In Memoriam Sumita Devi

Among the pioneers of Bangladeshi cinema, those whose efforts established the courageous presence of women on the silver screen, Sumita Devi stands at the forefront. She was simultaneously a celebrated actress, a film producer, and a valiant freedom fighter during the Great Liberation War of 1971. Throughout her life, she embodied the dignity, artistic spirit, and resilient consciousness of Bengali women.

Sumita Devi was born on 2 February 1936, into a distinguished family in South Khalli village, Manikganj District. Her birth name was Hena Bhattacharya. During the filming of Asiya, director Fateh Lohani renamed her Sumita—a name that would later become an inseparable chapter in the history of Bengali cinema.

In 1962, she married the legendary filmmaker and literary figure Zahir Raihan, adopting the name Nilufar Begum, also known as Sumita Devi. Nevertheless, she remained professionally known as Sumita Devi—a name marked by strength, radiance, and respect.

In the 1960s, Sumita Devi emerged as a leading female figure in Dhaka’s film industry. Her acting career began with Fateh Lohani’s Asiya in 1957, followed by Akash Ar Mati in 1960. Asiya was awarded Best Bengali Film in 1961, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey.

Her career spanned nearly four decades. She played leading roles in over ten films and supporting roles in more than a hundred. Her poised performances, profound expressions, and commitment to her characters distinguished her from her contemporaries.

Notable films include Kakhono Aseni, Sonar Kajol, Kancher Dewal, Ei To Jibon, Dui Diganta, Agun Niye Khela, Abhishap, E Desh Tomar Amar, Behula, Shopno Diye Ghera, Ora 11 Jon, and Amar Janmobhumi.

She also appeared in several Urdu films produced in East Pakistan and Dhoopchhaon in West Pakistan—an extraordinary and courageous achievement for a Bengali actress of the time.

Her talents were not confined to film; she achieved equal success in radio, television, and stage drama. As a producer, she demonstrated a commitment to artful and conscious filmmaking through five productions: Agun Niye Khela, Momer Alo, Mayar Shongshar, Adarsho Chapakhana, and Notun Probhat.

In her personal life, her first husband was the renowned communist leader Atul Lahiri of Faridpur. Although the marriage was brief, it produced the child actor M. Kollol Raihan, who appeared in Balobondhu, Adarsho Chapakhana, and other films.

During the Liberation War of 1971, Sumita Devi was a regular artist at the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. Using her art as a weapon, she inspired public opinion in support of independence, earning recognition not just as an artist but as a cultural freedom fighter.

In recognition of her acting and artistic achievements, she received the All Pakistan Critics Award in 1962 and the Nigar Award in 1963. After independence, she was honoured with the Bachsas Award and the Television Reporters’ Association of Bangladesh (TRAB) Award. In 2002, she received the Agartala Freedom Fighter Award and the Janakantha Guni Jan & Pratibha Award.

With Zahir Raihan, she had two sons: the distinguished writer and theatre director Bipul Raihan, and journalist and businessman Anol Raihan, owner of Tithi Door Café and Restaurant on Tajmahal Road, Mohammadpur, Dhaka.

On 6 January 2004, the “First Lady” of Bangladeshi cinema passed away. She was laid to rest with state honours at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Cemetery.

Sumita Devi was more than an actress—she was an era, a courageous journey, and a luminous symbol of the artistic spirit of Bengali women.

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