Bengali film director Anik Dutta passed away on Wednesday at a private hospital in South Kolkata
Dutta had reportedly been admitted to a hospital in Dhakuria in critical condition after falling from the terrace at his ex-wife’s residence near Gariahat.
The filmmaker was the grandson of Narendra Chandra Dutta, the founder of United Bank of India.
Dutta made his directorial debut in 2012 with the critically acclaimed Bengali film Bhooter Bhabishyat, which went on to become one of his most recognised works.
Over the years, he directed several notable films including Borunbabur Bondhu (2020) and Aparajito (2022). His final directorial venture was Joto Kando Kolkatatei (2025), starring Abir Chatterjee, Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed and Dulal Lahiri in prominent roles.
Known for his admiration of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, Dutta’s films often reflected influences of Ray’s storytelling and cinematic style. Several of his works also contained references and tributes to Ray’s cinema.
A left-leaning filmmaker, Dutta was also known for his criticism of former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. In 2019, his film Bhobishyoter Bhoot faced screening disruptions in theatres across West Bengal.
Dutta’s body of work earned him recognition within Bengali cinema for combining satire, social commentary and nostalgia-driven storytelling.
