Pather Panchali cinematographer Soumendu Roy dies at 90 due to prolonged illness

Acclaimed cinematographer Soumendu Roy, who had worked with legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray and other renowned directors, died on Wednesday after a prolonged illness, his family members said. He was 90.

Roy, who lived alone at his Ballygunje Circular Road apartment here, was crippled by arthritis and other geriatric problems for the last couple of years, but was alert mentally, they said.

He had worked with Ray in several films, including Pather Panchali', Tin Kanya', Abhijan', Chiriakhana', Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne', Sonar Kella' and Shatranj Ke Khilari. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a statement that Roy's death caused a void in the film industry, which will never be bridged.

Recalling the cinematographer's association with Ray, she pointed out how the two worked together in several masterpieces.

"Besides receiving honours like the national award, Roy had bagged many other laurels. He got the Special Film Award (Bisesh Chalachitro Puraskar') instituted by the West Bengal government in 2012, and the 2015 'Chalachitra Puraskar' for lifetime achievement," Banerjee said on X.

Roy was also associated with other eminent directors like Tapan Sinha, Buddhadeb Dasgupta and Mrinal Sen, as well as with various film institutes.

A family member of Ray told PTI, "We have so many memories of lengthy conversations with Soumendu Da. He became ill in recent times. It is a great personal loss."