Tulsi Chakraborty

Tulsi Chakraborty was born on March 3, 1899. He was born in a small village Goari in West Bengal, presently in Howrah district. He was a Comedian and an Indian Actor, who worked in Bengali movies in the 1940s and 50s. He is best known for his lead role in Satyajit Ray's movie Parash Pathar. Tulsi was born to Ashutosh Chakraborty, who was an apprentice in the Indian railways. This job was a transmittable work, and his parents had to move around to various places in Bengal and Bangladesh (West Bengal and Bangladesh were a single state then). Thus, Tulsi remained in Kolkata with Prasad Chakraborty, his Paternal Uncle. Prasad was a very talented Harmonium and Tabla player. He was an employee of the legendary Bengali Theater and Production Company called Start Theatre.

Due to his uncle's contacts, Tulsi got to see the performance of the finest actors from the Commercial Theater world. These events sparked his dream to become an Actor/Singer. He couldn't attend school but was a genius dancer, Tabla and Pakhawaj player, and singer. He learned dancing from Guru Debkanta Bagchi. Quite soon he got a job in a circus due to his skills. After a year, he joined a press as a compositor. Aparesh Chandra Mukhopadhyay, an actor/director, was quite impressed by Tulsi's dedication and will power. He decided to train him t become an artist. Tulsi's first appearance on screen was via the film Punarjanmo in 1932. A few of his early roles include movies like Deep Jwele Jai, Manmoyee Girls School, and Dakshayajna. Manmoyi Girls School was his first commercial success.

He got associated with Mythological roles back then. He got known for his realistic and versatile acting. He never asked for any extra arrangements or make-up. He mostly wore a white dhoti along with some sacred thread on his shoulder. He slowly took to comedy. He became a famous comic actor in Bengali cinema. Impressed by Tulsi's comedy, Satyajit Ray offered Tulsi the role of Apu's Teacher Prasanna Gurumoshai, in Pathar Panchali in 1955. Tulsi was a village pandit in the movie. Satyajit went off the record by saying that had Tulsi been born in the USA, he would have won an Oscar for his acting skills. Satyajit offered him a role in his movie Paras Pathar (The Philosopher's Stone) in 1957. This movie was the real breakthrough of his career.

He played the role of a protagonist called Paresh Dutta, a small bank clerk, who incidentally finds a magical stone. His brilliant performance in the movie is why he is known even today. Marie Seton, a film critic, described the movie as a combination of fantasy, comedy, farce, and satire. It showcased Tulsi's abilities to the maximum. Tulsi also worked with the famous Uttam Kumar Uttam Kumar was matinee idol of Bengali cinema. He >> Read More... in approximately 38 movies. These movies include Saptapadi, Khokababur Pratyabartan, Bipasha and more. Quite a few of these movies were memorable.

His other memorable performances include Paresh Kabi, Shyamali, and Sharey Chuattor. He was a gem of the Bengali cinema. However, Tulsi was an introvert and shy person. He never asked for too much money from the producers. Despite acting in more than 300 theaters and movies, he hardly earned Rs 15 a day. Due to his poverty, he used to walk from the Tollygunge studio up to his home in Shibpur. Tulsi spent the last phase of his life in utmost poverty. His last movie was Ami Ratan in 1978. It was directed by Ajit Sen and got released in 1961, after his death. Tulsi passed away on 11 December 1961. His widow wife suffered a lot after his death due to poverty. Mr. Mithun Chakraborty When we talk about the few legends in the Indian f >> Read More... , another renowned personality of the Industry, sent his wife Rs 500 every month until her death.