One of the most celebrated actors of Bengali cinema, Robi Ghosh, was born on this day.
Though he is remembered mostly for the wonderful comic roles he played through a long acting career of more than four decades, Ghosh was an extremely versatile actor.
Film director Aurobindo Mukhopadhyay offered Ghosh his first cinema role after watching him in Utpal Dutt’s play Angar. But Ghosh made his mark in a few years with Tapan Sinha’s Golpo Holeo Satyi as a Mary Poppins-figure and then, most memorably, in Satyajit Ray’s Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne as Bagha, the drummer.
Ghosh’s comic timing, poker face and perfect delivery resulted in exquisite, unique comedy. He could induce belly laughs with a twitch of his mouth.
He featured in a number of Ray’s films. He made the bathing scene in Aranyer Din Ratri a classic. He was also impeccable in Ray’s Jana Aranya and Sinha’s Nirjan Saikate.
In one of his later films, Ray’s Agantuk, he featured with Utpal Dutt.
Ghosh used to work in Bankshall Court in Kolkata before becoming an actor.