Subrata Mitra

The red building on 70, Sarat Bose Road is intrinsically connected with the history of Indian cinematography. Here once lived Subrata Mitra - better known as the godfather of Indian cinematography. Subrata’s paternal grandfather, SK Mitra, had bought this house. Subrata, who is known for pioneering bounce lighting while filming The Apu Trilogy, was the sole owner after he had bought it back from the Life Insurance Corporation of India when it was mortgaged by Subrata’s father. Old-timers have plenty of memories in this house just adjacent to the South Calcutta Girls' College. Subrata had two unmarried brothers. Subrata and his brother, Pragyan, ran a camera rental business from this house. Back then, this property used to have all their cameras as well as Subrata's collection of books on European painting. Ramkinkar Baij had gifted Subrata a small metal sculpture which was a replica of the artist’s own face. That too was preserved there. Today, a  number of tenants live in that house. Many have noticed a board mentioning Subrata Mitra Archives. A plaque by West Bengal Heritage Commission hangs on the red building's wall since 2021. The Commission had announced plans of setting up a museum in the memory of the iconic cinematographer. It remains to be seen if or when that gets materialized properly.