Sumitra Devi was an Indian actress, born in 1923 in Shiuri, Birbhum, West Bengal, to a rich Brahmin family. Her early life was influenced by the beauty and stature of veteran actress Kanan Devi, who inspired her to pursue a career in acting.
In 1943, Sumitra Devi was summoned for an interview and look test at New Theatres, where she was cast opposite K. L. Saigal in Hemchander Chander's Meri Bahen (1944). She made her debut in Apurba Mitra's Bengali film Sandhi (1944),which achieved enormous success and earned her the BFJA Award for Best Actress in 1945.
Throughout the late 1940s, Sumitra Devi established herself as a leading actress of Bollywood with roles in films such as Vasiyatnama (1945),Bhai Dooj (1947),Oonch Neech (1948),Vijay Yatra (1948),and Mashaal (1950). Her role as a single mother in Gunjal's Mamta (1952) received widespread acclaim.
She was also recognized for her performances in films such as Deewana (1952),Ghungroo (1952),Mayurpankh (1954),Chor Bazaar (1954),and Jagte Raho (1956). In Bengali cinema, she appeared in films such as Abhijog (1947),Pather Dabi (1947),Pratibad (1948),Joyjatra (1948),Swami (1949),Devi Chowdhurani (1949),Samar (1950),Dasyu Mohan (1955),and many more.
Sumitra Devi's portrayal of Bijali, a nautch girl with a bereaved heart, in Haridas Bhattacharya's National Award-winning Bengali film Aandhare Alo (1957) received an overwhelming response from the Indian critic society. She also garnered major acclaim for her roles in Bengali films such as Ekdin Ratre (1956),Nilachaley Mahaprabhu (1957),Joutuk (1958),and Kinu Gowalar Gali (1964).
In the late 1950s, Sumitra Devi was invited to the Asian Film Festival in China as a delegate from India. She was one of the most beautiful women of her time, and her beauty and talent have been remembered by veterans such as Pradeep Kumar and Uttam Kumar.
