‘Parineeta’ director Pradeep Sarkar dies of pneumonia at 67

MUMBAI, (PTI): Filmmaker and adman Pradeep Sarkar, best known for his 2005 Vidya Balan-Saif Ali Khan starrer ”Parineeta”, died at a hospital early on Friday following a fever. He was 67.

Sarkar, who also directed a host of hit music videos, including Shubha Mudgal’s ”Ab Ke Saawan” and Sultan Khan’s ”Piya Basanti”, was admitted to the intensive care unit of Lilavati hospital in suburban Bandra.

”He passed away between 3.10 am and 3.30 am at Lilavati hospital,” his wife Panchali told PTI.

The filmmaker had viral fever on March 22. The fever subsided after medicine but not completely and he was rushed to hospital, she said.

”By the time we reached the hospital, his vitals started dropping. He was put on a ventilator in the ICU and was diagnosed with pneumonia. The infection attacked his lungs.

”According to doctors, he had many co-morbidities which weakened his immunity. His blood pressure was fluctuating. He had been quite weak since Covid hit him in July 2022,” Panchali said.

The filmmaker’s last rites will be held at the Santacruz Hindu Crematorium today. Sarkar, a gold medallist from Delhi College of Art, started his career in mainstream advertising in Delhi and shot many successful commercials, including for Tata Yellow Pages, ICICI Prudential, and Onida KY Thunder.

He is also remembered for his music videos such as Euphoria’s ”Dhoom Pichak Dhoom” and ”Maaeri” and Bhupen Hazarika’s ”Ganga”.

Sarkar turned to direction with 2005’s period drama ”Parineeta”, adapted from author Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1914 Bengali novella of the same name. The filmmaker won the National Award for best debut film of a director for the Vidya Balan-Saif Ali Khan starrer.

Balan was a relatively new face who shot to prominence with the film. Sarkar cast her for the film after working with the actor on Euphoria’s music video ”Kabhi aana tu meri gali’.

Some of his other directorial ventures were ”Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” (2007), ”Lafangey Parindey” (2010), ”Mardaani” (2014), and ”Helicopter Eela” (2018).

The news of Sarkar’s sudden death shocked his colleagues in the film industry.

Actor Rani Mukerji, who had worked with the director on ”Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” and ”Mardaani”, said in a statement, ”I’m sure everybody who knows Dada will feel his loss deeply the way I’m feeling it. I had a great connection with him, we’ve done a lot of work together over the years, so it’s literally like losing a family member.” Ajay Devgn, who produced ”Eela”, said he is unable to come to terms with the news. ”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. RIP.” Responding to Mehta’s tweet, actor Manoj Bajpayee said he was shocked.

”Ohh! That’s so shocking! Rest in peace Dada!!,” he said.

Kangana Ranaut shared a video of the last time she met the director.

”Last meal I had with Pradeep dada, he knew I love Bengali food, this was during Noti Binodini prep meet, that’s his hand in the first frame… Such terrible news, we were to meet as soon as I got to Mumbai… My heart is sinking and I won’t be able to cope with this shocking news,” she tweeted.

”Waking up to another sad loss … too early … #RipPradeepSarkar” posted Onir.

Swanand Kirkire also mourned the demise of his close friend Sarkar.

”Film maker and dearest friend Pradeep Sarkar the mad man left us this morning. Rest in peace Dada your passion for the art of cinema will stay 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,” Kirkire, who collaborated with the director on ”Parineeta” as a lyricist and singer, wrote on Twitter. (PTI)