Staff Reporter –

The Rotary Club of Calcutta East Central proudly commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of legendary Bengali actor Santosh Dutta with the unveiling of his statue on 2nd December 2025, honouring one of Bengal’s most unforgettable cinematic personalities in the august presence of filmmaker Sandip Ray, Rotary District 3291 GovernorDr Ramendu Homchaudhuri and other eminent personalities.

The ceremony pays tribute to Santosh Dutta (1925–1988) — a former lawyer who rose to fame as one of Bengali cinema’s most celebrated character actors. His impeccable comic timing, expressive brilliance, and distinctive screen presence cemented his place among the greats. Even without the tag of a typical hero, he achieved what very few could — immortality through his characters.

A Tribute to an Irreplaceable Genius

Santosh Dutta became a household name with his portrayal of Lalmohan Ganguly — “Jatayu” in Satyajit Ray’s Feluda films — Sonar Kella and Joi Baba Felunath. His performance was so definitive that Ray never cast anyone else in the role after Dutta’s demise. He also brought alive another literary icon, Tenida, in Charmurti, and showcased versatility in films like Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne and Hirak Rajar Deshe.

Satyajit Ray had once remarked that some roles could never be reprised — Santosh Dutta’s Jatayu was one such role, making him truly irreplaceable.