In fond remembrance of the colossus of Bengali cinema

The Bengali cultural firmament has no dearth of stellar figures—I always think of Rabindranath Tagore as the affectionate paterfamilias of modern Bengali literature—but I have felt a particular kinship with you.

Perhaps this was because I was deeply attracted to your work at a time when you were living. Somehow that made you a more intimate presence.

Of course, there is so much to like about you. A world-class filmmaker, juvenile story-teller, composer, typographer, illustrator, graphic artist, you had a keen intellect and an avid curiosity, with a formidable command of both English and Bengali—you were a true renaissance man.