Anjan Dutt

For the Indian politician, see Anjan Dutta (politician).

Anjan Dutt
Dutt performing in 2006
Background information
Born	(1953-01-19) 19 January 1953
Genres	Pop urban folk
Occupations	Singer-songwriter actor film director theatre personality
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1981–present
Labels	RPG, Sagarika Musics Pvt Ltd.
Children	Neel Dutt

Anjan Dutta (Bengali: অঞ্জন দত্ত) is an Indian film director, actor, and singer-songwriter known for his work in the Bengali alternative music genre anyodharar gaan (অন্যধারার গান). As an actor, Dutta began his career in Bengali cinema in the Mrinal Sen film Chalachitro, 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.

Early years

Anjan Dutta was raised in the mountains of North Bengal. He had his schooling from St. Paul's School in Darjeeling.

In the late seventies, he joined a group called Open Theatre and in the early eighties 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.

Dutta 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, Dutta was greatly influenced by the music of Bob Dylan, Kabir Suman 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.

Personal life

Anjan Dutt is married to Chanda Dutt. They have a son together- Neel Dutt, who is a music director in the Indian industry.

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 Uthhup)
• "Chalo Let's Go.." (4:43)
• "Ei Poth Jodi Na Sesh Hoy" (4:30) (with Srikanto Acharya & others)
• "Jedike Rasta" (3:45)
• "Tumi Nei Tai" (4:07)
• "Kato ki Korar Chhilo" (4:32)
• "Jagorone Jay Bibhabori" (2:54) (with Somlata Acharyya Chowdhury & Kabir Suman)
• "Ami Chini Go Chini Tomare"

Filmography

Year	Film	Credits		Comment
		Director	Actor
1981	Chaalchitra		Yes
1982	Kharij		Yes
1982	Grihajuddha		Yes
1988	The Bengali Night		Yes
1989	Ek Din Achanak		Yes
1991	City of Hope		Yes
1992	Mahaprithibi		Yes
1992	City of Joy		Yes
1993	Sunya Theke Suru		Yes
1993	Shilpi		Yes
1993	Antareen		Yes
1995	Yugant		Yes
1998	Badadin	Yes		Hindi directorial debut
2001	Dekha		Yes
2002	Mr. and Mrs. Iyer		Yes
2004	Bow Barracks Forever	Yes		Bengali directorial debut
2006	The Bong Connection	Yes
2008	Chalo Let's Go	Yes
2009	Madly Bangalee	Yes	Yes
2009	Chowrasta: Crossroads of Love	Yes
2010	Byomkesh Bakshi	Yes
2010	Mahanagar @ Kolkata		Yes
2011	Ranjana Ami Ar Asbona	Yes	Yes	Abani
2011	Urochithi		Yes
2011	Jani Dekha Hobe		Yes
2012	Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish		Yes
2012	Abar Byomkesh	Yes
2012	Dutta Vs Dutta	Yes	Yes	Biren Dutt
2013	BBD	Yes		Unreleased
2013	Ganesh Talkies	Yes
2014	Sesh Bole Kichhu Nei	Yes	Yes
2014	Byomkesh Phire Elo	Yes
2015	Nirbaak		Yes
2015	Byomkesh Bakshi	Yes
2015	Monbaksho	Yes	Yes	Yet to release
2015	Saheb Bibi Golaam		Yes	Jimmy Luke
2016	Hemanta	Yes
2016	Byomkesh O Chiriyakhana	Yes	Yes	Kokonad Gupta (cameo)
2016	The Bongs Again	Yes
2017	Byomkesh O Agniban	Yes	Yes	Kokonad Gupta
2018	Ami Ashbo Phirey	Yes	Yes
2018	Uma		Yes	Brahmanamda Chakraborty
2018	Ahare Mon		Yes
2018	Byomkesh Gotro		Yes
2018	Ek Je Chhilo Raja		Yes
2019	Shah Jahan Regency		Yes
2019	Finally Bhalobasha	Yes	Yes
2019	Shankar Mudi		Yes
2019	Satyanweshi Byomkesh		Yes	Screenplay
2019	Ghawre Bairey Aaj		Yes
2019	If Not for You	Yes		Himself
2020	Saheber Cutlet	Yes	Yes
2021	Murder In The Hills	Yes	Yes	Web Series
2021	Rabindranath Ekhane Kokhono Khete Asenni		Yes	Web Series
2021	Bony		Yes
2021	Danny Detective Inc.	Yes	Yes	Web Series
2022	Murder by the Sea	Yes	Yes	Web Series
2022	Haami 2		Yes
2023	Revolver Rohoshyo	Yes	Yes
2023	Seven	Yes	Yes	Web Series
2023	Palan		Yes	Sequel to Kharij

Awards

• 1981 – Best Actor award for film Chaalchitra at Venice Film Festival
• 1981 – Venice Film Festival for Chaalchitra.

• Alitalia Award [Winner] (1981)
• Best Actor Tied with Rodolfo Bigotti for Bosco d'amore (1981)

For chalchitra akhon.

• Bong Connection was screened at MOMA, New York, in 2005.

• 2012 – National Film Award – Special Jury Award for Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona

• 2019 – Best lyrics for Finally Bhalobasha at WBFJA for Nominated.

• 2023 - Special jurry Mention award winner at Kolkata International Film Festival for Chalchitra Akhon.

See also

• Neel Dutt

External links

• Anjan Dutt at IMDb