Mamata Shankar
Mamata Shankar is an Indian actress and dancer. She is known for her work in Bengali cinema. She has acted in films by directors including Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Rituparno Ghosh, Buddhadeb Dasgupta and Gautam Ghosh. In addition to being an actress, she is a dancer and choreographer. She was the niece of musician Pandit Ravi Shankar. Her brother, Ananda Shankar, was an Indo-Western fusion musician.
In January 2025, Mamata Shankar was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by the Government of India.
She has received a National Film Award and four Filmfare Awards Bangla.
Early life and education
Mamata Shankar was born on 7 January 1955 to the dancers Uday Shankar and Amala Shankar.She received her training in dance and choreography at the Uday Shankar India Culture Centre, Calcutta under Amala Shankar.
Career
Shankar made her film debut with Mrigayaa in 1976, directed by Mrinal Sen. The film won the National Film Award for [Best Feature Film] for the year.Shankar is married, and runs the Udayan - Mamta Shankar Dance Company, which was founded in 1986, and which travels extensively throughout the world, with the 'Mamata Shankar Ballet Troupe'. The troupe was founded in 1978, and performed its first production, based on a Rabindranath Tagore work, Chandalika, in 1979. It was followed by Horikhela, Aajker Ekalabya, Milap, Shikaar, Mother Earth, Amritasyaputra and Sabari.
Awards
- 1992: National Film Award – Special Jury Award (Feature Film) for Agantuk
- 1993: BFJA Award – Best Supporting Actress Award for Shakha Proshakha
- 2000: BFJA Award – Best Supporting Actress Award for Utsab
- 2018: Filmfare Awards Bangla 2018 – Filmfare Award Bangla for Best [Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress] for Maacher Jhol
- 2023: Filmfare Awards Bangla 2023 – Best Supporting Actress for Projapoti
- 2025: Padma Shri
- 2025: Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025 – Best Actress for ''Bijoyar Pore''
Filmography
Mrigayaa Oka Oori Katha Dooratwa aka Distance Ek Din Pratidin Bapika Bidai Kalankini Kharij Grihajuddha Dakhal Grihajuddha Nishante Neelkantho Shakha Proshakha Agantuk Sunya Theke Suru Prajapati Sopan Daughters of This Century Dahan Utsab Waaris The Bong Connection Samudra Sakshi Ballyganj Court Drishti Pradip Abohomaan Jaani Dyakha Hawbe Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona Jaatishwar Agantuker Pore Pink Maacher Jhol Flat No 609 Shah Jahan Regency Shesher Golpo Antardhaan Bhotbhoti AntarleenFlat No. 609Projapoti Shibpur Palaan Pradhan Bijoyar Pore Deri Hoye Geche- '' Projapoti 2 ''