Personal Details

• 🎂 Date of Birth
• 22 August 1915
• 📍 Place of Birth
• Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Kolkata, West Bengal, India)
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family
• Father: Sarat Kumar Mitra
• Mother: Satadalbasini Mitra
• Spouse: Tripti Mitra
• Children: Shaoli Mitra
• 🎓 Education
• Sombhu Mitra started his schooling at Chakraberia Middle English School in Calcutta and later continued at Ballygunge Government High School, where he developed a keen interest in Bengali plays and became active in school dramatics. In 1931, he joined St. Xavier’s College, University of Calcutta, where he began attending local theatre and further nurtured his passion for acting and stage performance.

Early Career

• 🌱 Early Life
• Sombhu Mitra was the sixth child among three sons and four daughters of Sarat Kumar Mitra, an employee of the Geological Survey of India, and Satadalbasini Mitra. His mother passed away when he was twelve years old.
• 🎭 Early Career in Theatre
• Mitra made his first appearance in Bengali theatre in 1939 at the Rangmahal Theatre in north Kolkata. He then performed at Minerva, Natyaniketan, and Srirangam theatres, gradually gaining recognition for his acting skills. His early theatre work laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to stage performance and innovation in Bengali theatre.

Career Journey

• 🌟 Involvement with IPTA and Founding Bohurupee
• In 1943, Sombhu Mitra joined the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA). In 1944, he co-directed the play Nabanna, written by Bijon Bhattacharya, which broke several old theatrical conventions and established him as a pioneering director of socially relevant theatre.
• In 1948, he founded the Bohurupee theatre group in Kolkata, ushering in the group-theatre movement in West Bengal. Under his direction, Bohurupee staged landmark productions such as Rakta Karabi, Bisarjan, Raja, Char Adhyay, and his play Chandbaniker Pala. The group also adapted world-famous plays, including Henrik Ibsen’s Putul Khela (Doll’s House) and Dashachakra (An Enemy of the People), as well as Sophocles’ Raja Oidipaus (Oedipus Rex).
• 🎭 Iconic Roles in Theatre
• Throughout his theatre career, Sombhu Mitra portrayed several memorable characters. He played Rahimuddin in Chenda Tar, Atin in Char Adhyay, Binod in Ulukhagra, Tapan in Putul Khela, Dr. Purnendu Guha in Dashachakra, and Oidipaus in Raja Oidipaus. He also performed in the title role of The Life of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht, directed by Fritz Bennewitz.
• 🎬 Film Career
• Sombhu Mitra acted in several Bengali and Hindi films. His notable works include Dharti Ke Lal (1946, Hindi), Abhiyatri (1947, Bengali), Dhatri Debata (1948, Bengali), Bou Thakuranir Haat (1953, Bengali), and Jagte Raho (1956, Hindi), for which he also co-directed and wrote the screenplay. He directed the Bengali film Shubha Bibaha in 1959 and continued to contribute to Bengali cinema through the 1960s and early 1970s.
• ✍️ Major Works as Playwright
• Apart from acting and directing, Sombhu Mitra was a prolific playwright. Some of his major works include Chandbaniker Pala, Rakta Karabi, Abhinay Natak Mancha (1957), and Sanmarga-Saparya. These plays reinforced his reputation as a creative force in Bengali theatre and literature.
• 🎬 Filmography and Directorial Works
• Sombhu Mitra performed in several Bengali and Hindi films throughout his career. His notable movies include Dharti Ke Lal (1946, Hindi), Abhiyatri (1947, Bengali), Dhatri Debata (1948, Bengali), Abarta (1949, Bengali), ’42 (1949, Bengali), Hindustan Hamara (1950, Hindi), Pathik (1953, Bengali), Bou Thakuranir Haat (1953, Bengali), Maharaj Nandakumar (1953, Bengali), Maraner Pare (1954, Bengali), Shivashakti (1954, Bengali), Durlabh Janma (1955, Bengali), Manik (1961, Bengali), Suryasnan (1962, Bengali), Panna (1967, Bengali), Natun Pata (1969, Bengali), and Nishachar (1971, Bengali). He also wrote the story and screenplay of Jagte Raho (1956, Hindi) and co-directed it with Amit Maitra, and directed the Bengali film Shubha Bibaha in 1959.
• 🕊️ Legacy
• Sombhu Mitra is remembered as a pioneer of modern Bengali theatre. Through his innovative direction, compelling performances, and original playwriting, he transformed Indian theatre and inspired generations of actors, directors, and playwrights. His work continues to be celebrated for its artistic excellence, social relevance, and enduring influence on the performing arts in India.

Achievements and Milestones

• Here's a list of awards received by Sombhu Mitra:
• 🏆 Awards and Recognition
• Padma Bhushan, 1970
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, 1966
• Ramon Magsaysay Award, 1976
• Crystal Globe for Jagte Raho, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, 1957
• Desikottama, Visva Bharati University, 1989
• Kalidas Samman, Madhya Pradesh Government, 1982–83
• National Film Award – Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Bengali (Ek Din Ratre), 1956
• Honorary D. Litt., Rabindra Bharati University
• Honorary D. Litt., Jadavpur University
• Grand-Prix, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival