Bengali Filmmaker Anik Dutta Dies After Fall from Terrace
A police team started an investigation at the site, though the family has not issued any statement.
Dutta, preliminary investigations suggest, later took the stairs and went to the roof. According to the CCTV footage checked by the police, he apparently jumped off between 1.05-1.10 pm. The filmmaker was found lying in a pool of blood on the ground. He was rushed to a private hospital in Dhakuria only to be declared dead.
A suicide note, addressed by Dutta to his daughter Oishi living in Sweden, was recovered by the police later from an envelope which was found in between the pages of a magazine, Choreographic Art, lying on the roof. It blamed no one for his fatal step. The body was sent for post-mortem at SSKM Hospital. Ms Dutta was not available for comments.
The police have initiated an unnatural death case. Dutta was the grandson of United Bank of India founder Narendra Chandra Dutta. Switching from the advertising world, he made his directorial debut in 2012 with a Bengali film Bhooter Bhabishyat which became an instant hit.
He later directed Borunbabur Bondhu (2020) and Aparajito (2022). In between, the left-leaning filmmaker, who was a sharp critic of former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, made Bhobishyoter Bhoot which was prevented from screening in 2019. His last directorial venture was Joto Kando Kolkatatei (2025).
The popular film personality’s unnatural death cast a spell of grief in Tollywood and beyond. Several actors and CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Salim and his party leaders rushed to the hospital. They expressed their shock and disbelief. Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari also mourned Dutta’s death.
“Saddened by the untimely demise of renowned filmmaker Shri Anik Dutta. His contributions towards Bengali Cinema is priceless. Heartfelt Condolences to his family & friends. I trust @KolkataPolice will investigate & unearth the mysterious circumstances shrouding his sudden death,” he posted on X-handle.
The CM directed his party MLA and actor, Rudranil Ghosh, to ensure the filmmaker’s last rites smoothly. Mr Ghosh, who visited the hospital, said, “Dutta’s daughter will arrive here on Thursday. She will look into the documents related to her father. The filmmaker's body will be taken to Nandan at around 4 pm for last respect before the funeral at Keoratala Crematorium.”
