A tribute to the legend "Ruma Guha Thakurta"

Prelude:
When I first talked to Ayan Guha Thakuta, I was tempted to tell him that his name reminds me of Ruma Guha Thakurta. I only knew that he is a sound engineer in SRFTI.
Then one day he told me that Rumadi is his mother. I casualy asked him if it's possible to shoot with her for my show "Anurodher Asor". I wasn't sure because I knew that Rumadi wasn't in best health.
Thanks to him it was possible.

First I met her in her residence!
I was so touched with her warmth! She has absolutely no air about the fact she is a legend in her own right!
We spent a few hours chatting. I touched her feet and asked for her blessing! I felt so happy!!
She was Rumadi for me from that day!

At the first meeting with her. Picture taken by Ayanda.

We weren't able to schedule date and time with a long notice. But I explained my situation to Rumadi and Ayanda. Ayanda helped me a lot.

I asked Anirban, a young kid for covering the shoot. I thought he is a promising photographer.
I always want to involve people around me in various ways. I have a soft corner for unrecognized talent.
When I mentioned Anirban about Rumadi, he accepted that he doesn't know her name!!

That is a very sad case with most of our young generation. They know everything about Cricket or Bollywood. They will tell you name of every member of a English Premier Leauge club. But they are unaware of our traditional and cultural wealth!

So for people unaware of our history here is something about Ruma Guha Thakurta.

She is most known for founding the Calcutta Youth Choir. She is a legendary singer, powerful actor, dancer and choreographer. In her lifetime she has already achieved so much in every sector where she worked, we can only dream about it.
She was married to Kishore Kumar for 8 years and her son with him is Amit Kumar, another well known name.
Satyajit Ray is her own maternal uncle.
Her last film is "The Namesake" Directed by Mira Nair, which also featured Tabu, Irfhan Khan and Kal Penn.

About her songs:
Who ever you are, no matter how much ignorant Bengali you are, you have surely listened to her songs in various forms of remake!!
My favourite is
1. Bistirno Dupare Ha ha kar Suni
[Sung by Bhupen Hazarika later]

2.Hoyto hethai kunjo chhayai swapno madhur mohe
[With Kishore Kumar]

You may read about her more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruma_Guha_Thakurta

Preparation:
I wanted that interview to be more personal. I was skeptical about whether I should ask her about Kishore Kumar or not! But I saw that she has worked with Kishore Kumar even after her divorce! I called a few people and got to know, she had no problem with him some years after the break up.

Shooting:
My work was to help her talk!
It's her mental strength that is moving her!
She has severe problem in her spine. In spite of that she sat through the one and half hour long interview. And after that chatted with our unit for another hour or so! I was just touched by her warmth!

One curious thing happened during shoot! Rumadi was forgetting that the camera is rolling and sometimes was talking to people outside frame!!
I was wondering what will happen in the editing table!! A person who has acted in 36years is forgetting that the camera is rolling!! Normal old age aliment!
I was so humbled by that, may be I will never even think about working at that age and with that fragile health.

Moments: We had some intimate moments revealed in the interview, which may be no body knows yet!!

About Uttam Kumar: Rumadi bought "The Director" written by Sidney Sheldon to gift it to Uttam Kumar. Because she felt that character will go very well with him. But before giving him the book Uttam Kumar passed away.
Note: Rumadi has done a few films with Uttam Kumar as the leading lady.

About Kishore Kumar: After their marriage Madhubala said to her jokingly that she will steal her man. And Madhubala did exactly that.
Long after their divorce Rumadi had a very cordial relationship with Kishore Kumar. And he accepted that with her he was happiest!


Telecast:
I told Anirban that you will not understand what oppurtunity you have got today! But one day you will tell your grand children that one day you captured a picture of "Ruma Guha Thakurta".
After watching the telecast I realized completely what an enormous moment this is!!
I will cherish those moments forever.
I saw her warmth in her every word. And her songs were so sweet!!

Last words:
When I was a kid, my father used to play Ruma Guha Thakurta's records in his gramaphone. I never dreamt that I will one day come to Kolkata and take an interview of her!!
Today one of my dreams are fulfilled!
I jell very well with older people. I can feel their blessings for me. As I am an artist, I am very emotional person. I have met a few people and worked with them whom I am watching from childhood.
I can never met Hemanta Mukhopadhay, Kishore Kumar, Uttam Kumar. But I met, talked, touched, and worked with Ruma Guha Thakurta!
I hope someday I will meet and work with Soumitra Chatterjee!

Watch Online: Part-1


Part-2


And a Wish:
I wish her good health for the years to come. And I hope that I will work with her again and again. "Rumadi bhalo thakben, apni amader garbo!"




You can listen and download a very sweet song of her here:
Ruma Guha Thakurta_song.MP3