Nirmal Kumar

Nirmal Kumar
Born (1928-12-14) 14 December 1928 (age 97)[1]
Bhowanipore, Kolkata, India
CitizenshipIndian
OccupationActor
Years active1949–2009
Known for
  • Shesher Kabita (1953)
  • Godhuli (1955)
  • Kalindi (1955)
  • Kshaniker Atithi (1959)
  • Kono Ekdin (1960)
  • Kamallata (1969)
Spouse
​
(m. 1968)​
[2]
Children2[3]
FatherIndushekhar Chakraborty[4]
AwardsBFJA Award

Nirmal Kumar (Bengali: নির্মল কুমার; born 14 December 1928, in Kolkata, India) is an Indian actor who is known for his work in Bengali cinema and theatre.[5][6] Often regarded as one of the greatest voice-over artists during 1960s and 1970s, Kumar lent his voice to numerous Bengali radio dramas.[7] Winner of a BFJA Award, he made his big screen debut as Amit Roy in Madhu Bose's Bengali drama film Shesher Kabita (1953) based on Rabindranath Tagore's novel of the same name.[5][8] He is also known for his roles in Bengali films such as Drishti (1955), Godhuli (1955), Kalindi (1955), Paresh (1955), Louhakapat (1958), Janmantar (1959), Kshaniker Atithi (1959), Kono Ekdin (1960) and Kamallata (1969).[1][9]

Nirmal Kumar collaborated with Ajoy Kar in Paresh (1955).[10] His collaboration with Tapan Sinha includes Upahar (1955), Louhakapat (1958), Kshaniker Atithi (1959), Apanjan (1968), Ekhoni (1971), Aandhar Periye (1973), Raja (1975), Sabuj Dwiper Raja (1979), Banchharamer Bagan (1980), Adalat o Ekti Meye (1982), Baidurya Rahasya (1985), Atanka (1986), Antardhan (1992) and Ajab Gayer Ajab Katha (1998).[11] He collaborated with Rituparno Ghosh in Dahan (1998). He featured opposite Sumitra Devi in Gobinda Ray's Thakur Haridas (1959) and Suchitra Sen in Harisadhan Dasgupta's Kamallata (1969).[12][13]

Career

Nirmal Kumar was an LDC at Calcutta High Court when he joined Gananatya on Sabitabrata Dutta's insistence.[7] Later, he became a part of Bohurupee, which offered him the golden opportunity to observe Sombhu Mitra's acting style and voice modulation. Rabi Basu in his Satrang stated that Kumar excelled in all his radio dramas as he learned a substantial part of voice modulation from Mitra.[7] He, alongside Sabitabrata Dutta and Santosh Dutta formed a theatre group named Anandam.[14]

In 1952, Sabitabrata Dutta[a] advised Kumar to audition for Amit Ray in Madhu Bose's directorial venture Shesher Kabita (1953), based on Tagore's Shesher Kabita (1929).[8] Kumar successfully auditioned for this role in Calcutta Movietone Studio. He was cast alongside Dipti Roy portraying the role of Labanya.[15] The screenplay of the film was written by Nripendra Krishna Chatteejee.[16] Though the film was a moderate success at the box office, it catapulted Kumar to stardom.[17][18]

Imagine my guts when I instantly said yes the moment he asked if I can play Amit Ray. “What’s there not to play Amit Ray? Of course, I can,” I said. Madhu Bose was stumped by my confidence and told Jhonu[b] that on every earlier occasion, anyone who was given this offer had said he needed time to think over the proposal. And here was someone who was ready instantly. He then asked if I was ready to read any book he gave me. He handed over an excerpt from Rabindra Rachanabali and asked me to read it aloud.

— Nirmal Kumar on how he secured his role as Amit Ray[8]

Following the success of Shesher Kabita, Kumar appeared in a string of Bengali films including Sushil Majumdar's Bhangagara (1954), Bikash Roy's Ardhangini (1955), Chitta Basu's Drishti (1955), Kartik Chattopadhyaay's Godhuli (1955), Naresh Mitra's Kalindi (1955), Ajoy Kar's Paresh (1955) and Tapan Sinha's Upahar (1955). He would continue to collaborate with Tapan Sinha in thirteen more films including Louhakapat (1958), Kshaniker Atithi (1959), Apanjan (1968), Ekhoni (1971), Aandhar Periye (1973), Raja (1975), Sabuj Dwiper Raja (1979), Banchharamer Bagan (1980), Adalat o Ekti Meye (1982), Baidurya Rahasya (1985), Atanka (1986), Antardhan (1992) and Ajab Gayer Ajab Katha (1998). He collaborated with Rituparno Ghosh in Dahan (1998).

Kumar collaborated with most of the iconic actresses of his time. He collaborated with Kaberi Bose in Chitta Basu's Drishti (1955). In Gobinda Ray's biographical drama Thakur Haridas (1959), He played Haridas Thakur alongside Sumitra Devi portraying the role of Lakshahira.[12] He starred as Gahar Gosai opposite Suchitra Sen playing the titular role in Harisadhan Dasgupta's Kamallata (1969).[19]

He also featured opposite Arundhati Devi in Godhuli (1955) and Janmantar (1959), Sabitri Chatterjee in Paresh (1955) and Upahar (1955), Supriya Devi in Kono Ekdin (1960), Bishkanya (1961), Abhisarika (1962), Dui Nari (1963) and Harano Prem (1966), Tanuja in Dolna (1965),[20] and Madhabi Mukherjee in Bindur Chhele (1973), Bon Palashir Padabali (1973) and Subarnalata (1981).[21]

Accolades

Year Title Category Work Result Ref.
1970 BFJA Award Best Supporting Actor Kamallata Won [13]

Filmography

Year Title Role Note Ref.
1953 Shesher Kabita Amit Ray [22]
1954 Bhangagara
1955 Ardhangini
Drishti Kalyan
Dujanay
Godhuli Chinmay
Kalindi [23]
Paresh Paresh
Upahar
1956 Bhaduri Mashai
Chalachal
Kirtigarh
Manraksha
Paradhin
Shubholagna
1958 Louhakapat Malay
Shikar
1959 Agni sambhaba
Bhranti
Janmantar Ashish [24]
Kshaniker Atithi
Thakur Haridas Haridas Thakur Shared screen with Sumitra Devi [12]
1960 Kono Ekdin
1961 Bishkanya
Madhya Rater Tara
Sandhyarag
1962 Abhisarika
Agun
1963 Chhayasurya
Dui Nari Nikhilesh
1964 Lal Pathar
1965 Dolna
1966 Harano Prem Tarun [25]
Mayabini Lane
1968 Apanjan
1969 Kamallata Gahar Goshai Shared screen with Suchitra Sen [19]
1970 Bilambito Loy
1971 Ekhoni
Kahi Aar Kahi Paar
Sansar
1972 Padi Pisir Barmi Baksa [26]
1973 Aandhar Periye
Banpalashir Padabali
Bilet Pherat
Bindur Chhele Madhab
Duranta Joy
Sonar Khancha
1975 Raja
1977 Chhotto Nayak
Nayan
Phulshajya
Ramer Sumati
1978 Nishkriti
1979 Sabuj Dwiper Raja
1980 Banchharamer Bagan
Darpachurna
Gopal Bhanrh
1981 Subarnalata
1982 Adalat o Ekti Meye
1983 Samapti
1984 Lakhon Ki Baat
1985 Antarale
Baidurya Rahasya
Til Theke Tal
1986 Amar bandhan
Atanka
Jiban Sathi
Kenaram Becharam
1987 Arpan
1988 Tumi Koto Sundar
Surer Sathi
1989 Aghatan Ajo Ghate
Aparanher Alo
Aakrosh
Angar
Asha-o-Bhalobasha
Balidan
Mone Mone
Mandanda
1990 Apan Amar Apan
Byabadhan
1991 Bourani
Prem Pujari
Rajnartaki
Sadharan Meye
1992 Antardhan
Anutap
Krodhi
Mani Kanchan
Nabarupa
1993 Kanyadan
Mayer Ashirbad
Prithibir Shesh Station[27]
Srimati
1994 Atikram
Bidrohini
Kalpurush
Raktanadir Dhara
1995 Pratidhwani
Rangin Basanta
1996 Biyer Phul
Lathi
Sinthir Sindoor[28]
Tarini Tarama
1997 Dabidar
Nirjan Dwip
Pratirodh
Jiban Sandhan
Sriman Bhootnath
1998 Ajab Gayer Ajab Katha
Atmaja
Dahan
Sagar Banya
1999 Khelaghar
Dadabhai
Dabidar
Shasti Holo
2000 Kalankini Badhu[29]
2001 Pratibad
2002 Bar-Kane
2003 Rakta Bandhan
2004 Annaye Atyachar [30]
Iti Srikanta
2006 Faltu
2008 Ek Nadir Galpo: Tale of a River
2009 Jekhane Ashroy Delayed release

Notes

  1. ^ Sabitabrata Dutta had also auditioned for Amit Ray, but he was considered unsuitable for the role.[8]
  2. ^ Sabitabrata Dutta

References

  1. ^ a b "সংক্রমণ নিয়ে হাসপাতালে নির্মলকুমার, কেমন আছেন মাধবী মুখোপাধ্যায়ের স্বামী? জানালেন মিমি". Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Had ideas, not funds: Madhabi Mukherjee". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  3. ^ "'If you say something, you must speak out the whole truth. Or else, don't say anything at all'". telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  4. ^ Rabi Basu 2000, p. 307.
  5. ^ a b "Madhabi Mukherjee, an actor of substance". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  6. ^ Banerjee, Swati Das (16 June 2025). "হাসপাতালে ভর্তি মাধবী মুখোপাধ্যায়ের স্বামী নির্মল কুমার, কেমন আছেন তিনি?". Hindustantimes Bangla (in Bengali). Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  7. ^ a b c Rabi Basu 2000, p. 303.
  8. ^ a b c d "Letter from a Grandpa to his Grandchildren". Bengal Film Archive. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Madhabi mukherjee husband: হাসপাতালে মাধবীর স্বামী অভিনেতা নির্মল কুমার, কী অবস্থা?". AajTak Bangla (in Bengali). Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  10. ^ "পরেশ (১৯৫৫)". banglacinema100.com. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  11. ^ "নির্মলকুমারকে তপন সিংহ জন্মশতবার্ষিকী স্মারক সম্মান জানাল ডবলুবিএফজেএ : মোহন গঙ্গোপাধ্যায়". Page Four. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  12. ^ a b c "ঠাকুর হরিদাস (১৯৫৯)". banglacinema100.com. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  13. ^ a b "হাসপাতালে মাধবীর স্বামী অভিনেতা নির্মল কুমার, কী অবস্থা?". AajTak Bangla (in Bengali). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  14. ^ "পেশায় উকিল, নেশায় অভিনেতা! জটায়ু ছাড়াও সন্তোষ দত্তের অভিনয়ে অমর অবলাকান্ত থেকে গোপাল ভাঁড়". TheWall (in Bengali). 2 December 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  15. ^ Bangla, Jago (9 July 2022). "হারানো দিনের স্মরণীয় নায়িকা দীপ্তিময় দীপ্তি". JagoBangla. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  16. ^ Rabi Basu 2000, p. 295.
  17. ^ Rabi Basu 2000, p. 298.
  18. ^ "Labanya, Amit & He". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Kamallata (1969)". Bengal Film Archive. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  20. ^ "দোলনা (১৯৬৫)". banglacinema100.com. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  21. ^ "সুবর্ণলতা (১৯৮১)". banglacinema100.com. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  22. ^ "শেষের কবিতা (১৯৫৩)". banglacinema100.com. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  23. ^ "কালিন্দী (১৯৫৫)". banglacinema100.com. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  24. ^ "জন্মান্তর (১৯৫৯)". banglacinema100.com. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  25. ^ "হারানো প্রেম (১৯৬৬)". banglacinema100.com. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  26. ^ "পদিপিসীর বর্মিবাক্স (১৯৭২)". banglacinema100.com. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  27. ^ "Biography of Nirmal Kumar". gomolo.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  28. ^ "টলিউডের যেসব অভিনেতা সহ-অভিনেত্রী বিয়ে করেছেন" (in Bengali). mtnews24.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  29. ^ "Top movies of Nirmal Kumar". gomolo.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  30. ^ "Subarnalata Bengali Movie". Amazon. Retrieved 27 July 2018.

Bibliography

  • Rabi Basu (29 April 2000). Satrang (in Bengali). Vol. 2. Deep Prakashan. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirmal_Kumar