Anjan Dutt (Bengali pronunciation: [ɔnd͡ʒɔn d̪ɔt̪ːo]; born 19 January 1953) is an Indian film director, actor, and singer-songwriter known for his work in the Bengali alternative music genre anyodharar gaan. As an actor, Dutt began his career in Bengali cinema in the Mrinal Sen film Chaalchitra, for which he won the best newcomer actor award at the Venice Film Festival. He acted in Aparna Sen's hit film, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer. In 2018 he featured in Swapnasandhani's new play Taraye Taraye, as Vincent van Gogh, under the direction of Kaushik Sen.
He is also a national award-winning filmmaker and is one of the most prominent directors of Bengali cinema, directing Dutta Vs Dutta, Madly Bangalee, The Bong Connection, Chalo Let's Go, and Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona. In recent years, he has directed a Byomkesh film series.He is mainly famous for his bengali adventure movies
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Early years
Anjan Dutt was raised in the mountains of North Bengal. He had his schooling from St. Paul's School in Darjeeling. He completed his graduation of BA English literature from Calcutta University
In the late teens, he joined a group called Open Theatre and in the early twenties performed plays translated from the works of renowned foreign playwrights like Sartre, Peter Weiss, Jean Genet and Bertold Brecht. The group clearly drew inspiration from Nandikar, a highly active and already famous theatre group at the time. Due to politically sensitive content, they faced many obstructions in producing and performing their work, and eventually, the group discontinued its repertoire.
Dutt was first selected for the feature film Chalachitro, directed by renowned filmmaker Mrinal Sen. The film and his performance were critically acclaimed at the Venice Film Festival, but for unknown reasons, was never released commercially. Dutt said that he was more interested in doing art cinema than commercial mainstream cinema. After doing a few art films that were not so commercially successful, including the critically well-received Juganto, scarcity of job opportunities forced him to take up jobs in advertising and later as a journalist for the Kolkata-based daily, The Statesman.
Singing career
At that time, Dutt was greatly influenced by the music of Bob Dylan, Kabir Suman, Leonard Cohen who had heralded a new era in Bengali music through his songs. These songs and lyrics, commonly referred to as Jeebonmukhi (জীবনমুখী ) (literally meaning "towards life"), were concerned with the tough reality of Bengali middle-class social life, in and around Kolkata.
Discography
Albums
Shunte Ki Chao (1994)
Purono Guitar (1995)
Bhalobashi Tomay (1996)
Keu Gaan Gaye (1997)
Ma (1998)
Chalo Bodlai (1998)
Priyo Bandhu (1998)
Hello Bangladesh (1999)
Kolkata–16 (1999)
Bandra Blues (2000)
Asamoy (2000)
Rawng Pencil (2001)
Onek Din Por (2004)
Ichchhe Korei Eksathe (2005)
Abar Pothe Dekha (2007)
Ami ar Godot (2007)
Unoshaat (2014)
Singles (1996–2011)
"Khawar Gaan" (3:02) (with Nachiketa Chakraborty & Suman Chattopadhyay)
"Hotuk Shob Oshundor" (1:58) (with Shalini Chatterjee, Shayari Das, Tanushree Haldar & Sreetoma Ghosh)
"Feludar Gaan" (3:04) (with Nachiketa Chakraborty & Suman Chattopadhyay)
"Freedom" (5:37) (with Indrani Sen, Indranil Sen & others)
"Sadhinota" (4:50) (with Indrani Sen, Indranil Sen & others)
"Ekushe Pa" (3:57)
"Bow Barracks Forever!" (4:38)
"Tumi Na Thakle" (4:25) (with Usha Uthup)
Biography
Anjan Jatra (অঞ্জনযাত্রা) is a biographical non-fiction book written by Sajjad Hussain. The book was published by Chhapakhanar Bhut, a renknowned publishing house in Bangladesh, in 2018. The book reflects Dutt's life, theatrical beginnings, cinematic journey, and musical evolution.
Awards
Chaalchitra
1981 - Alitalia Award for Best Actor award for film Chaalchitra at Venice Film Festival tied with Rodolfo Bigotti for Bosco d'amore.
Bong Connection
Bong Connection was screened at Museum of Modern Art, New York, in 2005.
Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona
2012 - National Film Award – Special Jury Award for Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona
2012 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali for Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona
Finally Bhalobasha
2019 - Best lyrics for Finally Bhalobasha at WBFJA for Nominated.
Chaalchitra Ekhon
2023 - Special jurry Mention award winner at Kolkata International Film Festival for Chaalchitra Ekhon.
2024 - Best Actor Award Winner at 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival 2024 for Chaalchitra Ekhon.
2024 - Second Best Script winner at Imagine India International Film Festival 2024 for Chaalchitra Ekhon.
2024 - Official Selection at Hyderabad Bengali Film Festivalfor Chaalchitra Ekhon.
2025 - Best Film Winner( Critics' Choice) at Anandalok Puraskar
2025 - Best film, Best Actors, Best Director at Imagineindia Film Festival, Madrid, Spain
2025 - Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025 – Best Film (Critics') for Chaalchitra Ekhon (Shared with Abhinandan Banerjee for Manikbabur Megh)
2025 - Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025 – Best Actor (Critics') for Chaalchitra Ekhon (Shared with Chandan Sen for Manikbabur Megh)
National Film Awards for Best Bengali language movie, 2026
Announcement of final stage act and retirement from theatre
In September 2024, Anjan Dutt announced his retirement from the stage. In a public announcement, the actor revealed the poster of his soon-to-be-performed play Aro Ekta Lear.
