Overview
Supriya Devi (born Supriya Choudhury; 8 January 1933 – 26 January 2018) was an Indian actress associated primarily with Bengali cinema, where she worked for more than five decades. She is best remembered for her portrayal of Neeta in Ritwik Ghatak's Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960), a role widely regarded as a landmark in Indian film history.
She made her screen debut alongside Uttam Kumar in Basu Paribar (1952), directed by Nirmal Dey, and appeared the same year in Prarthana, directed by Pranab Ray. IMDb, however, lists the 1951 Hindi film Shokhiyan as her first appearance. After a brief hiatus, she returned to films with Marmabani (1958) and gained prominence the following year through the Uttam Kumar-led blockbuster Sonar Harin (1959).
In the early 1960s, Supriya Devi consolidated her position with notable performances in Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960), Shuno Baranari (1960), Komal Gandhar (1961), Swaralipi (1961) and Agnisanskar (1961), among others. She made her Hindi film debut opposite Dharmendra in Begaana (1963).
She received several honours during her career, including the Filmfare Award and the BFJA Award, the latter twice. In 2011, the Government of West Bengal conferred upon her the Banga-Vibhushan, the state's highest civilian honour. In 2014, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contributions to the entertainment industry.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Supriya Devi.