Renowned filmmaker and music director Raja Mitra passed away on Friday at the age of 79 after a prolonged battle with cancer. The news of his demise was announced by his son, illustrator Roudra Mitra, on social media.

“A six-time National Award winner in cinema (including Swarna Kamal and Rajat Kamal), my father, Raja Mitra — known for his non-compromising attitude, determination, and unwavering candour — passed away today at 3am after a long battle with cancer,” Roudra wrote on Facebook.

Born on January 17, 1945, Raja Mitra was known for his exploration of cultural themes. He made his debut as a feature film director with Ekti Jiban, which earned him the National Award for Best Debut Film of a Director in 1987 at the 35th National Awards. The jury lauded his “courageous first attempt” in addressing the cultural significance of language and its impact on future generations, awarding him the prestigious Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus).

Mitra’s career began in 1978 with documentary and short filmmaking, during which he directed an impressive 32 documentaries on diverse topics. Some of his most notable works include Coal for the Masses, Calcutta Footpath Dweller, Scroll Painters of Birbhum, and Kalighat Paintings and Drawings.

In 1989, his documentary Painters of Birbhum was screened at Italy’s Popoli Festival. His short film Behula earned the Best Short Fiction Film award at the 1989 National Awards, and Jataner Jami fetched the Best Non-Feature Film prize at the 1997 National Awards.

Mitra was a recipient of the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) award. He earned a Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) for Best Music Direction for his work on Kalighat Paintings and Drawings at the 2002 National Awards.