DHAKA: Legendary actor Prabir Mitra passed away at 10:15 pm today at a Dhaka’s Square Hospital. The news has been confirmed to The Daily Star by his son, Sifat Islam. Battling oxygen deficiency and other ailments, Mitra was admitted to a private hospital on December 22. His health had continued to decline over the past two weeks, prompting his family to seek urgent government intervention for advanced medical treatment.
The 80-year-old actor, whose career spans more than 400 films, had been suffering from multiple health issues.
Mitra’s family had been tirelessly trying to reach out for help, but the situation had been compounded by the inaccessibility of key members of the Film Artistes’ Association. Sifat had noted yesterday, “Today, Anjana Aunty passed away. Many people attended her Janaza at the FDC (Bangladesh Film Development Corporation), and through several individuals, we tried to contact the association. Unfortunately, many of the people who had close ties with my father are either abroad or not reachable within the country.”
Prabir Mitra’s illustrious career remains an integral part of Bangladesh’s cultural history. Born on August 18, 1943, in Chandina, Cumilla, Mitra spent his formative years in Old Dhaka, where his passion for acting began to flourish. His early love for the stage was sparked during his school days, performing in Rabindranath Tagore’s iconic play “Dakghar”.
Mitra made his silver screen debut in 1969 with “Jolchhobi”, directed by H Akbar. However, the film was not released until January 1, 1971. Despite initially playing lead roles, Mitra found lasting success as a character actor, captivating audiences with his depth, versatility, and innate ability to breathe life into complex roles. His performances in films such as “Titash Ekti Nadir Naam”, “Jibon Trishna”, “Fariyad”, “Rokto Shopoth”, “Charitrohin”, “Angaar”, and “Fakir Majnu Shah” are considered cinematic landmarks.
Prabir Mitra’s contributions to the film industry are undeniable, and the family hopes for a dignified response from both the state and the industry that once celebrated his immense talent.