Supriya Choudhury, Bengali film actor

Supriya Devi is a Bengali actor who was born on 8th January, 1935 in Michkina, Myanmar. Her father, Gopal Chandra Banerjee, was a famous lawyer. Supriya’s real name was Krishna and her nickname is Benu. Her career has spanned over 5 decades.

When she was seven years old, her father gave him roles in two plays that he had directed. As a child, she was a keen dancer, and even received an award from the then Prime Minister, Thakin Nu, who was impressed by her dance recitals.

Like many Indian families that had settled in Burma, during World War II Supriya’s family also trekked from Burma to Calcutta. They became refugees from Burma from when the Japanese had occupied the country in 1942. She resumed dance lessons in Calcutta under different trainers like Guru Muruthappan Pillai, and later Guru Prahlad Das. One of their neighbors, Chandrabati Devi, who was a popular actor, was her inspiration to step into acting.

Supriya Devi married Bishwanath Choudhury in 1954, and the couple had a daughter, Soma, several years later. She took a break from film but returned in the late 1950’s with a bang.

Some of the films that Supriya Devi has starred in include: The Namesake (2006), Ekti Nadir Naam (2002), Shesh Thikana (2000), Honeymoon (1992), Kalankini Kankabati (1981). Other earlier films include: Debdas (1979), Dui Purush (1978), Sandhya Raag (1977), Sanyasi Raja (1975, Jadi Jantem (1974), Bon Palashir Padabali (1973) among others. Meghe Dhaka Tara by Ritwik Ghatak (1960) was one of her masterpiece films.