‘Parineetha’ director Pradeep Sarkar passed away at the age of 67
Mumbai, Mar 24 (PTI) Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, best known for films “Parineetha” and “Mardaani”, passed away in the early hours of Friday at a hospital, his wife Panjali said. He is 67 years old.
The director was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Lilavati Hospital in suburban Bandra following fever.
“He passed away between 3.10 am and 3.30 am at Lilavati Hospital,” his wife told PTI.
The filmmaker had a viral fever on March 22. After some medicine his fever came down but not completely. So he was taken to the hospital, he said.
“By the time we reached the hospital, his vitality had started to wane. He was put on a ventilator in the ICU and diagnosed with pneumonia. The infection had attacked his lungs.
“According to the doctors, he had several infections which weakened his immunity. His blood pressure was fluctuating. He was very weak when Covid-19 hit him in July 2022,” Panjali said.
Sarkar’s last rites will be held at Santa Cruz Hindu Cemetery at 4 pm.
The filmmaker initially started as an ad filmmaker, directing several commercials for major brands across the country. He also directed music videos including Suba Mutkal’s “Up Ke Chavan”, Euphoria’s ““Dhoom Pichak Dhoom” and Sultan Khan’s “Piya Basanti”.
He returned to directing with the 2005 period drama “Parineetha”, an adaptation of author Sarath Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1914 Bengali novel of the same name. The filmmaker won the National Award for Best Debut Director for the Vidya Balan-Saif Ali Khan starrer.
His other directorial credits include “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” (2007), “Lafangey Parindey” (2010), “Mardaani” (2014), and “Helicopter Eela” (2018).
The news of Sarkar’s death shocked his colleagues in the film industry.
Actress Rani Mukherjee, who worked with the director in films like“Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” and “Mardaani”, said she was shocked by the news of Sarkar’s death this morning.
“I am sure everyone who knew Dada will feel his loss as deeply as I do. I had a great relationship with him and we’ve done a lot of work together over the years, so it’s like losing a family member,” the actor said in a statement.
Ajay Devgn said that he could not understand the news of Sarkar’s demise.
“The news of Pradeep Sarkar’s demise, ‘Dada’ to some of us, is still hard to digest. My deepest condolences. My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada,” Devgn wrote.
Abhishek Bachchan, who worked with him on “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag”, tweeted, “Terrible news to wake up to. Rest in peace Dada. Thank you for the love and for making me a small part of your life. Will miss you. #PradeepSarkar”.
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta shared a picture of the director on Twitter and wrote, “Pradeep Sarkar. Dada. Ripped off.” Reacting to Mehta’s tweet, actor Manoj Bajpai said he was shocked.
“Oh! So shocking! Rest in peace Dada!!,” he said.
Kangana Ranaut shared a video of her last meeting with the director.
“The last time I had a meal with Pradeep Dada, he knew I love Bengali food, it was Noti Binodini prep meat, that was his hand in the first frame… Such a terrible news, see you as soon as I reach Mumbai… My heart. Sinking in, I can’t cope with this shocking news,” he tweeted.
“Waking up to another sad loss … too soon … #RipPradeepSarkar,” Onir posted.
Swanand Kirkire has mourned the demise of his close friend Sarkar.
“Filmmaker and dear friend Pradeep Sarkar, a madman left us this morning. Rest in peace Dada your passion for the art of cinema lives on in your works!! ‘Duniya bhar ki mitti ikatthi karte the ab jannat ki mitti dibiya mein bharna’. Thank you for loving me and my words,” i, who collaborated with the director on “Parineetha” as a lyricist and singer, wrote on Twitter. PTI KKB RB PK PK
