Ruma Guha Thakurta is a renowned Bengali actress, singer and dancer. She is known for her work in Bengali, Hindi and English films. This astonishing persona has immense contribution in the entertainment industry of India. Her singing talent is noteworthy and her organization, Calcutta Youth Choir, has given numerous soulful renditions to the country. She has also delivered admirable performances in Indian movies. Ruma Guha Thakurta has also been honoured with several prestigious awards.
Early Life of Ruma Guha Thakurta
Ruma Guha Thakurta was born in Kolkata on November 1934 to father Satyen Ghosh and mother Sati Devi, a talented singer in a Brahmo family. Her real name is "Kamalika". It was Rabindranath Tagore who named her "Ruma". She was educated first in Loretto and then in Gokhale School and thereafter Sacred Heart School, Lahore and St. Mary Government. During her formative years, Ruma Guha Thakurta was a part of Uday Shankar Cultural Centre in Almora as a child artist.
Career of Ruma Guha Thakurta as a Singer
In the year 1958, Ruma Guha Thakurta along with Salil Chowdhury and Satyajit Ray formed "Calcutta Youth Choir". She recorded some Rabindra Sangeet for the films "Lookochuri", "Jodi Jantem", "Bakso Badal" and "Monihara". She recorded a few Bengali modern songs for films such as "Polatak", "Lookochuri", "Ashite Asio Na", "Antony Firengee", "Baghini" and "Benarasi". She also recorded "Puroskare Sommane" as a tribute to Satyajit Ray after his death. Her Bengali version of the song “We Shall Overcomeâ€, recorded during the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence, became one of the best-selling Bengali records of all time.
The Calcutta Youth Choir usually sings songs to awaken the society. It has earned the adherence of the masses because of their rendering of folk song, mass song and folk dance. With the leadership of Ruma Guha Thakurta, the organization Calcutta Youth Choir has been ruling the world of music with the aspiring talents for the last 6 decades. Ruma Guha Thakurta"s Calcutta Youth Choir has been regarded as the first amongst the organizations that have established the choir culture in India.
Career of Ruma Guha Thakurata as an Actress
Apart from music, Ruma Guha Thakurta has also left an impression in the field of acting. In Bengali cinema, she has acted in more than 100 films. At the age of 13 years, as a child artist she joined Bollywood through Prithvi Theatre. Actress Devika Rani was so impressed by one of her dance performance. She gave her a small role in the film "Jowar Bhata" in the year 1944. Thereafter she acted in the lead role of Hindi film "Rajani". Her first Bengali film was "Samar" in the year 1950. Ritwik Ghatak wanted her to act in the lead role in his film "Megha Dhaka Tara", but she was busy in shooting of Rajen Tarafdar"s "Ganga" so she could not accept the offer. In 1962 she acted in Satyajit Ray"s "Abhijaan". Her major film were "Benarani" (1962), "Palatak" (1963), "Sadhu Judhisthirer Karcha" (1974), "Bhalobasha Bhalobasha" (1985), "Ganasatru" (1990) etc. The film "Ganashatru" was nominated for Oscar awards. She also performed in Mira Nair`s "The Namesake" in 2006. Ruma Guha Thakurta has also acted in mega TV serials like "Prabaho", "Ghum Nei", "Pritibimbo", etc.
Achievements of Ruma Guha Thakurta
Ruma Guha Thakurata has been conferred with many accolades. She received the Soviet Land Nehru Peace Award in the year 1982, the President"s Medal for her performance in "Nirjan Saikate" in 1963, Banga Ratna in 2009, and the Bharat Nirman Award from the Government of India. Ruma Guha Thakurta earned her Best Actress Award for the film "Nirjan Saikate" and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in "Palatak". She received a Bengal Film Journalists" Association Award in 1964.
Filmography of Ruma Guha Thakurta
The Filmography of Ruma Guha Thakurta is as follows:
Jwar Bhata (1944) (Hindi)
Mashaal (1950 ) (Hindi)
Afsar (1950) (Hindi)
Rag Rang (1952) (Hindi)
Ganga (1959) (Bengali)
Personal Assistant (1959) (Bengali)
Abhijan (1962) (Bengali)
Nirjan Saikate (1963) (Bengali)
Polatak (1963) (Bengali)
Prabhater Rang (1964) (Bengali)
Joradighir Chowdhury Paribar (1966) (Bengali)
Balika Badhu (1967) (Bengali)
Antony Firingee (1967) (Bengali)
Ashi te Asio Na (1967) (Bengali)
Panchashar (1968) (Bengali)
Baghini (1968) (Bengali)
Hangsa Mithun (1968) (Bengali)
Garh Nasimpur (1968) (Bengali)
Arogya Niketan (1969) (Bengali)
Jadi Jantem (1974) (Bengali)
Bairaag (1976) (Bengali)
Dadar Kirti (1980) (Bengali)
36 Chowringhee Lane (1981) (English)
Swami Stree (1981) (Bengali)
Troyee (1982) (Bengali)
Amrita Kumbher Sandhane (1982) (Bengali)
Samarpita (1983) (Bengali)
Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985) (Bengali)
Anurager Chhonya (1986) (Bengali)
Gayok (1987) (Bengali)
Amar Sangi (1987) (Bengali)
Agun (1988) (Bengali)
Asha O Bhalobasha (1989) (Bengali)
Aakrosh (1989) (Bengali)
Gonoshatru (1989) (Bengali)
Path O Prasad (1991) (Bengali)
Indrajit (1992) (Bengali)
Wheel Chair (1994) (Bengali)
Sangharsha (1995) (Bengali)
Himghar (1996) (Bengali)
The Namesake (2006) (English)
Personal Life of Ruma Guha Thakurta
In the year 1951, Ruma Guha Thakurta married the legendary singer Kishore Kumar. Amit Kumar, the famous singer is their son. Later she married Arup Guha Thakurta and had two children by him, Ayan and Sromana.
