Doyenne of Hindi theatre in Bengal Usha Ganguly dies of heart attack

Eminent atre personality Usha Ganguly, kwn for her n-conformist productions like Mahabhoj, Rudali, Court Martial and Antaryatra, died following a heart attack on Thursday at her south Kolkata residence, her family said.

Ganguly, 75, a Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee who helped establish rich tradition of Hindi atre in Bengal, was found motionless in her flat in Lake Gardens area of city by her housemaid around 7 am.

A doctor was called in who declared that she died of a massive cardiac arrest a few minutes earlier.

Ganguly has a son but lived alone in her flat. Her husband Kamalendu died some years back.

Ganguly, who founded Rangakarmee group in 1976, is credited with introducing a new form of alternative Hindi atre in Bengal.

"atre is my only life and passion and Rangkarmee is my family," she used to say of her bond with atre, a friend recalled.

Rangakarmee gave a separate idiom, a new langu to atre in Bengal and created a new audience, which had till n been familiar with only Bengali group atre and English atre in late 1970s and 80s.

Alongside spian late Shyamanand Jalan, founder of Padatik, one of India's premier institutions in field of performing arts, Ganguly ushered in rich, glorious tradition of Hindi atre in Kolkata having both Bengali and n-Bengali speaking audiences.

Her Bengali productions include Mukti and Manasi. She also worked with filmmaker Ritupar Ghosh during scripting for Raincoat.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled her death.

Recalling Ganguly's contribution to atre, she said state government had conferred on her 'Girish Samman' in 2016.

"My deep condolences to her family and friends and followers," chief minister said in a statement in Bengali.

She was awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for direction in 1998 and also houred by West Bengal government with 'Best Actress' award for play 'Gudia Ghar'.

Born in Jodhpur into a family hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Ganguly had shown her prowess in performing arts at a young when she started learning Bharatanatyam.

She later moved to Kolkata and studied Hindi literature.

Director Aparna Sen, atre personality Sohag Sen, director Sudeshna Roy and many or artistes from atre

and film fraternity expressed shock over her death.

"I can't believe she is more," Aparna Sen said.

Her last rites were performed in presence of her family and members of Rangakarmee at Keoratala crematorium.

Im credit: Facebook/@ganguliusha