Sunday 1 April 2012


Chhabi Biswas

Chhabi Biswas (Bengali: ছবি বিশ্বাস Chhobi Bishshash) (12 July 1900 – 11 June 1962) was a much revered Bengali character actor, primarily known for his performances in Tapan Sinha'sKabuliwala and Satyajit Ray's films Jalshaghar (The Music Room, 1958), Devi (The Goddess, 1960) and Kanchenjungha (1962).

He is the best remembered for his numerous roles as the quintessential aristocratic patriarch, was himself the scion of a rich and cultured North Kolkata family. He was born on 12 July 1900. His father Bhupatinath Biswas was well known for his charitable works. He was christened Sachindranath but his mother nicknamed her handsome son Chhabi (a beautiful picture!) and the name stuck throughout his life and career. His portrayal of the formidable father-figure, though often typecast, yet was powerful and convincing enough to earn both popular and critical accolades. That portrayal was culturally significant too as in the British Raj, enlightened Bengali used to combined both the hoary tradition and the Anglicised urbanity.
Chhabi Biswas
ছবি বিশ্বাস
BornJuly 12, 1900
Ahiritola, KolkataWest Bengal
DiedJune 11, 1962 (aged 61)
KolkataWest Bengal
OccupationActor
Years active1931 to 1962

Life and film career

Passing his matriculation examinations from the Hindu School, Chhabi Biswas enrolled at the Presidency College and later at the Vidyasagar College. It was during this time he got into amateur theatrics and got in touch with Sisir Kumar Bhaduri, the legendary star of Bengali theatre. The young actor was deeply impressed by Sisir Kumar’s histrionic abilities and he got heavily involved with several amateur theatrical clubs. His powerful performance as Sri Gouranga in the playNader Nimai sealed Chhabi Biswas’s popularity among the theatre lovers of the day.
He then took a break from acting and joined an insurance company, and later started a business dealing in jute products. But soon, unable to resist the temptations of the stage, Chhabi Biswas rejoined the theatre circuit and made his debut as a professional actor in a social-melodrama Samaj. Even after his success as a film actor Chhabi Biswas continued his association with the professional stage and Jatra circuit. His performance in major roles in hit plays like Shoroshi(1940), Sita (1940), Kedar Roy (1941), Shahjehan (1941), made him a much admired figure both among the audience and his peers.
In 1936, Chhabi Biswas made his cinematic debut in a film called Annapurnar Mandir. The film was directed by Tinkari Chakraborty and Chhabibabu played the role of Bishu, the husband of the heroine. Trained in the over-melodramatic acting style of the contemporary Bengali stage, Chhabi Biswas soon grasped the finer nuances of acting for cinema. He became a regular in films produced by the New Theatres and had major roles in Chokker Bali (1937), Nimai Sannyas (1940) andPratisruti (1941). He was absolutely marvellous as a 90 year old ascetic in Debaki Bose’s film Nartaki (1940). Ironically, it was the success of his acting in Nartaki that limited his opportunities in lead roles but his reputation as a character actor par excellence was by now firmly in place. Chhabibabu’s second innings as an actor began with this film and he almost became an automatic choice as the paterfamilias or the suave noble. Using his perfect English diction to the hilt Chhabi Biswas (along with Pahadi Sanyal and Bikash Roy to a certain extent) developed a unique way of delivering a dramatic dialogue, first in English, and then after a pause repeating the same in Bengali. Films such as Ashok (1942),Parineeta (1942), Dwanda (1943), Matir Ghar (1944), Dui Purush (1945), Biraj Bou (1946) and Mandana (1950) showcased his talents as an actor of great quality.
Chhabi Biswas died in an automobile accident on 11 June 1962. After Biswas’s demise in 1962, Ray admitted that he did not write a single male middle-aged part that called for a high degree of professional talent.

Filmography

Film (year)DirectorRole
Annapurnar Mandir (1936)Tinkari ChakrabortyActor
Haranidhi (1937)Tinkari ChakrabortyActor
Chokher Bali (1938)Satu SenActor
Chanakya (1939)Sisir Kumar BhaduriActor
Sharmistha (1939)Naresh MitraActor
Nartaki (1940)Debaki BoseActor
Nimai Sanyasi (1940)Phani BurmaActor
Swami Stri (1940)Satu SenActor
Pratisruti (1941)Hemchandra ChunderActor
Pratishodh (1941)Sushil MajumdarActor
Banglar Meye (1941)Naresh MitraActor
Epar Opar (1941)Sukumar DasguptaActor
Pashan Devata (1942)Sukumar DasguptaActor
Shodhbodh (1942)Saumyen MukherjiActor
Avayer Biye (1942)Sushil MajumdarActor
Nari (1942)Prafulla RoyActor
Karnarjun (1942)Jyotish BannerjiActor
Jiban Sangini (1942)Gunamaya BannerjeeActor
Garmil (1942)Niren LahiriActor
Bondi (1942)Sailajanand MukherjiActor
Parineeta (1942)Pasupati ChatterjeeActor
Saugandh (1942)Hemchandra ChunderActor
Mahakabi Kalidas (1942)Niren LahiriActor
Ashok (1942)Ajay BhattacharyaActor
Pativrata (1942)Jagadish ChakrabortyActor
Mahakavi Kalidas (1942)Niren LahiriActor
Milan (1942)Jyotish BannerjiActor
Nilanguriya (1943)Gunamaya BannerjeeActor
Devar (1943)Jyotish BannerjiActor
Daabi (1943)Dhirendranath GangulyActor
Dwanda (1943)Hemen GuptaActor
Dampati (1943)Niren LahiriActor
Aleya (1943)NabendusundarActor
Samadhan (1943)Premendra MitraActor
Dikshul (1943)Premankur AtortheyActor
Chhadmabeshi (1944)Ajay BhattacharyaActor
Pratikar (1944)Chhabi BiswasActor, Director
Matir Ghar 1944Hari BhanjaActor
Dui Purush (1945)Subodh MitraActor
Path Bendhe Dilo (1945)Premendra MitraActor
Bondita (1945)Hemanta GuptaActor
Sree Durga (1945)Sailajananda MukherjeeActor
Raj Lakshmi (1945)Premendra MitraActor
Vande Mataram (1946)Sudhirbandhu BannerjeeActor
Nibedita (1946)Pratibha SasmalActor
Sangram (1946)Ardhendu MukherjeeActor
Saat Number Bari (1946)Sukumar DasguptaActor
Tumi Aar Aami (1946)Apurba Kumar MitraActor
Biraj Bou (1946)Amar MullickActor
Mandir (1947)Phani BurmaActor
Chandrasekhar (1947)Debaki BoseActor
Nurse Sisi (1947)Subodh MitraActor
Abhijog (1947)Sushil MajumdarActor
Anirban (1948)Soumyen MukherjeeActor
Nandaranir Sansar (1948)Surendraranjan SarkarActor
Shesh Nibedan (1948)Dhirendranath GangulyActor
Shankha Sindur (1948)Manujendra BhanjaActor
Umar Prem (1948)Khagen RoyActor
Sadharan Meye (1948)Niren LahiriActor
Drishtidaan (1948)Nitin BoseActor
Manzoor (1949)Subodh MitraActor
Debi Chowdhurani (1949)Satish DanguptaActor
Jar Jetha Ghar (1949)Chhabi BiswasActor, Director
Singhdwar (1949)Niren LahiriActor
Vidyasagar (1950)Kali Prasad GhoseActor
Garabini (1950)Niren LahiriActor
Mandanda (1950)Ratan ChatterjeeActor
Mahasampad (1950)Surendraranjan SarkarActor
Anurag (1951)Jatin DasActor
Kalsap (1951)Khagen RoyActor
Maldar (1951)Amit MoitraActor
Biplabi Kshudiram (1951)Hiranmoy SenActor
Aparajita (1951)Partha Sarathy DramaActor
Durgesh Nandini (1951)Amar MullickActor
Sunandar Biye (1951)Sudhir SarkarActor
Ratrir Tapashya (1952)Sushil MajumdarActor
Krishnakanter Will (1952)Khagen RoyActor
Nirakshar (1952)Gunamaya BannerjeeActor
Prarthana (1952)Pranab RoyActor
Alladdin-o-ashcharya Pradeep (1952)Bijon SenActor
Vidyasagar (1952)Kali Prasad GhoseActor
Kar Pape (1952)Kali Prasad GhoseActor
Jabanbondi (1952)Amar DuttaActor
Subhada (1952)Niren LahiriActor
Sati Behula (1953)Sunil GangulyActor
Raja Krishnachandra (1953)Sudhirbandhu BannerjeeActor
Jog Biyog (1953)Pinaki MukherjiActor
Boudir Bon (1953)Khagen RoyActor
Sabuj Paharh (1953)Apurba Kumar MitraActor
Saat Number Kayedi (1953)Sukumar DasguptaActor
Baimanik (1953)Shyam ChakrabortyActor
Blind Lane (1953)Sailajananda MukherjeeActor
Shesher Kabita (1953)Modhu BoseActor
Lakh Taka (1953)Niren LahiriActor
Makarsar Jaal (1953)Pashupati KunduActor
Prafulla (1954)Chitta BoseActor
Jadubhatta (1954)Niren LahiriActor
Bhanga-gara (1954)Sushil MajumdarActor
Banglar Nari (1954)Sailajananda MukherjeeActor
Ora Thake Odhare (1954)Sukumar DasguptaActor
Naa (1954)Shri TarashankarActor
Dhuli (1954)Pinaki MukherjeeActor
Shobha (1954)Niren LahiriActor
Shorashi (1954)Pasupati ChatterjeeActor
Chhele Kar (1954)Chitta BoseActor
Maa-o-chhele (1954)Gunamaya BannerjeeActor
Kalyani (1954)Niren LahiriActor
Sadanander Mela (1954)Sukumar DasguptaActor
Bidhilipi (1955)Manu SenActor
Debi Malini (1955)Niren LahiriActor
Dattak (1955)Kamal GangulyActor
Kalo Bou (1955)Silpi SanghaActor
Rani Rashmoni (1955)Kali Prasad GhoseActor
Katha Kao (1955)Sailajananda MukherjeeActor
Pather Sheshey (1955)Ardhendu ChatterjeeActor
Sanjher Pradeep (1955)Sudhangsu MukherjeeActor
Prashna (1955)Chandrasekhar BoseActor
Hrad (1955)Ardhendu SenActor
Shribatsa Chinta (1955)Phani BurmaActor
Bhagaban Sree Sree Ramkrishna (1955)Prafulla ChakrabortyActor
Drishti (1955)Chitta BoseActor
Upahar (1955)Tapan SinhaActor
Parishodh (1955)Sukumar DasguptaActor
Joy Maa Kali Boarding (1955)Sadhan SarkarActor
Bratacharini (1955)Kamal GangulyActor
Jharer Pare (1955)Debnarayan GuptaActor
Sabar Upare (1955)AgradootActor
Falgu (1956)Satish DasguptaActor
Asamapta (1956)Ratan ChatterjeeActor
Trijama (1956)AgradootActor
Rajpath (1956)Gunamaya BannerjeeActor
Shankar Narayan Bank (1956)Niren LahiriActor
Govindadas (1956)Prafulla ChakrabortyActor
Asabarna (1956)Pinaki MukherjeeActor
Kabuliwala (1956)Tapan SinhaActor
Daner Maryada (1956)Sushil MajumdarActor
Mamlar Phal (1956)Pasupati ChatterjeeActor
Madan Mohan (1956)Amal Kumar BoseActor
Raat Bhor (1956)Mrinal SenActor
Ekdin Ratre (1956)Sombhu MitraActor
Chhaya Sangini (1956)Bidyapati GhoshActor
Bhola Master (1956)Niren LahiriActor
Shubharatri (1956)Sushil MajumdarActor
Sadhak Ramprosad (1956)Bangsi AshActor
Suryamukhi (1956)Bikash RayActor
Saheb Bibi Golam (1956)Kartick ChattopadhyayActor
Putrabadhu (1956)Chitta BoseActor
Taka-ana-pai (1956)Jyotirmoy RoyActor
Paradhin (1956)Modhu BoseActor
Sinthir Sindoor (1956)Ardhendu SenActor
Kirti Garh (1956)Soumyen MukherjeeActor
Manraksha (1956)Satish DasguptaActor
Kari-o-komal (1957)Moni GhoshActor
Bardidi (1957)Ajay KarActor
Abhishek (1957)Chitra PaliActor
Adarsha Hindu Hotel (1957)Ardhendu SenActor
Parash Pathar (1957)Satyajit RayActor
Tapasi (1957)Chitta BoseActor
Prithibi Amare Chay (1957)Niren LahiriActor
Shesh Parichoy (1957)Sushil MajumdarActor
Madhabir Jonye (1957)Nitin BoseActor
Chhaya Path (1957)Gunamaya BannerjeeActor
Antariksha (1957)Rajen TarafdarActor
Mathur (1957)Sudhirbandhu BannerjeeActor
Ghum (1957)AgraniActor
Pathe Holo Deri (1957)AgradootActor
Kancha-mithey (1957)Jyotirmoy RoyActor
Baksiddha (1957)Bireswar BoseActor
Khela Bhangar Khela (1957)Ratan ChatterjeeActor
Sandhan (1957)Chitta SenActor
Natun Prabhat (1957)Bikash RayActor
Rastar Chhele (1957)Chitta BoseActor
Surer Parashe (1957)Chitta BoseActor
Bara Maa (1957)Niren LahiriActor
Ektara (1957)Hiren BoseActor
Louha-kapat (1957)Tapan SinhaActor
Harishchandra (1957)Phani BurmaActor
Garer Math (1957)Aaj Production UnitActor
Abhoyer Biye (1957)Sukumar DasguptaActor
Nilachale Mahaprabhu (1957)Kartick ChattopadhyayActor
Marmabani (1958)Sushil MajumdarActor
Tansen (1958)Niren LahiriActor
Indrani (1958)Niren LahiriActor
Nagini Kanyar Kahini (1958)Salil SenActor
Daily Passenger (1958)Sadhan SarkarActor
O Amar Desher Mati (1958)PathikritActor
Jamalaye Jibanta Manush (1958)Prafulla ChakrabortyActor
Nupur (1958)Dilip NagActor
Jalsaghar (1958)Satyajit Ray DramaActor
Bandhu (1958)Chitta BoseActor
Surya Toran (1958)AgradootActor
Sadhak Bamakshyapa (1958)Narayan Ghosh (2)Actor
Headmaster (1958)AgragamiActor
Chaowa Pawa (1958)Tarun MajumdarYatrikActor
Priya (1958)Salil SenActor
Dhoomketu (1958)Gouranga Prasad BasuActor
Sashibabur Sansar (1959)Sudhir MukherjeeActor
Kshaniker Atithi (1959)Tapan SinhaActor
Chhabi (1959)Niren LahiriActor
Amrapali (1959)Shri TarashankarActor
Nirdharita Silpir Anupastithi Tey (1959)Nirmal DeyActor
Gali Theke Rajpath (1959)Prafulla ChakrabortyActor
Mriter Martye Agaman (1959)Pasupati ChatterjeeActor
Shubha Bibaha (1959)Sombhu MitraActor
Khelaghar (1959)Ajay KarActor
Sonar Harin (1959)Mangal ChakrabortyActor
Rater Andhakare (1959)AgraniActor
Thakur Haridas (1959)Gobinda RayActor
Derso Khokhar Kando (1959)Kamal GangulyActor
Bicharak (1959)Prabhat MukherjeeActor
Bhranti (1959)Prafulla ChakrabortyActor
Agnisambhabha (1959)Sushil MajumdarActor
Nrityeri Tale Tale (1959)Sudhirbandhu BannerjeeActor
Kshudista Pashan (1960)Tapan SinhaActor
Gariber Meye (1960)Ardhendu MukherjeeActor
Nader Nimai (1960)Bimal Roy Jr.Actor
Hospital (1960)Sushil MajumdarActor
Shesh Paryanta (1960)Sudhir MukherjeeActor
Shuno Baranari (1960)Ajay KarActor
Tailangaswami (1960)ChitrasarathiActor
Maya Mriga (1960)Chitta BoseActor
Smriti Tuku Thaak (1960)Tarun MajumdarActor
Raja-saja (1960)Bikash RayActor
Surer Piyasi (1960)Bishu DasguptaActor
Haat Baralei Bandhu (1960)Sukumar DasguptaActor
Sakher Chor (1960)Prafulla ChakrabortyActor
Debarshi Narader Sansar (1960)PanchabootActor
Ajana Kahini (1960)Sunil BaranActor
Chupi Chupi Ase (1960)Premendra MitraActor
Devi (1960)Satyajit RayActor
Carey Saheber Munsi (1961)Bikash RayActor
Manik (1961)Bijoli Baran SenActor
Agni Sanskar (1961)AgradootActor
Madhya Rater Tara (1961)Pinaki MukherjeeActor
Madhureno (1961)Shanti BannerjeeActor
Kanchanmulya (1961)Nirmal MitraActor
Kancher Swarga (1961)Tarun MajumdarActor
Saptapadi (1961)Ajay KarActor
Ashay Bandhinu Ghar (1961)Kanak MukherjeeActor
Necklace (1961)Dilip NagActor
Maa (1961)Chitta BoseActor
Swayambara (1961)Asit SenActor
Bishkanya (1961)Shri JayadrathaActor
Dainee (1961)Manoj BhattacharyaActor
Dada Thakur (1962)Sudhir MukherjeeActor
Kanchenjungha (1962)Satyajit RayActor
Shubhoddristi (1962)Chitta BoseActor
Bipasha (1962)AgradootActor
Bodhu (1962)Bhupen RoyActor
Suryasnan (1962)Ajay KumarActor
Atal Jaler Ahwan (1962)Ajay KarActor
Sorry Madam (1962)Dilip BoseActor
Shiulibari (1962)Pijush BoseActor
Agnisikha (1962)Rajen TarafdarActor
Dhupchhaya (1962)Chitta BoseActor
Mayar Sansar (1962)Kanak MukherjeeActor
Kajal (1962)Sunil BannerjeeActor
Surya Sikha (1963)Salil DuttaActor
High Heel (1963)Dilip BoseActor
Chhakka Panja (1963)Prafulla RoyActor
Kantatar (1964)Bireshwar MukherjeeActor
Bignam O Bidhata (1973)Bimal Roy Jr.Actor
Shri Shri Maa Lakshmi (1977)Prabhat ChakrabortyActor

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