Anjan Dutt

Anjan Dutt (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, Dutta 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.

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.

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 Ut

Awards

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

For chalchitra akhon.
 * Alitalia Award [Winner] (1981)
 * Best Actor Tied with Rodolfo Bigotti for Bosco d'amore (1981)


 * Bong Connection was screened at Museum of Modern Art, 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.


 * 2024 -Best Actor Award Winner at 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival 2024 for Chalchitra akhon.