Tollywood mourns film editor Sanjib Dutta's demise

Renowned film editor Sanjib Dutta, in the Hindi and

Bengali cinema

, breathed his last on Sunday afternoon at a city hospital, following a multi-organ failure. He was 53.

Sanjib graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India and was also a jury member for the 63rd National Awards. In his career spanning over two decades, he served as an editor in over 50 films, notably Ek Hasina Thi, Iqbal, Dor, Mardaani, Tum Bin...:Love Will Find a Way to name a few. In Tollywood, his works include Iti Srikanta, Sesher Golpo, Kalpurush, Ek Nadir Galpo, Jomer Raja Dilo Bor, Durgeshgorer Guptodhon, Aschhe Abar Shabor and many more that are yet to release.

Tollywood is heartbroken at his untimely

demise

. Many took to social media to express their condolence. Sudiptaa Chakraborty wrote, “This is unbelievable Sanjib Da!!! Unacceptable too. You cannot leave so soon.....(sic). The actress, who is in a state of shock since the news broke, shared, “Sanjib da was a hero to us. He was a reserved person but extremely witty. He used to edit all of Nagesh Kukunoor’s films and would have many tales to share. My husband and Sanjib da used to work together in Mumbai, so he was more of a family friend to us.”

Four films of Rajorshi Dey — Purba, Pashchim, Dakshin (Uttor Asbei), Shubho Noboborsho, Birpurush and Riffle — are edited by Sanjib. “I met him on Wednesday night and spoke at length. He had a bypass surgery long back. He had another heart surgery on Friday and on Sunday, everything ended. Sanjib da was my only friend in the industry. During the shoot of Purba, Pashchim, Dakshin (Uttor Asbei), he used to come to the floors and give his inputs. His suggestions were brilliant. I still can’t believe he is no more. He has a daughter and his wife works with a private Bengali channel. I don’t know how I will face them,” said Rajorshi.

Dhrubo Banerjee, who started his career as an assistant to Sanjib back in 1998, is distraught. “It is a personal

loss

. The news will take time a long time to sink in. Sanjib da is the rarest of gentlemen and the finest of editors I will ever come across,” he said.

Arindam Sil, who worked with Sanjib on his last Shabor venture, Aschhe Abar Shabor , is broken-hearted. “I will have to say rest in peace, Sanjib da. I am honoured he edited my last Shabor film,” he said.