Binota Roy

Binota Roy, born Lakshmi Basu on Kojagari Lakshmi Purnima Tithi in 1925, hailed from a Brahma family in Patna, where her father, Satya Sundar Basu, practiced law at the High Court. As one of six daughters, Binota grew up in a musically inclined household; her father was passionate about music, often playing instruments such as the sitar and organ after court hours, while her mother was also an accomplished singer. This nurturing environment led Binota to pursue a career in the arts, making her debut as a playback singer in the film "Dikshul" (1943) after moving to Calcutta, where she was introduced to the music director Pankaj Kumar Mallick by Raichand Boral.

Binota's breakthrough came with her performance in "Wapas" (1943), where she delivered hit songs like "Albela Mastana" and "Jeevan Hai Bekar." Her fame skyrocketed with Bimal Roy's film "Udayer Pathey" (1944) and its Hindi counterpart "Humrahi." She subsequently married Jyotirmoy Roy, the film's story writer, and continued to work primarily in films linked to him, including "Abhijatri" (1947) and "Diner Parey Din" (1949). Following her husband's passing in 1961, she stepped back from acting but returned later, earning accolades for her roles in "Jatugriha" (1964) and "Calcutta 71" (1971). A talented writer, Binota published her first collection of short stories, "Mayamukur," in 1964. She passed away on July 28, 1978, leaving behind her three children, Ramya, Samya, and Suchita.