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Pradeep Sarkar, one of India’s renowned filmmakers, died on March 24, 2024, at the age of 67. Sarkar had been admitted to the Lilavati Hospital in suburban Bandra, Mumbai, following a viral fever. Despite administering medication, his fever did not subside entirely, so he was rushed to the hospital around 2:30 AM at night.
By the time he arrived, his vitals had already started dropping. He was then put on a ventilator in the ICU and diagnosed with Pneumonia, which had attacked his lungs. His potassium levels dropped and he was put on dialysis. He passed away around 3:30 AM in the morning and shared his wife.
Comorbidities and COVID-19 weakened his immunity
Sarkar’s wife, Panchali Sarkar, stated that he had many comorbidities that had weakened his immunity, and his blood pressure was fluctuating. Since he contracted COVID-19 in July 2022, he had been weak.
Condolences from Bollywood actors and directors
Several Bollywood actors and directors have expressed their grief and condolences at the filmmaker’s sudden demise on social media, including Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchan, Anupam Kher, and Hansal Mehta.
Sarkar started as an Ad-film maker
Born on April 20, 1955, in Kolkata, Pradeep Sarkar’s family moved to Mumbai when he was only five years old. After completing his schooling, he went on to pursue a course in advertising at the JJ School of Arts in Mumbai. In 1983, he started his career as a copywriter and later transitioned into filmmaking.
He began his journey as an ad-film maker through his production house by shooting highly successful commercials for renowned brands such as Tata Yellow Pages, ICICI Prudential, and Onida KY Thunder.
His talent for directing commercials was acknowledged when his black and white Aaj Tak TV commercials won him the Rapa and the Best Director of the Year Award at the Abby’s.
Aside from commercials, Pradeep also established himself as one of the most sought-after music video directors in the industry. His music videos for Shubha Mudgal’s ‘Ab Ke Saawan‘, Euphoria’s ‘Dhoom Pichak Dhoom‘ and ‘Maaeri‘, Sultan Khan’s ‘Piya Basanti‘ and Bhupen Hazarika’s ‘Ganga’ became benchmarks of excellence in visual appeal and storytelling.
Sarkar made his feature film directorial debut in 2005 with “Parineeta,” a romantic drama film that starred Vidya Balan and Saif Ali Khan. The movie was a commercial and critical hit and received several awards, including the National Film Award for Best Art Direction. The film was also nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Director.
The director’s next movie, “Laga Chunari Mein Daag,” released in 2007, was a social drama that highlighted the issue of prostitution. The movie starred Rani Mukerji, Jaya Bachchan, and Konkona Sen Sharma in lead roles. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film was appreciated for its strong performances and bold subject matter.
Sarkar’s 2010 movie, “Lafangey Parindey,” starring Deepika Padukone and Neil Nitin Mukesh, was a romantic drama set in Mumbai’s underbelly. The movie’s music, composed by R. Anandh, was a huge hit and is still remembered by music lovers.
His directorial work continued with the critically acclaimed film “Mardaani” (2014), starring Rani Mukerji in the lead role. The film highlighted the issue of human trafficking and child prostitution in India. Mukerji’s portrayal of a fearless police officer was lauded by critics and audiences alike. The film’s success led to a sequel, “Mardaani 2” (2019), which was also directed by Sarkar.
In 2018, Sarkar’s “Helicopter Eela” hit the screens, starring Kajol in the lead role. The movie was a coming-of-age story of a single mother who aspires to become a singer. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film was appreciated for its unconventional storyline and strong performances.
Funeral arrangements for the renowned filmmaker
Sarkar’s funeral was held at the Santacruz crematorium in Mumbai today at 4 pm, as shared by filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri via Twitter.
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