Arundhati Devi

Arundhati Devi was a luminary of Bengali cinema in the 1950s and ’60s, a multifaceted artist whose impact transcended industry standards. Renowned not only as a great actress, she was also a director, producer, singer, composer and painter. Her cinematic debut in Mahaprasthaner Pathe (1952) signalled the trajectory of her career, in challenging societal norms, as she did in films like Chalachal (1956) and Jhinder Bondi (1961). Born into the artistic Guhathakurta family in Dhaka, Devi’s influences included an early education in Santiniketan, where she honed skills in music and dance under the tutelage of prominent mentors. Her sensibilities were tied to  Tagore's own, shaping her outlook on art as a space of joy rather than a mere means of livelihood. As a pioneering filmmaker, she directed five notable films, adapting literary works that highlighted marginalised voices and explored young love. Her legacy as a cultural icon endures - she is celebrated as the alchemy of elegance, intellect and artistic integrity embodied. Devi is a powerful symbol for the modern woman in cinema, in dialogue with a rapidly changing society.