Bengali filmmaker Anik Dutta dies after falling from the terrace of his multi-storey residence in Kolkata

Anik Dutta's sudden demise has shocked the Bengali film industry. His last directorial release was the detective mystery thriller Joto Kando Kolkatatei.

Filmmaker Anik Dutta died on Wednesday after allegedly falling from the terrace of his multi-storey residence in south Kolkata, police said. As per the update from news agency PTI, he was taken to a private hospital near Dhakuria, where doctors declared him dead, a senior officer said.

Anik Dutta dies

Anik Dutta has died after falling from terrace of his residence.

A police team started an investigation at the site, though the family has not issued any statement. The sudden demise of the director has left the Bengali film industry in shock. Actors Sreelekha Mitra, Rudranil Ghosh, and Arindam Sil were spotted outside the hospital premises as they arrived to pay their last tribute to the director.

About his career

Anik Dutta shot to fame with the horror-comedy Bhooter Bhabishyat, which was released in 2012. The film, noted for its political and social satire woven into a horror narrative, is regarded by many as a milestone in Bengali cinema. It starred an ensemble cast that included Paran Bandopadhyay, Swastika Mukherjee, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, Parambrata Chatterjee and Saswata Chatterjee among others. Some of his other films include Aschorjo Prodip, Meghnad Badh Rahasya, Borunbabur Bondhu and Aparajito.

Anik had spoken to Hindustan Times about the film getting recognised and said, "One would say that there are so many considerations for the committee that now determines the fate of filmmakers. That one would not be overjoyed... being on the jury myself, I have seen how decisions are taken. Maybe objectivity is not possible entirely. There can be various influences which I have witnessed. Even then a National Award is a a National Award. Both Somnath and Ananda are extremely hardworking... particularly Somnath is very good with his craft, which is prosthetics. For the film itself, he was recognised by everyone even before he won this award, beyond Bengal.”

Anik Dutta's final directorial release was the 2025 Bengali detective mystery thriller Joto Kando Kolkatatei. Starring Abir Chatterjee, Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed, and Dulal Lahiri, it was released during Durga Puja.