Some films make you laugh. Many leave you in tears. Most are simply meant to entertain. But when Anik Dutta's 'Bhooter Bhabishyat' released in Bengal in 2012, it changed the way Bengali cinema was perceived.

Here was a film that oozed 'Bangaliana'. It spoke of colonial hangovers, ideological clashes and the moral, social and political decay around us, all wrapped in wit, intelligence and an unmistakably Bengali sensibility.

In most scenes, you laughed. But somewhere deep within, the film made you think. It compelled you to introspect. Without preaching, Dutta held up a mirror to society and politics. There was no manipulation, no overt messaging. With his debut film, Dutta revealed not only the kind of director he was, but also the kind of person he was - uncompromising, witty, defiant and undoubtedly Bengali. And even in his last film, 'Joto Kando Kolkatatei', he remained deeply rooted in his culture and identity.

On Wednesday, around 2 pm, the director passed away at the age of 66 after reportedly falling from the rooftop of his residence in Kolkata's Hindustan Park area. His sudden demise has left the Bengali film industry and cinephiles in deep shock.

The grandson of Narendra Chandra Dutta, founder of United Bank of India and a relative of legendary filmmaker Bimal Roy, Dutta was an ardent admirer of Satyajit Ray. Many of his films, including the blockbuster 'Aparajito' in 2022, which won National Awards and his final outing 'Joto Kando Kolkatatei', were tributes to Ray.

While making 'Aparajito', which chronicled the obstacles Ray faced during the making of the cult classic 'Pather Panchali' and was released on Ray's 101st birth anniversary, Dutta had spoken about approaching Sandip Ray for permission. "I knew that I could not go wrong in anything I do with the film. Babu da (Sandip Ray, son of Satyajit Ray) took a few days to decide. Later, he told me that if anyone could do the film, it was me," Dutta had said in an interview.

The film, featuring Jeetu Kamal in a striking resemblance to Ray, took the nation by storm. Dutta recreated a black-and-white cinematic world that perhaps stands as one of the finest tributes to Ray in recent times. Legendary Bengali filmmaker Tarun Majumdar had visited a theatre in 2022 to watch 'Aparajito'. "I sat in silence for some time after watching the film. You don't know what you have done. This contribution of yours to cinema will be remembered forever," Majumdar had told Dutta then.

Dutta was never in a hurry. He was known for his short temper. In a filmmaking career spanning 14 years, he directed eight films. Yet almost all of them, from 'Bhooter Bhabishyat' and 'Aschorjo Prodip' to 'Borunbabur Bondhu' were layered with uncomfortable truths, intellect, humour and 'Bangaliana'. At a time when gimmicks and spectacle often dominated cinema, Dutta made unconventional storytelling and socially aware narratives his greatest strengths.