Kolkata: Filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta, known for his unique mix of reality and lyricism that made stories of dreamers and outliers flow like on-screen poetry, breathed his last on Thursday morning at his south Kolkata home. The 77-year-old had been battling nephrological ailments, but had been active even during the pandemic.

Born on February 11, 1944 in Anara village near Purulia, Dasgupta studied economics and took up a job as a lecturer. He quit teaching in 1976 to devote himself to his passion of making movies. Two years later, his directorial debut, ‘Dooratwa’, won a National Award for best feature film in Bengali.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, there were numerous awards and recognitions: he had under his belt 32 National Awards, including seven Swarna Kamal Golden for his features and documentaries; Dasgupta has also been programmed for the Masters of World Cinema section of Toronto International Film Festival eight times and has won the prestigious Golden Athena, Lifetime Achievement award from Athens International Film Festival. A former chairman of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, he was also a part of the present Academy Award Jury Board.