Remembering Legendary actress Chhaya Devi 1914-2001

Source:Wikipedia
Chhaya Devi  (1914–2001) was an Indian actress known for his work in Bengali and Hindi cinema. She appeared in hundreds of films for over five decades.

Her first lead role was in Debaki Bose's Bengali film Sonar Sansar (1936). She rose to hall of fame for her role as Rani Lakshmi in Debaki Bose's Vidyapati (1937). Some of her notable films are such as Nirjan Saikate (1963), Hatey Bazarey (1967) and Apanjan (1968) by Tapan Sinha, Saptapadi (1961), Uttar Falguni (1963), Antony Firingee (1967), in Bengali, Alaap (1977) in Hindi, which also starred Amitabh Bachchan.

Early life
Chhaya Devi was born in Bhagalpur. Her father was Haradhan Gangopadhay. She started her education in the Mokshda Girls High School in Adampur, Bhagalpur. Later her father was transferred to Delhi and she continued her education in the Indraprastha Girls School. She was married to Buddhadeb Chattopadhay, a teacher at Ranchi, at the age of eleven. Her marriage did not last long and she came to Kolkata with her father when she was a student of tenth standard only. She was first cousin of actor Ashok Kumar's wife Shobha Ganguly, thus related to the Ganguly family also. However, though very little is known about her early life, her life is believed to be full of struggle. After she reached Kolkata she chose her career as an actress in films and stage, which she pursued for the next five decades.

Career
Though Chhaya Devi debuted in Bengali movie Sonar Sansar in 1936, she acquired fame for the outstanding acting in the role of Queen Lakshmi in the movie Bidyapati in 1938. From lead female roles in her early days to character roles in her later years, Chhaya Devi had shown her creative ability in acting. In Atal Jaler Ahwan (1962), she stole the heart of the viewers with her soft and loving acting as mother of Soumitra Chatterjee. In Deya Neya (1963) she acted as the helpless mother of the aspirant singer Prashanta (Uttam Kumar). In the movie Saat Pake Badha (1963) she was the heartless, rude and indifferent mother of Suchitra Sen opposing the affair of her daughter with Soumitra. Chhaya Devi played the role of the mother of Uttam Kumar in many films. In Anthony Firingee (1967), Chhaya Devi was mother of Hensman Antony (Uttam Kumar). Apanjan, an outstanding film directed by Tapan Sinha in 1967, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali, as well as several BFJA Awards, was considered having one of the best of the performances of Chhaya Devi. In Podi Pisir Bormi Bakso (1972), a children's movie made from a story written by Leela Majumdar and directed by Arundhati Devi, Chhaya Devi played an unforgettable lead comic role of Podi Pisi, the widowed elderly aunt.

Filmography
1930s
1936 Sonar Sansar - Roma

1936 Rajani - Maid Servant

1937 Bidyapati - Queen Laxmi

1937 Ranga Bou - Kalyani

1938 Bekar Nashan - Kamal

1938 Hal Bangla - Sefali

1939 Bamanabatar - Sachi

1939 Jakher Dhan

1939 Debjani - Debjani

1939 Janak Nandini - Chandika

1939 Rikta - Karuna

1940s
1940 Abhinetri

1940 Haar Jeet

1941 Sree Radha

1942 Jiban Sangini - Atar

1942 Avayer Biye

1942 Chauranghee

1945 Bondita

1947 Burmar Pathey

1947 Jharer Par

1948 Dhatri Debata

1948 Anirban

1949 Abhijatya

1949 Kuasha

1950s
1950 Sree Tulsidas

1951 Ratnadeep

1956 Raat Bhore

1956 Shankar Narayan Bank

1956 Daner Maryada - Malati

1956 King, Queen, Knave - Bara bou

1956 Subhalagna

1956 Trijama

1957 Mayabazar

1958 Marmabani

1959 Gali Theke Rajpath

1960s
1960 Kumkuma Rekha

1961 Seetharama Kalyanam

1961 Pankatilak

1961 Manik (1961)

1961 Agni Sanskar

1962 Daksha Yagnam

1962 Kancher Swarga

1962 Abasheshe

1962 Atal Jaler Ahwan - Anuradha Debi

1962 Rakta Palash

1963 Paruvu Prathishta

1963 Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu

1963 Kanchan Kanya

1963 Deya Neya

1961 Saptapadi - Rina's Mother (Aayah)

1963 Nirjan Saikate

1963 Saat Pake Bandha - Archana's Mother

1963 Uttar Falguni - Baijee

1965 Mukhujey Paribar

1965 Antaral

1965 Arohi

1965 Kanch Kata Hirey

1965 Surya Tapa

1965 Thana Theke Aschi

1965 Tu Hi Meri Zindagi

1966 Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha

1966 Navarathri

1966 Galpa Holeo Satyi - Bara Bou

1966 Mamta - Minabai

1967 Shri Krishnavataram

1967 Mahashweta

1967 Antony Firingee - Antony's Mother

1967 Hatey Bazarey - Nani

1968 Teen Adhaya

1968 Apanjan - Anandamoyee

1968 Baghini

1969 Nindu Hrudayalu

1969 Arogya Niketan - Atar Bou

1969 Kamallata

1969 Pita Putra

1969 The Fiancee - Bhubaneswari

1969 Protidan

1970s
1970 Kalankita Nayak

1970 Rajkumari

1970 Muktisnan

1970 Samantaral

1971 Kuheli - Manodadi

1972 Har Mana Har

1972 Sesh Parba

1972 Padi Pishir Barmi Baksha - Aunt Padipishi

1972 Zindagi Zindagi

1974 Debi Chowdhurani - Brajeswar's mother

1974 Alor Thikana

1975 Swayamsiddha

1975 Harano Prapti Niruddesh

1975 Phool Sajya

1976 Jyothi

1976 Harmonium

1976 Sei Chokh

1977 Kalpana

1977 Proxy

1977 Pratima

1977 Ae Prithibi Pantha Niwas

1977 Baba Taraknath

1977 Ek Je Chhilo Desh

1977 Babu Moshai

1977 Alaap - Sarju Bai Banaraswali

1978 Dhanraj Tamang

1978 Nadi Theke Sagare

1979 Arun barun O Kironmala

1980s
1981 Kalankini

1981 Subarnalata

1981 Manikchand

1981 Surya Sakhi

1982 Rajbabhu

1982 Pipasa

1983 Shinkhal

1983 Rang Birangi - Mrs. Bannerjee

1983 Prayashchitta

1984 Rashifal

1984 Lal Golap

1984 Simantarag

1987 Swarnamoir Thikana

1987 Pratikar

1988 Boba Sanai