CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Renowned Filmmaker and Journalist Pritish Nandy Passes Away at 73

Renowned filmmaker and journalist Pritish Nandy passed away on Wednesday at the age of 73 due to a heart attack. He was also battling pancreatic cancer. Actor Anupam Kher announced his demise on X (formerly Twitter). Nandy was known for producing iconic films like “Chameli,” “Sur,” and “Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi.”

Early Life and Career

Born on January 15, 1951, in Bhagalpur, Bihar, Pritish Nandy was a fearless editor of “The Illustrated Weekly of India” and gained fame for his bold opinions. He also made a mark in filmmaking, producing 24 Hindi and English films.

Nandy served as a Shiv Sena MP in the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra between 1998 and 2004. He authored more than 40 books of English poetry and translated works from Bengali, Urdu, and Punjabi into English. Fluent in Hindi, English, Bengali, Punjabi, and Urdu, he was known for translating numerous books into English.

Tributes from Industry Icons

Actor Anupam Kher, in an emotional post on Instagram, wrote, “I am deeply saddened and shocked by the passing of one of my closest friends, Pritish Nandy. He was a brilliant poet, writer, filmmaker, and a courageous journalist. During my early days in Mumbai, he was my support system and a source of immense strength.”

Kher added, “We shared many common interests, and he was one of the most fearless people I’ve ever met. He had a big heart and even bigger dreams. I learned so much from him. Though we met less in recent years, I’ll never forget the time he surprised me by featuring me on the covers of Filmfare and The Illustrated Weekly. He was truly a friend’s friend.”

Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra expressed his grief, saying, “I can’t process the news of Pritish Nandy’s demise. He changed my life. He understood my vision for ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’ and allowed me the freedom to create it exactly as I envisioned. People had started calling him the next Tagore.”

Notable Contributions

In the 1990s, Pritish Nandy hosted the popular Doordarshan talk show “The Pritish Nandy Show”, where he interviewed celebrities. As a poet and author, his book “Gods and Olives” earned him recognition.

In 2021, he received the Liberation War Award from Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for his contributions.

Filmography and Legacy

Under his banner, Pritish Nandy Communications, he produced critically acclaimed films such as “Sur,” “Kaante,” “Jhankaar Beats,” “Chameli,” “Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi,” and “Pyaar Ke Side Effects.” Recently, he worked as a producer on Amazon Prime Video’s web series “Four More Shots Please!” and the anthology series “Modern Love Mumbai.”

Nandy’s passing marks the end of an era in Indian cinema, literature, and journalism. His contributions will be remembered as a legacy of creativity, boldness, and artistic brilliance.

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