Overview
Sabitri Chatterjee (born 21 February 1937) is an Indian actress recognised for her work in Bengali theatre and cinema. Her career spans more than seven decades, during which she has been a prominent presence on the Bengali stage and screen.
She was born in Comilla in British India (now in Bangladesh). During the partition of Bengal, she was sent to the home of an older, married sister in Tollygunge, Kolkata. In her adolescence, she was noticed by Bhanu Banerjee, who introduced her to the Uttar Sarathi group theatre for a role in the play Natun Ihudi. She subsequently came to wider attention with the title role in Shyamali, staged at Star Theatre.
Chatterjee made her film debut in Sahajatri (1951), an Uttam Kumar starrer directed by Agradoot. Her first female lead came in Sudhir Mukherjee's comedy Pasher Bari (1952), which was a major box-office success. She is remembered for her work in films including Raat Bhor (1955), Upahar (1955), Abhayer Biye (1957), Nupur (1958), Gali Theke Rajpath (1959), Marutirtha Hinglaj (1959), Kuhak (1960), Badhu (1962), Bhranti Bilas (1963), Uttarayan (1963), Jaya (1965), Kal Tumi Aleya (1966), Nishipadma (1970), Dhanyi Meye (1971) and Malyadan (1971), among others. Soumitra Chatterjee described her as the finest actor he has worked with.
Chatterjee has twice won the BFJA Awards. In 1999, she received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for acting in Bengali theatre. In 2013, the Government of West Bengal conferred upon her the Banga