200 nights. He pioneered the holding of stage-plays where the characters read out the play and their respective roles in front of the audience; known as 'Sruti Natak' [Audio Drama]. The most famous in this genre being Shesher Kobita, based on a novel and "Chirakumar Sabha" a play by Rabindranath Tagore.

Directing films

His love for the silver screen drove him to produce and direct a number of films like Marutirtha Hinglaj, Raja saja - both featuring Uttam Kumar as the leading actor, Kerry Shaheber Munshi- a film based on the life and times of Ramram Basu (1757-1813), a scholar in Bengali and Persian languages who was entrusted to teach Bengali to the English and other European Missionaries, and Debotar Graash, based on a poem by Rabindranath Tagore.

He remained active well into the 1980s, gradually moving to cameo roles, owing to his failing health. He has two autobiographical titles to his credit - Mone Pore and Aami.

Bikash Roy filmography