# Santu Mukherjee

Santu Mukherjee (13 January 1951 – 11 March 2020) was an Indian actor who worked in Bengali cinema. He was the father of actress Swastika Mukherjee. His younger brother, Sumanta Mukherjee, is also an actor.

## Early life and biography

Santu Mukherjee was born on 13 January 1951 in Kolkata. He attended the Mitra Institution at Bhowanipore at a primary level and later, joined the Padmapukur Institution at Sarat Bose Road, from where he passed his Higher Secondary Examination. He soon dropped out from studies and took dance lessons from Gopal Bhattacharya. He also learned Rabindra Sangeet.
He went to renowned director Tapan Sinha, seeking a role in Bengali films. In 1975, Sinha launched him as an actor in the film Raja. Subsequent to his cinematic breakthrough, he working in theater and films. His last film was Sanjhbati.
Mukherjee died on 11 March 2020 from cardiac arrest at his South Kolkata residence; he had been suffering from cancer for a long time.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role | Director |
| 1975 | Sansar Simante | | Tarun Majumdar |
| 1975 | Raja | | Tapan Sinha |
| 1976 | Harmonium | | Tapan Sinha |
| 1976 | Chander Kachhakachhi | | Tarun Majumdar, Sachin Mukherjee, Dilip Mukherjee |
| 1977 | Shesh Raksha | | Shankar Bhattacharya |
| 1977 | Pratishruti | | Pinaki Mukherjee |
| 1977 | Pratima | | Palash Bandyopadhyay |
| 1977 | Nayan | | Sukhen Das |
| 1977 | Asadharan | Bimal | Salil Sen |
| 1977 | Jaal Sannyasi | | Salil Sen |
| 1978 | Tusi | | Guru Bagchi |
| 1978 | Striker | | Archan Chakraborty |
| 1978 | Maan Abhiman | | Sukhen Das |
| 1978 | Jatayu | | Uttarsuri |
| 1979 | Parichoy | | Nirmal Mitra |
| 1979 | Pampa | | Pradip Bhattacharya |
| 1979 | Ganadevata | | Tarun Majumdar |
| 1979 | Chirantan | | Guru Bagchi |
| 1979 | Banabasar | | Sushil Mukhopadhyay |
| 1979 | Devdas | | Dilip Roy |
| 1980 | Shesh Bichar | | Bimal Roy Jr. |
| 1980 | Parabesh | | Kalpataru |
| 1980 | Byapika Biday | | Archan Chakraborty |
| 1980 | Boro Bhai | | Sushil Mukhopadhyay |
| 1980 | Bichar | | Ajit Gangopadhyay |
| 1980 | Pankhiraj | | Piyush Bose |
| 1981 | Swami Stree | | Guru Bagchi |
| 1981 | Nyay Anyay | | Sukhen Das |
| 1981 | Maa Bipattarin Chandi | | Amar Bhattacharya |
| 1981 | Khana Baraha | Mihir (Baraha's Son) | Bijoy Bose |
| 1981 | Kalankini Kankabati | Raghubir | Uttam Kumar |
| 1982 | Uttar Meleni | | Uday Bhattacharya |
| 1982 | Pratiksha | | Bimal Roy Jr. |
| 1982 | Prafulla | | Sujoy Dutta |
| 1982 | Malancha | | Purnendu Patri |
| 1982 | Faisala | | Raja |
| 1982 | Bodhan | | Amal Dutta |
| 1983 | Utsarga | | Tapan Saha |
| 1983 | Sansarer Itikatha | | Aravind Mukherjee |
| 1983 | Muktir Din | | Jayanta Purkayastha |
| 1983 | Jabanbondi | | Pranab Bandyopadhyay |
| 1983 | Abhinoy Noy | Bhola/Bikram | Archan Chakraborty |
| 1984 | Uncle | | Surajit Chowdhury |
| 1984 | Shilalipi | | Palash Bandyopadhyay |
| 1984 | Lalita | | Tapan Chowdhury |
| 1984 | Dadamoni | | Sujit Guha |
| 1985 | Tagari | | Ajit Gangopadhyay |
| 1985 | Bhalobasa Bhalobasa | | Tarun Majumdar |
| 1985 | Baikunther Will | | Sushil Mukhopadhyay |
| 1986 | Urbashi | | Salil Dutta |
| 1986 | Prem Bandhan | | Rathish Dey Sarkar |
| 1987 | Bidrohi | | Anjan Choudhury |
| 1988 | Surer Sathi | | Tapan Saha |
| 1988 | Punarmilan | | Jayanta Bose |
| 1988 | Parashmoni | | Tarun Majumdar |
| 1989 | Bandhabi | | Shankar Bhattacharya |
| 1993 | Iswar Parameswar | | Bablu Samaddar |
| 1993 | Garam Bhat | | Dilip Roy |
| 1994 | Sandhyatara | | Prabhat Roy |
| 1995 | Sujan Sakhi | | Swapan Saha |
| 1997 | Samadhan | | Narayan Ghosh |
| 1998 | Raja Rani Badsha | | Haranath Chakraborty |
| 1998 | Putra Badhu | | Pallab Ghosh |
| 1998 | Manush Manusher Janya | | Niranjan Dey |
| 1999 | Tumi Ele Tai | | Prabhat Roy |
| 1999 | Niyoti | | Bablu Samaddar |
| 1999 | Khelaghar | | Prabhat Roy |
| 2000 | Parichay | | Bidesh Sarkar |
| 2001 | Suorani Duorani | | Ladli Mukherjee |
| 2001 | Shesh Bichar | | Sukhen Das |
| 2003 | Hemanter Pakhi | | Urmi Chakraborty |
| 2003 | Arjun Aamar Naam | | Prabir Nandi |
| 2004 | Waarish | | Kaushik Ganguly |
| 2004 | Samudra Sakshi | | Dulal Dey |
| 2004 | Dwitio Paksha | | Ananya Chatterjee |
| 2005 | Agnipath | | Sujit Guha |
| 2007 | Banobhumi | | Swapan Ghoshal |
| 2008 | Partner | Dasu Bhattacharya | Shankar Ray |
| 2008 | Bajimaat | Subhra's father | Haranath Chakraborty |
| 2009 | Kaalbela | | Goutam Ghose |
| 2009 | Dhakee | | Satabdi Roy |
| 2009 | Keno Kichhu Kotha Bolo Na | Banjara Old Man | Swapan Saha |
| 2009 | Brake Fail | Nikhilesh | Kaushik Ganguly |
| 2009 | saptosur | | Shankar Ray |
| 2010 | Besh Korechhi Prem Korechhi | | Narayan Roy |
| 2010 | Ganyer Meye Sovona | | Amit Chakraborty |
| 2010 | Target: The Final Mission | Shubhankar's father | Raja Chanda |
| 2011 | Aamio Nebo Challenge | | Mastar Mosai |
| 2012 | Jaal | Rai's father | Amit Samanta |
| 2012 | E Sudhu Aamar Gaan | Rani's father | Shankar Ray |
| 2013 | Sweet Heart | Animesh (Mimi's father) | Prodip Saha |
| 2015 | Family Album | (Swastika's father) | Mainak Bhaumik |
| 2019 | Sanjhbati | Chandu's Father | Leena Gangopadhyay & Saibal Banerjee |
| 2020 | Karmachakra: Episode Zero | Professor Sid (voice) | Rajorshi Basu |

## Television

Santu's acting reached its pinnacle when he started acting in the Television serial shows. Some of the popular shows were:
* Keya Patar Nouko
* Ishti Kutum
* Saat Paake Bandha (later replaced by Rohit Mukherjee)
* Jol Nupur
* Kojagori
* Ichche Nodee
* Kusum Dola
* Andarmahal
* Phagun Bou
* Mayurpankhi
* Nokshi Kantha
* Mohor (later replaced by Dulal Lahiri)

## Santu Mukherjee as Singer

Santu recorded several songs. In the Bengali movie "Parabot Priya" Santu Mukherjee sang a duet song (Rabindra Sangeet) along with co-artist Arundhati Hom Choudhury: "Amar hridoy tomar apon hater dole".
In the album "Ei akashe amar Mukti aloy aloy" he sang the title song along with his daughter Swastika. His rendition "Tumi daak diyechho kon sokale" was mesmerizing.