Renowned Bengali film director Anik Dutta, aged 66, passed away on Wednesday, 27 May 2025 at a private hospital in Dhakuria, Kolkata, after sustaining critical injuries from a fall from the terrace of his former wife's residence in Hindustan Park. His death has been confirmed by CPI-M leadership, hospital authorities, and police sources.

What Happened

According to police sources, Dutta fell from the terrace of the multi-storey building in Hindustan Park on Wednesday afternoon. He was found in a critical condition and rushed to a private hospital in Dhakuria, where doctors declared him dead. Officers from Gariahat police station and detectives from the Homicide branch of Kolkata Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the fall.

Authorities have cordoned off the spot where Dutta fell and are examining CCTV footage from the building. Investigators are probing whether the fall was accidental or whether other factors were involved — a question that remains unresolved, according to police.

Investigation Under Way

Police are specifically trying to establish why Dutta went to the rooftop on Wednesday afternoon. The Homicide branch's involvement signals that investigators are not ruling out any possibility at this stage. All aspects of the incident are reportedly being examined, including the CCTV recordings and the sequence of events leading up to the fall.

A Filmmaker of Distinction

Dutta made his directorial debut in 2012 with 'Bhooter Bhabishyat', a film that became both a critical and commercial landmark in Bengali cinema. He followed it with 'Aschorjo Prodip' (2013), 'Meghnadbad Rahasya' (2017), 'Borunbabur Bondhu' (2020), and 'Aparajito' (2022). His final directorial work, 'Jato Kando Kolkatatei' (2025), featured actors Abir Chatterjee, Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed, and Dulal Lahiri.

An ardent admirer of Oscar-winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray, Dutta's cinema carried a distinctive stamp of Ray's storytelling sensibility. He was the grandson of Narendra Chandra Dutta, the founder of United Bank of India.

Political Outspokenness and Controversy

Dutta was known for his left-leaning views and vocal opposition to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In 2019, his film 'Bhobishyoter Bhoot' was reportedly prevented from being screened in theatres owing to its political content — an episode that drew widespread attention to questions of artistic freedom in the state.

Grief Across Cultural Circles

The news of his sudden death has cast a deep shadow over Bengali cultural and film circles. With a career spanning over a decade of acclaimed work, Dutta was regarded as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Bengali cinema. The investigation by Kolkata Police is ongoing, and further details are expected as the probe progresses.