{{Short description|Indian actress (1933–2018)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Supriya Devi | image = The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Ms. Supriya Devi, at an Investiture Ceremony-II, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 26, 2014.jpg | caption = Devi receiving Padma Shri Award from Pranab Mukherjee | native_name_lang = bn | birth_name = Krishna Banerjee | birth_date = {{birth date|1933|1|8|df=y}} | birth_place = Myitkyina, Burma, British India (now Myanmar) | death_date = {{dda|2018|1|26|1933|1|8|df=y}} | death_place = Ballygunge, Kolkata, India | other_names = Supriya Choudhury | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1952<br />1958–2018 | notable_works = ''Amrapali''<br />''Meghe Dhaka Tara''<br />''Shuno Baranari''<br />''Komal Gandhar''<br />''Swaralipi''<br />''Teen Adhyay''<br />''Sanyasi Raja''<br />''Sister'' | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Biswanath Chowdhury |1954|reason=divorced|1958}} * {{marriage|Uttam Kumar|1963|1980}} }} | relatives = Sean Banerjee (grandson) | awards = Padma Shri<br />Banga-Vibhushan<br />Filmfare Award<br />BFJA Awards }}
'''Supriya Devi''' ('''Supriya Choudhury'''; 8 January 1933 – 26 January 2018) was an Indian actress who is known for her work in Bengali cinema for more than 50 years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/people/supriya-choudhury-2272 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502235833/https://www.cinestaan.com/people/supriya-choudhury-2272 |url-status=live |archive-date=2 May 2019 |title=Supriya Choudhury movies, filmography, biography and songs - Cinestaan.com |website=Cinestaan |access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref> She is best known for her portrayal of Neeta in Ritwik Ghatak's Bengali film ''Meghe Dhaka Tara'' (1960).<ref name=ShomaChatterji>{{cite web |url=http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=5280 |title=50 years of Supriya Devi |access-date=3 December 2006 |last=Chatterji |first=Shoma |date=1 August 2003 |work=Screen Weekly |publisher=Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220553/http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=5280 |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/i-never-expected-too-much/article17615153.ece |title='I never expected too much' |last=Gupta |first=Ranjan Das |date=24 March 2017 |work=The Hindu |access-date=31 January 2018 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bengali-actor-supriya-choudhury-passes-away/article22528868.ece |title=Bengali actor Supriya Choudhury passes away |date=2 February 2018 |work=The Hindu |access-date=31 January 2018 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She was conferred the Filmfare Award and the BFJA Award twice. In 2011, she received the Banga-Vibhushan, the highest civilian honour in West Bengal.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/State-honours-nine-with-Banga-Vibhushan/articleshow/9364736.cms "State honours nine with Banga-Vibhushan"], timesofindia.indiatimes.com; accessed 2 February 2018.</ref> In 2014, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India, the fourth highest civilian award in India, for her contributions to the entertainment industry.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-vidya-balan-paresh-rawal-get-padma-shri-1957062 |title=Vidya Balan, Paresh Rawal get Padma Shri |work=Daily News and Analysis |access-date=2 February 2018 |date=25 January 2014}}</ref>
She made her debut alongside Uttam Kumar in ''Basu Paribar'' (1952), under the direction of Nirmal Dey, and successively appeared in ''Prarthana'' (1952) directed by Pranab Ray.<ref name="ShomaChatterji" /> However, IMDb lists 1951 Hindi film Shokhiyan as her first film. She, then took a hiatus and returned to filmdom in ''Marmabani'' (1958).<ref name="ShomaChatterji" /> She rose to prominence after she had appeared in the Uttam Kumar blockbuster ''Sonar Harin'' (1959).<ref name=":3" /> At the beginning of the 1960s, she came to wider notice for her successive roles in films such as ''Meghe Dhaka Tara'' (1960), ''Shuno Baranari'' (1960), ''Komal Gandhar'' (1961), ''Swaralipi'' (1961), ''Agnisanskar'' (1961) and others. She made her Bollywood debut opposite Dharmendra in ''Begaana'' (1963).<ref name="ShomaChatterji" />
==Early life== Supriya was born in Myitkyina, Burma.<ref name=alo>{{cite news |url=http://www.prothom-alo.com/entertainment/article/474436/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%80 |script-title=bn:আমি সেই মেয়ে : সুপ্রিয়া দেবী |newspaper=Prothom Alo |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=22 March 2015 |archive-date=9 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209080111/http://www.prothom-alo.com/entertainment/article/474436/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%80 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Her father was Gopal Chandra Banerjee, a lawyer from Faridpur (now in Bangladesh).<ref name=alo/> During World War II, her family moved to Calcutta (present-day Kolkata, India).<ref name=alo/><ref name=imdbbio>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0159350/bio |title=Biography for Supriya Choudhury |access-date=3 December 2006 |work=Supriya Choudhury |publisher=Internet Movie Database Inc.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/padma-shri-awardee-supriya-devi-passes-away-at-83/articleshow/62661707.cms?from=mdr |title=Padma Shri awardee Supriya Devi passes away at 83 |date=2018 |work=The Economic Times |access-date=2 February 2018 |archive-date=27 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127202332/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/padma-shri-awardee-supriya-devi-passes-away-at-83/articleshow/62661707.cms?from=mdr |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Supriya was seven years old when she made her acting debut in two plays directed by her father. She was a dancer since her childhood, even receiving an award from Thakin Nu, then-Prime Minister of Burma, who was moved by one of her dance recitals. From her childhood, her closest friend was Nihar Dutta, who married into the Guha Thakurata Family and as Nihar Guha Thakurata, was an eminent Burmese social worker of her time.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/supriya-devi-bengali-actor-no-more-photos-5040183/ |title=Supriya Devi is no more, but her feminist legacy lives on |date=26 January 2018 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=2 February 2018}}</ref>
In 1948, the Bannerjees left Burma for good and re-settled in Calcutta. They had been refugees in 1942 when the Japanese forces occupied Burma. The young Supriya and her family were forced to undertake an arduous trek on foot to the safety of Calcutta.<ref name="ShomaChatterji"/><ref name=":2"/>
==Career== In Calcutta, she resumed her dance lessons and trained under Guru Muruthappan Pillai and later under Guru Prahlad Das. Supriya and her family were on friendly terms with Chandrabati Devi who was their neighbour. It was through Chandrabati Devi's inspiration and contacts that Supriya Choudhury stepped into the world of Bengali films.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}
She made her debut in the Uttam Kumar starrer ''Basu Paribar'' (1952) under the direction of Nirmal Dey and successively appeared in ''Prarthana'' (1952) directed by Pranab Ray and ''Shyamali'' (1952) directed by Binoy Bandyopadhyay.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130830/jsp/saltlake/story_17287114.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909063120/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130830/jsp/saltlake/story_17287114.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 September 2013 |title=Memories and the man |work=The Telegraph |access-date=2 February 2018}}</ref> She, then took a hiatus and returned to filmdom in ''Marmabani'' (1958) under Sushil Majumdar's direction.<ref name="ShomaChatterji"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/Lb6QAS4tNnObR5WjNuI05N/Supriya-Devi-veteran-Bengali-actress-dies-at-85.html |title=Supriya Devi, veteran Bengali actress, dies at 85 |last=PTI |website=livemint.com |access-date=26 January 2018}}</ref> She rose to prominence after she had appeared in the Uttam Kumar starrer blockbuster ''Sonar Harin'' (1959) directed by Mangal Chakraborty.<ref name=":0"/>
She rose to higher prominence after she had played the role of Amrapali in ''Amrapali'' (1959) directed by Sree Tarashankar and produced by Nalanda Films.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.citwf.com/film14332.htm |title=AMRAPALI - Film/Movie |website=citwf.com |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/amrapali-33536 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122235118/https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/amrapali-33536 |url-status=live |archive-date=22 January 2018 |title=Amrapali (1959) - Cinestaan.com |website=Cinestaan |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> Vyjayanthimala who was later found to play the same titular role was full of praise for her performance in the film.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/i-never-expected-too-much/article17615153.ece |title='I never expected too much' |last=Gupta |first=Ranjan Das |date=24 March 2017 |work=The Hindu |access-date=22 January 2018 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
At the beginning of the 1960s, she came to a bigger attention for her successive roles in films such as ''Meghe Dhaka Tara'' (1960), ''Shuno Baranari'' (1960), ''Komal Gandhar'' (1961), ''Swaralipi'' (1961) to name a few.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.sangbadpratidin.in/veteran-actor-supriya-devi-passes-away/ |title=প্রয়াত বাংলা চলচ্চিত্রের স্বর্ণযুগের প্রখ্যাত অভিনেত্রী সুপ্রিয়া দেবী |work=Sangbad Pratidin |access-date=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name=":2"/> She made her Bollywood debut opposite Dharmendra in ''Begaana'' (1963) under Sadashiv Rao Kavi's direction.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.citwf.com/film32622.htm |title=BEGANA - Film/Movie |website=www.citwf.com |language=en-GB |access-date=26 January 2018}}</ref> She was applauded for her performance in the 1973 blockbuster ''Sanyasi Raja''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/veteran-bengali-actress-supriya-devi-passes-away/1210501 |title=Veteran Bengali actress Supriya Devi passes away |website=freepressjournal.in |access-date=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://m.eisamay.com/entertainment/cinema/remembering-supriya-devi-the-glamorous-ever-popular-bengali-actor/articleshow/62707468.cms |title=বেণুদি ছাড়া আর কিছু বলা যেত না - Eisamay |date=30 January 2018 |work=Eisamay |access-date=4 February 2018 |language=bn}}</ref>
She was applauded for her performance in Raja Sen's National Award winning Bengali film ''Atmiyo Swajan'' (1998). Rediff described her performance in the film as "a fairly good fleshing out Supriya Devi".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/2000/apr/11swajan.htm#1 |title=rediff.com, Movies: The old man and the society |website=m.rediff.com |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref>
==Personal life== In 1954, Supriya married Bishwanath Choudhury and a few years later her only daughter Soma was born.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.anandabazar.com/supplementary/patrika/sarbani-mukhopadhyay-writes-on-supriya-devi-1.72210 |title=দাদা আমি বাঁচতে চাই |work=Anandabazar Patrika |access-date=26 January 2018 |language=bn}}</ref> The couple divorced in 1958.
She retired from films for a while before returning in the late 1950s. In 1963 she married Uttam Kumar, who had been a childhood friend of her youngest brother, whom she lived with until his death in 1980.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Selling-Uttam/articleshow/2331651.cms |title=Selling Uttam? |work=The Times of India |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.epaper.eisamay.com/Details.aspx?id=37905&boxid=132341478 |title=Details |website=www.epaper.eisamay.com |access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyo.in/arts/supriya-devi-death-uttam-kumar-bengali-film-industry-tollywood-meghe-dhaka-tara-ritwik-ghatak/story/1/22008.html |title=Actor Supriya Devi's legacy was more than just being Uttam Kumar's heroine |website=dailyo.in |date=26 January 2018}}</ref>
Supriya died of a heart attack in Kolkata on 26 January 2018, aged 85.<ref>[https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bengali-actor-supriya-devi-dies-mamata-banerjee-offer-condolences-1804957 Bengali Actor Supriya Devi Dies, Mamata Banerjee Offer Condolences], NDTV; accessed 2 February 2018.</ref>
==Filmography== {{cleanup section|reason=Films should be listed in chronological order, not in reverse chronological order|date=December 2024}} {{col div|colwidth=20em}} # ''The Namesake'' (2006) as Ashima's Grandmother # ''Arjun Aamar Naam'' (2003) # ''Ekti Nadir Naam'' (2002) # ''Shesh Thikana'' (2000) as Sriradha's grandmother # ''Atmiya Swajan'' (1998) # ''Honeymoon'' (1992) # ''Kari Diye Kinlam'' # ''Iman Kalyan'' (1982) # ''Kalankini Kankabati'' (1981) # '' Uttar Meleni'' (1981) # '' Dui Prithibi'' (1980) # ''Debdas'' (1979) as Chandramukhi # ''Bahnisikha'' # ''Dui Purush'' (1978) as Bimala # ''Sandhya Raag'' (1977) # ''Sabyasachi (film)'' (1977) # ''Sanyasi Raja'' (1975) # ''Bhola Moyra '' # ''Sister'' # ''Jadi Jantem'' (1974) as Sujata # ''Bagh Bondi Khela'' (1975) # ''Raktatilak'' (1975) as Binata # ''Bon Palashir Padabali'' (1973) as Padma # ''Andha Atit'' (1972) # ''Chhinnapatra'' # ''Bilambita Loy'' (1970) # ''Duti Mon'' (1969) # ''Chiradiner'' (1969) # ''Mon Niye'' (1969) # ''Sabarmati'' (1969) Hiren Nag Chhaya Debi # ''Jiban Mrityu'' # ''Chowringhee'' (1968) as Karabi Guha # ''Teen Adhayay'' (1968) # ''Kal Tumi Aleya'' (1966) as Dr. Labanya Sarkar # ''Shudhu Ekti Bachhar'' (1966) # ''Aap Ki Parchhaiyan'' (1964) as Asha in Hindi Movie # ''Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein'' (1964) as Meera # '' Nishithe '' # ''Lal Pathore'' (1964) # ''Begaana'' (1963) # ''Surya Sikha'' (1963) # ''Uttarayan'' (1963) # ''Swaralipi'' # ''Komal Gandhar'' (1961) as Anasuya # ''Madhya Rater Tara'' (1961) # ''Meghe Dhaka Tara'' (1960) as Nita # ''Natun Fasal'' (1960) # ''Suno Baranari'' (1960) # ''Khelaghar'' (1959) # ''Sonar Harin'' (1959) # ''Amrapali'' # ''Basu Paribar'' (1952) as Sukhen's Sister {{div col end}}
==Awards==
* Won- Filmfare Awards East-''Best Actress Award'' for ''Sister'' in 1977. * Won- Filmfare Awards East- Lifetime Achievement Award * Won- Padmashri-the fourth highest civilian award for her contribution to Indian Cinema. * Won- Banga-Vibhushan - the highest civilian award in West Bengal in 2011. * Won- BFJA Award-''Best Actress Award'' for "Tin Adhay" in 1969. * Won- BFJA Award-''Best Supporting Actress Award'' for "Chhinnapatra" in 1973. * Won- Kalakar Awards-''Lifetime Achievement Award'' in 2001.
== Book == Amar Jiban Amar Uttam. (Autobiography, Memoir)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name | id=0159350| name = Supriya Choudhury }} *[http://www.calcuttaweb.com/cinema/supriya.shtml/ Supriya Devi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180849/http://www.calcuttaweb.com/cinema/supriya.shtml |date=3 March 2016 }} on [http://www.calcuttaweb.com/ Calcuttaweb] *[https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=368317766597184/ Supriya Devi] on [https://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Supriya}} Category:1933 births Category:2018 deaths Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:Actresses from Kolkata Category:Actresses in Bengali cinema Category:Bengali Hindus Category:Burmese Hindus Category:Burmese people of Bengali descent Category:Burmese people of Indian descent Category:Indian film actresses Category:Indian Hindus Category:People from Myitkyina Category:People with paraplegia Category:Indian actors with disabilities Category:Indian people with disabilities Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts