Tulsi Chakraborty – Popular comedian of Bengali cinema with ‘Parash Pathar’ fame

Tulsi Chakraborty (1899 – 1961) was a well-known comedian of Bengali cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. He also portrayed character roles on screen. In a performance oriented role, he played the lead role of a clerk in Satyajit Ray’s first experimental fantasy film – Parash Pathar (1958) which is regarded as his career best role. He joined film industry in the early 1930s and rose to prominence in the 1940s. When he passed away in 1961, aged 62 he was fully active in the industry. Sharey Chuattor and Pather Panchali are other famous roles of Tulsi Chakraborty.

Tulsi Chakraborty was born in Goari of Howrah district of Bengal. As his father worked in Indian railways, his family lived in different places during his childhood. He got exposed to Bengali cinema and art for the first time when his paternal uncle Prasad Chakraborty who was an art patron worked in stage plays as a musician and singer. When young Tulsi got opportunity to watch plays closely, he started dreaming about a career in music and acting. Tulsi did several odd jobs before joining theater, which paved his way to films.

Punarjanma (1932) was his first released film, and initially he played mythological roles most before moving to light hearted comedies. When social dramas and romantic movies completely dominated mythological themes, he started getting more meaty roles, and he excelled most in comic roles. He spent his last days in poverty, and used to walk long distance from home to studio as he couldn’t afford bus fare. Bipasha – his last film was released after his death.

Tulsi Chakraborty – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. Parash Pathar was Satyajit Ray’s first film outside of the Apu Trilogy, where Tulis played the lead role of Paresh Chandra Dutt. It was rarest of rare Ray films with a comedy touch as well as fantasy elements.

2. He has worked with leading pair Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen in many movies such as ‘ Ekti Raat’, ‘Sharey Chuattor’ and ‘Chaoya Paoya’.

3. Though he entertained everyone as a comedian, his last years were spent in penury. After his death his wife also led a very poor life.

4. Satyajit Ray was so much impressed about his acting skills that he once said that Tulsi would have received an academy award if he was born in US.

5. Known for his realistic acting, he never used makeup.  

6. He was mostly seen on screen cladded in a white dhoti with sacred thread visible.