# Santosh Dutta

Santosh Dutta (Bengali: সন্তোষ দত্ত; 2 December 1925 – 8 February 1988) was a Bengali actor, best known for playing the character of Jatayu in Satyajit Ray's Feluda movie series Sonar Kella and Joi Baba Felunath.

## Early life

Dutta was a lawyer by profession. Essentially a comedian, he elevated comedy acting to the levels of character roles. Satyajit Ray gave him the first break with a small role in his immortal film Parash Pathar. After Sonar Kella, he became so associated with the role of "Jatayu" that Satyajit Ray later reframed the appearance of Jatayu and started making the sketches of Jatayu resembling Dutta in Feluda novels. After the death of this actor, Ray once remarked that there will be no further movies in the Feluda series as Jatayu cannot be thought of without Santosh Dutta. Though after the death of Ray, the role of Jatayu was later played by artists such as Anup Kumar, Bibhu Bhattacharya, and even Rabi Ghosh. These actors agreed that it was impossible to play the character without the influence of Santosh Dutta in mind.

## Career

Apart from playing Jatayu, Dutta played crucial roles in Satyajit Ray's masterpieces for children like Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne and Hirak Rajar Deshe. In Goopy Gayen Bagha Bayen, Dutta played dual roles of the kings of "Halla" and "Shundi". In Hirak Rajar Deshe, which is a sequel to Goopy Gayen Bagha Bayen, Dutta played the role of a mysterious scientist (known as Gobeshok Gobuchondro Gyanotirtho Gyanorotno Gyanambudhi Gyanochuramoni), in addition to a small appearance for the same 'King of Shundi'.
Another milestone in Dutta's career was playing Gopal Bhar in the film of the same name. Gopal Bhar being a humorous character known for centuries in India, particularly the state of West Bengal.
The role of Abalakanto in Ogo Bodhu Sundari has also become legendary.
Dutta played important roles in films like Teen Kanya, Paras Pathar, Kapurush O Mahapurush, Streer Patra, Marjina Abdallah, Jana Aranya, Char Murti and Gana Devata. He played the roles of comedians in some commercial theaters. Kone Bibhrat was one of the plays in his later years which was a mega hit. He worked in a TV serial called Goenda Bhagabandas with Rabi Ghosh, another famous actor of his time.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Director | Role | Notes |
| 1958 | Parash Pathar | Satyajit Ray | Atanu (The announcer) | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Headmaster | Agragami | Actor | |
| 1961 | Teen Kanya | Satyajit Ray | Kishori | (segment "Samapti") |
| 1965 | Mahapurush | Satyajit Ray | Professor Nandi / Nani | |
| 1968 | Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne | Satyajit Ray | King of Shundi & Halla | |
| 1972 | Streer Patra | Purnendu Pattrea | Doctor | |
| 1973 | Shriman Prithviraj | Tarun Majumdar | Nobin Master | |
| 1973 | Marjina Abdulla | Dinen Gupta | Ali Baba | |
| 1974 | Sonar Kella | Satyajit Ray | Lalmohan Ganguly / Jatayu | |
| 1974 | Jadu Bansha | Partha Prathim Choudhury | Actor | |
| 1976 | Jana Aranya | Satyajit Ray | Hiralal Saha | |
| 1976 | Asadharan | Salil Sen | Actor | |
| 1977 | Sister | Pijush Bose | Actor | |
| 1977 | Ek Je Chhilo Desh | Tapan Sinha | Actor | |
| 1977 | Ei Prithibir Panthanibas | Aravind Mukherjee | Actor | |
| 1977 | Shesh Raksha | Shankar Bhattacharya | Actor | |
| 1978 | Charmurti | Umanath Bhattacharya | Meshomoshai | |
| 1979 | Joi Baba Felunath | Satyajit Ray | Lalmohan Ganguly / Jatayu | |
| 1979 | Ghatkali | Bimal Roy Jr. | Actor | |
| 1979 | Ganadevata | Tarun Majumdar | Surveyor | |
| 1979 | Brajabuli | Pijush Bose | Actor | |
| 1980 | Paka Dekha | Aravind Mukherjee | Actor | |
| 1980 | Hirak Rajar Deshe | Satyajit Ray | King of Shundi / Scientist in Hirak Raj | |
| 1980 | Sandhi | Amal Dutta | Actor | |
| 1980 | Abhi | Apurba Kumar Mitra | Actor | |
| 1980 | Gopal Bhar | Amal Sur | Gopal Bhar | |
| 1981 | Subarnalata | Bijoy Bose | Actor | |
| 1981 | Ogo Bodhu Shundori | Salil Dutta | Abolakanta | |
| 1982 | Khelar Putul | Tarun Majumdar | Actor | |
| 1982 | Malancha | Purnendu Pattrea | Actor | |
| 1982 | Rasamoyeer Rasikata | Amal Sur | Actor | |
| 1983 | Rajeswari | Salil Dutta | Actor | |
| 1983 | Kauke Bolo Na | Vishwanath Mukherjee | Actor | |
| 1983 | Duti Pata | Bimal Roy Jr. | Actor | |
| 1983 | Srinkhal | Abir Basu | Actor | |
| 1984 | Pujarini | Partha Prathim Choudhury | Actor | |
| 1984 | Shilalipi | Palash Bannerjee | Actor | |
| 1984 | Sorgol | Biswajit | Actor | |
| 1984 | Lolita | Tapan Choudhury | Actor | |
| 1984 | Amar Geeti | Tarun Majumdar | Actor | |
| 1984 | Joy Parajoy | Chandan Mukherjee | Actor | |
| 1985 | Baikunther Will | Sushil Mukherjee | Actor | |
| 1985 | Nishantay | Narayan Chakraborty | Actor | |
| 1985 | Aamar Prithibi | Bimal Bhowmick | Actor | |
| 1985 | Nishante | Narayan Chakraborty | Actor | |
| 1985 | Hulusthul | Aravind Mukherjee | Actor | |
| 1986 | Dui Adhyay | Goutam Mukhopadhyay | Actor | |
| 1986 | Urbashe | Salil Dutta | Actor | |
| 1986 | Subho Kamon Aachho? | Partha Pratim Chowdhury | Actor | |
| 1987 | Abir | Kamal Majumdar | Actor | |
| 1987 | Samrat-O-Sundari | Bimal Roy Jr. | Actor | |
| 1988 | Agni Sanket | Swarup Dutta | Actor | |
| 1989 | Gili Gili Gay | Ishwar Chakraborty | Actor | |
| 1991 | Palataka | Saran Dey | Actor | |