Kolkata, Jan 27: Veteran Bengali actor Supriya Devi, famous for her role in Ritwik Ghataks iconic Meghe Dhaka Tara, died of cardiac arrest at her residence here early today, her daughter said.
She was 85 and survived by her daughter and grandson.
Supriya Devi was born in 1933 at Michkina in British Burma as Krishna Banerjee.
She made her debut in Uttam Kumar starrer Basu Parivar in 1952, starred in Sonar Harin in 1959 and went on to deliver many other hits with him. She also acted in Ghataks Komal Gandhar and her other classics were Chowringhee, Bagh Bandi Khela, Sanyasi Raja, Debdas besides Meghe Dhaka Tara.
Namesake, which was released in 2007, was among her last outings in the big screen.
Supriya Devi had received Padma Shri award and the West Bengal governments highest civilian award Banga Vibhushan besides the Filmfare East Award Lifetime Achievement Award.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid tribute to the actor. She said in a tweet "Very saddened at the passing of legendary actress of Bengal, Supriya Chowdhury (Debi). We will fondly remember her through her films. Condolences to her family and fans."
Governor K N Tripathi expressed grief and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and her fans.
"Supriya Devi, a legendary actress of Bengal, is known for her contribution in Bengali cinema for more than 50 years," he said.
Her body was kept at Rabindra Sadan, the cultural centre in the city, for three hours where Banerjee, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Aroop Biswas, Cultural Affairs Minister Indranil Sen and superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee were present among others.
The body was later taken to Keoratala crematorium in a flower-decked vehicle in a procession. Banerjee, her Cabinet colleagues and members of Bengali film industry walked the 5 km distance with the cortege.
At the crematorium, Supriya Devi was laid to rest with full state honours.
Expressing grief at her demise, thespian Soumitra Chatterjee who had acted with her in Jodi Jantem besides many others, said they had together been in films for many decades.
Supriya Devis contemporary and veteran actress Sabitri Chattopadhyay said, "I cannot believe the news. We regularly talked over phone."
Prosenjit Chatterjee tweeted "Suddenly Supriya Devi left us...feeling really sad...RIP."
Actor Rituparna Sengupta said, "She was like a mother figure. Im a small actor in comparison with a titan like Supriya Devi to talk about her acting prowess."
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