Chhabi Biswas, the artiste who brought a touch of class to Bengali cinema — 60th death anniversary special

Bengali acting legend Chhabi Biswas (13 July 1900 – 11 June 1962) was one of the few artistes of his era who came from an aristocratic family.

An exceptional film and stage actor, the Sangeet Natak Akademi winner is referred to as the last of the aristocrats of Bengali cinema.

Known for his sensitive portrayal of Rehmat, an Afghan immigrant vendor who befriends a young Bengali girl in Tapan Sinha’s Kabuliwala (1957), and his towering presence as Biswambhar Roy, the last of the zamindars desperately clinging to the decaying feudal system in Bengal in Satyajit Ray’s Jalsaghar (1958), Biswas acted in close to 250 films in a career spanning 25 years. He also directed two films, Pratikar (1944) and Jat Jetha Ghar (1949).

But before he created his place in the hearts of the Bengali audience as Rehmat and shot to international fame with his portrayal of Biswambhar Roy, Biswas was revered for changing the image of the entertainment industry, which was not considered to be a space for people from a noble background.

Chhabi Biswas, the star character actor of Bengali cinema

On his 60^th death anniversary, we revisit an interview of Biswas which was published in Masik Basumati, a popular illustrated Bengali periodical, in 1954. From the artiste's replies to the interviewer, Sri Ramendrakrishna Goswami, we get a glimpse of a quintessential Bengali personality.

The interview contains the actor's early recollections, his thoughts on the cinema of the times and the qualities in a film actor and in a filmmaker that he regarded as necessary.

Early career and his favourite roles

Biswas’s fascination for acting stemmed from recitations and acting sessions, which were held regularly at his house in his childhood. He started performing from an early age and acted in a ‘Nimai Sanyas’ play with the Jatra troupe Bandhab Samaj. During his college days, he got introduced to pioneering stage actor and theatre founder Shishir Kumar Bhaduri, whose histrionic skills inspired him to a great extent. Biswas made his debut as a theatre actor in the play Samaj.

In 1936, Biswas made his debut as a film actor in Annapurnar Mandir (1936). “The film was made in Priyanath Ganguly’s Kali Films Studio. Priyanath Babu himself encouraged me to work in films. He was the inspiration behind my film career,” the actor had revealed.

Biswas then essayed diverse characters in the films Nartaki (1940), Pratisruti (1941), Jiban Sangini (1942), Bondita (1942), Ashok (1942) and Samadhan (1943). Speaking of the roles which satisfied him the most, he had said, “I did not feel content while performing typical hero roles and hence, I always had a craving for different character roles.

"I loved performing the elderly character of Swamiji in Debaki Bose’s Nartaki. I was quite overwhelmed with the experience. I loved playing Haran in the film Subhadra (1952) as well.”

Hobbies

Biswas was passionate about gardening and farming. He would wake up quite early and dedicate about two hours to his plants before setting out for the studio. Before he dedicated himself to acting, he was actively involved in sports, including football, cricket and hockey.

However, Biswas had a knack for needlework, which is unusual, to say the least. The piece quotes him as saying, “I did a lot of embroideries. In the riots during Partition, I lost everything, including my embroidery works as well. Now I sometimes feel like doing embroidery but due to time constraints, I can hardly engage my mind fully.”
 

Reading habits

Biswas was a voracious reader of daily, weekly and monthly magazines. In Biswas’s own words, “My wife regularly keeps Masik Basumati, which I love reading too. I read all the cinema-related magazines and newspapers. When it comes to books, I prefer reading biographies and mythological stories.”

The actor was an avid fan of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee and Rabindranath Tagore. However, he would generally avoid reading novels, except for the popular ones.

Personal style

The sophisticated actor had a preference for simple clothes and reportedly owned a vast collection of shoes. “I don’t mind tattered clothes, but they have to be clean. There was a time when I preferred western attire more. But Dhuti Punjabi has always been my favourite,” the artiste had told Masik Basumati.

The acting profession

Biswas believed a film actor should look presentable, healthy and have a good voice. “Of course, he or she needs to be a skilled actor. But above everything else, an actor should be consistent and persevering.

There was a time when young men and women from aristocratic families would not join films. Rather, those who faced rejection in every other field would opt to work in films. However, times are changing. Participation in films by members of respected and educated families doesn’t harm the social order. I feel that with more such participation, the entertainment industry will be enriched,” the actor had remarked.

Bengali cinema

Biswas was of the opinion that a good filmmaker should be knowledgeable about acting, sound recording, editing and camerawork. “It is important to have coherence and harmony in all departments of filmmaking,” he had said, “I believe Bengali cinema still lacks such complete filmmakers. Besides, a filmmaker should also know how to cast properly and should be in tune with the audience’s mindset. If filmmakers can attain these qualities, no one can stop Bengali cinema from reaching greater heights.”

Lastly, asked about his future plans, the actor replied, “Nobody can see the future. I would just like to say that I love the stage as much as films and my goal is to hone my skills as an actor in both the platforms.”