Sumitra Devi – The sedative and gorgeous Indian actress of 1940s to 1960s

Sumitra Devi (1923 – 1990) was a very successful actress of Bollywood and Bengali cinema during 1940s-1960s. Top star of early talkies in both these industries, she owns countless memorable films to her credit. As epitome of beauty, she was also known to be a sedative actress those days. Bengali cult classic Saheb Bibi Golam, where she played an alcoholic wife of a landlord is one of her most memorable roles. She was a recipient of BFJA Award for Best Actress in 1945 and in 1949 (For Swami), and many other honours.

As a lead actress of Bollywood, some of her popular films are Vasiyatnama (1945), Bhai Dooj (1947), Oonch Neech (1948), Vijay Yatra (1948), Mamta (1952), Jagte Raho (1956) etc. Ekdin Ratre (1956), Nilachaley Mahaprabhu (1957), Joutuk (1958), Abhijog (1947), Pather Dabi (1947), Pratibad (1948), Joyjatra (1948), Swami (1949), Devi Chowdhurani (1949), Samar (1950), Dasyu Mohan (1955), Saheb Bibi Golam (1956), Aandhare Alo (1957) and Kinu Gowalar Gali (1964) etc are her popular works in Bengali cinema.

Sumitra Devi was born as Nilima Chattopadhyay in a rich Brahmin family of Bengal. Shiuri of Birbhum is her native place. She was brought up in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Following an earth quake, her home was destroyed and the family shifted to Kolkata. She got her first film role after a screen test. When she applied at New Theatres for a film role, along with her photograph, she kept it a secret from her father, while she received full support from younger brother. Soon after she got selected after screen test and dialogue delivery, she boldly told it to her father. He was initially reluctant to accept it. The director was keen to have approval from her father. Finally his friend M. N. Sirkar convinced him and he said ‘Yes’.

As an actress, Hindi film Meri Bahen (1944) gave her the first break to acting. She was casted in a lead role opposite K. L. Saigal. However it was hit Bengali film, Sandhi (1944) which got released first. Later she played female lead in several hit films made in Bengali and Hindi films till early 1960s. Veer Bhimsen was her last Bollywood release and Kinu Gowalar Gali, her last Bengali film. Both these films were released in 1964, before she faded into memory.

Sumitra Devi – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. A family doctor, a European suggested to name her as Lily soon after birth, and her maternal grandfather accepted it.

2. Her father was a lawyer and nephew of Digamber Chatterjee, then Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.

3. Legendary actress Kanan Devi influenced her to choose acting field.

4. Sumitra married actor Debi Mukherjee in October 1946, and lost him 13 months later, 10 days after the birth of their only son in December 1947. He died of heart failure.

5. She was only 24 when she lost her husband after one year of marriage bliss, but decided to stay single throughout her life.

6. It was rumoured that she used to seduce her co-stars, filmmakers, journalists etc, and her beauty was frequently praised by actors of yesterdays. Uttam Kumar and Shammi Kapoor were the lead actors of yesterdays who were spellbound by her beauty.

7. Her name is always taken in the list of “Ten Most Beautiful Actresses of Bengali Cinema”, and she had a strong impact in Bengali cinema.

8. She did her own makeup before going to film sets for shooting and she was aware of her fair complexion.