Director Pradeep Sarkar, known for films such as Parineeta (2005), Mardaani (2014) and Helicopter Eela (2018), passed away early on Friday at the age of 68. According to reports, Sarkar was on dialysis and was rushed to the hospital after his potassium levels dropped.
After 17 years of being an ad filmmaker, Sarkar made his feature film debut at the age of 50. Parineeta, based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novella of the same name, is a Sixties-set story about two best friends who fall in love but are thwarted by the woman’s scheming father. The film, which starred Vidya Balan, Saif Ali Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Dia Mirza, won Sarkar the National Film Award for Best Debut Film Of A Director. At the 51st Filmfare Awards, the film received 13 nominations, and won four, including Best Director and Best Female Debut (Balan).
Following the success of Parineeta, Sarkar made Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007), in which a woman becomes a professional escort to be able to financially support her family, Lafangey Parindey (2010), about a visually impaired skater who dreams of making it on television, Mardaani, in which a policewoman uncovers a human trafficking ring, and Helicopter Eela, about an overprotective single mother who joins her son’s college to be able to keep an eye on him. Sarkar’s films, which foregrounded women, their personal lives and their professional ambitions, starred actresses such as Jaya Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Deepika Padukone and Konkona Sen Sharma.
He also directed four ZEE5 web series — Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala, Arranged Marriage, Forbidden Love and Duranga.
In the Nineties and early Aughts, Sarkar was one of the country’s most prolific music video directors. His work includes videos for Euphoria’s ‘Dhoom Pichak Dhoom’, Bhupen Hazarika’s ‘Ganga’ and Shubha Mudgal’s ‘Ab Ke Saawan’.
Following the news of his death, members of the Hindi film industry took to social media to express their condolences.