Most successful actor-director jodies in Bengali cinema

There is no single formula to deliver a successful movie. There is also no certainty in the audience’s preferences. That’s why even multistarrer commercial films have failed at the box-office many times. However, actors often join hands with their preferred directors to churn out their best movies, and some of these combinations turn out to be the most successful. Here we look at famous actor-director jodies in Bengali cinema.

These two iconic figures are the ultimate actor-director duo who took Bengali cinema to a whole new level. Together they gave us as many as fifteen films (including one documentary), but the most interesting part is it’s not the quantity that gives this pair the No.1 position. The cinematic gems Soumitra and Ray delivered include Bengali classics like 'Abhijan', 'Charulata', 'Asani Sanket', 'Sonar Kella', 'Joi Baba Felunath', 'Ghare-Baire' and many others. In short, the elite list includes all those names that once put Bengali films in the international map.

Touted to be the most talked about names in Bengali parallel movies, Tapan Sinha dedicated his heart and soul to encapsulate social realism throughout his career and once made Anil Chatterjee his most preferred companion. In films like 'Atanka', 'Ek Je Chilo Desh', 'Sagina Mahato', 'Harmonium', 'Andhar Periye', 'Jotugriha', 'Louhokopat' this pair managed an unwavering impact on people’s mind. Anil Chatterjee often used to call Tapan Sinha his mentor.

It was Rituparno Ghosh who brought in the Midas touch in Prosenjit Chatterjee’s career-redefining him as a character artist. Prosenjit, who was yet to deliver his best as an artist, cemented a special place in every Bengali movie buffs’ heart once he stepped into Rituparno’s camp. Though ‘Unishe April’ remains the first film in which the Tollywood superstar worked under this eminent director, with ‘Chokher Bali’ the collaboration grabbed viewer’s attention most. The rest is history. The famous actor-director jodi went on to make critically acclaimed films such as ‘Dosar’, ‘Shob Chorito Kalponik’, ‘Noukadubi’ to name a few.

Sabyasachi Chakrabarty portrayed the fan’s favourite, the iconic Prodosh Chandra Mitra aka Feluda in as many as five Feluda movies and a number of times on small screen based on Satyajit Ray’s famous detective series. The celebrated pair achieved instant acceptance from the Bengalee movie lovers and set on a hugely successful journey over the years. Not only Feluda films, Sabyasachi worked under the direction of Sandip Ray ‘Nishijapan’ as well and their work received rave reviews.

Director Raj Chakraborty, who has given break to so many new talents in Tollywood, enjoys a huge contribution in Tollywood heartthrob Dev’s filmography. The collaboration which started with 2009 blockbuster ‘Challenge,’ churned out some of the biggest hits like 'Le Chakka', 'Dui Prithibi', 'Yoddha'. The last film in which Dev worked with Raj is 2017 hit ‘Chaamp’. The sports drama also marks the debut of Dev’s rumoured girlfriend Rukmini Maitra.

Director Arindam Sil seems to have found his favourite and it’s none other than the most desired man in Bengali cinema! Abir Chatterjee played key roles in his first two releases ‘Aborto’ and ‘Ebar Shabor’ and when Sil decided to make a film on Saradindu Bandyopadhyay’s ‘Banhi Patanga,’ he couldn’t have a better Byomkesh Bakshi than Abir. The dashing actor didn’t disappoint him and 'Har Har Byomkesh' became one of the biggest hits in 2015. Next year ‘Byomkesh Pawrbo’ also scored well at the Box Office. Sil’s next Byomkesh film ‘Byomkesh Gowtro’ is set for this Durga Puja and it too has Abir in the titular role.