'Mouchak' actress Mithu Mukherjee passes away

Veteran Bengali actress Mithu Mukherjee, best known for her roles in “Mouchak” and “Marjina Abdulla,” died at a private hospital in Mumbai on Sunday night (September 20) after battling cancer for nearly a year. She was 71.

Mukherjee had been living in Mumbai for several years and receiving treatment there. She had largely stayed away from the public eye after leaving the film industry, despite having been one of the prominent faces of Bengali cinema in the 1970s and 1980s.

She made her screen debut with Chitta Bose’s “Shesh Parba” in 1972 and rose to prominence with Dinen Gupta’s “Marjina Abdulla” in 1973. She went on to appear in acclaimed Bengali films including “Nishikanya,” “Mouchak,” “Swayamsiddha,” “Pratima” and “Hotel Snow Fox.”

Her performance as Neepa in “Mouchak,” opposite Ranjit Mallick, became one of her most memorable roles and cemented her popularity with Bengali audiences. She also worked with leading actors of her era, including Uttam Kumar, Soumitra Chatterjee, Debraj Roy and Ranjit Mallick.

Mukherjee also worked in Hindi cinema, making her Bollywood debut with Dulal Guha’s “Khaan Dost” in 1976. She later appeared in films including Basu Chatterjee’s “Safed Jhoot,” “Dillagi” and “Do Ladke Dono Kadke.”

Her final screen appearance came in “Ashrita” in 1990, after which she retired from acting and maintained a private life. Despite a relatively short career, her performances in films such as “Marjina Abdulla,” “Mouchak” and “Swayamsiddha” left a lasting mark on Bengali cinema.