West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today condoled the death of renowned film-maker Rituparno Ghosh, saying it was a very sad day for Bengal.

“We are stunned. In his sudden demise, Bengal has lost an eminent filmmaker. It is a very sad day for us,” Banerjee, who visited Ghosh’s residence this morning, said.

To enable people to pay their last respect to the director, his body would be kept at Nandan film complex from 3.30 PM to 6 PM, she said.

Thereafter, the body would be taken to the Tollygunj Technician studio before cremation, the chief minister said.

Education minister and theatre personality Bratya Basu said he was rendered “speechless” by the news and the loss was a personal one.

He recalled that the director had expressed his desire to see his latest play.

Basu said he was a pioneer not only as a director and actor, but also in his contribution to society, noting that with his films like ‘Heerer Angti’ and ‘Unishe April’ he had created a new genre of films in Bengal.

As an actor, his path-breaking role of a transgender in ’Chitrangada’ portrayed the plight of a section of people which had remained neglected by society.

Same sex relations, a taboo in Bengali society although accepted in the West, was for the first time revealed through his life and work and invested with a rare dignity for the first time in Bengali society, the minister said.

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