Chhabi Biswas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chhabi Biswas
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| Born | 13 July 1900 Choto Jagulia, Bengal Presidency, British India
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| Died | 11 June 1962 (aged 61) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1931–1962 |
| Parent(s) | Bhupendra Nath Biswas |
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1960) |
Chhabi Biswas (pronounced Chabi Biśbās), born on 13 July 1900, was a very famous Indian actor. He is best known for his roles in movies like Kabuliwala by Tapan Sinha. He also starred in films by the famous director Satyajit Ray, including Jalsaghar (The Music Room, 1958), Devi (The Goddess, 1960), and Kanchenjungha (1962).
Chhabi Biswas often played the part of a rich and respected family leader. He came from a wealthy and cultured family in North Kolkata. His father, Bhupatinath Biswas, was known for helping others. Chhabi Biswas's real first name was Sachindranath. But his mother called him "Chhabi," which means "beautiful picture," and the name stayed with him throughout his life and career! He was very good at playing strong father figures, and people loved his acting.
Life and Acting Career
Chhabi Biswas went to Hindu School and then studied at Presidency College and Vidyasagar College. During this time, he started acting in plays as a hobby. He met Sisir Kumar Bhaduri, a legendary actor in Bengali theater. Chhabi Biswas was very impressed by Sisir Kumar's acting skills. He joined many amateur theater groups. His strong performance in the play Nader Nimai made him very popular with theater fans.
After a while, he stopped acting for a bit. He worked for an insurance company and then started a business. But he missed the stage too much! Soon, he returned to acting. He made his first professional acting appearance in a play called Samaj. Even after becoming a successful film actor, Chhabi Biswas continued to perform in plays and folk theater (Jatra). He played major roles in popular plays like Shoroshi (1940) and Shahjehan (1941). This made him a beloved figure among both audiences and other actors.
In 1936, Chhabi Biswas made his first movie, Annapurnar Mandir. He played the role of Bishu in this film. At first, his acting style was a bit dramatic, like in theater. But he quickly learned how to act for films. He became a regular actor in movies made by New Theatres. He had important roles in films like Chokker Bali (1937) and Pratisruti (1941). He was amazing as a 90-year-old holy man in Debaki Bose's film Nartaki (1940). This role made him famous as a great character actor. He was often chosen to play noble or sophisticated characters. He was known for saying his lines first in perfect English, then pausing, and repeating them in Bengali.
In 1958, the famous director Satyajit Ray needed an actor to play an old aristocrat in his film Jalsaghar. Chhabi Biswas was the perfect choice. After that, Biswas acted in two more of Ray's films: Devi (1960) and Kanchenjungha (1962).
Chhabi Biswas sadly died at age 61 in a car accident on 11 June 1962. Satyajit Ray later said that he wrote the roles in Jalsaghar, Devi, and Kanchenjunga with Chhabi Biswas in mind. He also said that after Biswas died, he never wrote another role for a middle-aged character that needed such a high level of acting talent.
Famous Films
Chhabi Biswas acted in many films during his career. Here are some of his most well-known movies:
- Annapurnar Mandir (1936)
- Nartaki (1940)
- Dui Purush (1945)
- Kabuliwala (1957)
- Jalsaghar (1958)
- Devi (1960)
- Kanchenjungha (1962)
- Dada Thakur (1962)
Awards and Recognition
- He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1960 for his amazing acting.
Images for kids
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Chhabi Biswas
