Anik Dutta on Tarun Majumdar: He was the last of the Mohicans in Bengali cinema

Anik Dutta was in Oxford, UK, when he got the news of Tarun Majumdar’s demise on Monday. The filmmaker expressed his condolences through a heartfelt note. He went to the UK because his film Aparajito was released there on July 1. The film, which features Jeetu Kamal, Saayoni Ghosh and others, was also released in UAE, Australia and other countries. Anik is currently on his UK tour with his family.

“I am in Oxford now. I got up in the morning and learnt about the demise of Tarun Majumdar from social media. He was one of the few people who are respectable in today’s time. He was the last of the Mohicans the filmmakers of the golden era of Bengali cinema. He was an uncompromising and determined intellectual who stood by his ideas in a time when loyalty is often compromised by many others. I did not sell his soul to get some benefit in return. This is saddening,” Anik said. 

Tarun Majumdar went to a theatre to watch Anik’s latest, Aparajito. When he was admitted to the hospital, Anik went and visited him. “Just before leaving for the UK, I met him at the hospital. He was in sense but could not speak. I did not bother him for long. I am extremely fortunate that he actually went to a theatre to watch Aparajito. He also said a lot of encouraging words. I was really overwhelmed. He said, ‘You have no idea what you've done. You all will have to lift the state of Bengali cinema from its current sad state’. He expressed grievances but this is not the time to talk about those things. Once I go back home, I will try to pay him the homage he deserved,” said the filmmaker.