Anindya Pulak Banerjee
Anindya Pulak Banerjee is an Indian actor and independent filmmaker working in Bengali cinema and Hindi cinema. Known for his experimental narratives and methodical approach to acting shaped by 25 years of theatre experience, he emphasizes character depth over role size.
Career
Acting Philosophy
Banerjee's theatre background enables him to embody diverse roles systematically, stating: "Theatre gives the best training... Bengali cinema now values character roles as much as lead roles." He prioritizes layered characters, notably preparing for months to play a blind singer in Pendulum (2014), learning the mouth organ to authenticate the portrayal.
Filmmaking
Banerjee's 2018 short film Watchmaker earned critical acclaim at the KIFF. In 2020, he announced plans to adapt Robert Browning's poetry into a short film, citing the poet along with Sylvia Plath and Jibanananda Das as major literary influences.
Personal life
Banerjee is married to actress Priyanka Banerjee, with whom he co-starred in the film Round Trip (2019). Their daughter Oishika has appeared in his films Watchmaker (2018) and Covet Letter (2019).
Politics
In 2019, Banerjee joined the Bharatiya Janata Party but resigned in 2021, criticizing fuel price policies and claiming limited political influence. Post-resignation, he participated in left-affiliated social initiatives like the Sramajibi Canteen workers' meal program.
Filmography
Feature films as director
Year |
Title |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
2017 |
SMUG |
Directorial debut |
2018 |
Watchmaker |
Premiered at KIFF |
Feature films as actor
Year |
Title |
Role |
Director |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 |
Tolly Lights |
Subroto |
Arjun Chakraborty |
Film debut |
2010 |
Le Chakka |
Raj Chakraborty |
||
2011 |
Baishe Srabon |
Srijit Mukherji |
||
Ami Shubhash Bolchi |
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose |
Mahesh Manjrekar |
||
2012 |
Kahaani |
Bimal |
Sujoy Ghosh |
Breakthrough role |
2013 |
Rupkatha Noy |
Atanu Ghosh |
||
2014 |
Buno Haansh |
Anjan Dutt |
||
Pendulum |
Ani |
Soukarya Ghosal |
||
2015 |
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! |
Radio Announcer |
Dibakar Banerjee |
|
Arshinagar |
Rituparno Ghosh |
|||
Dugdhonokhor – The Milky Nails |
||||
Selfie |
||||
2016 |
Conditions Apply |
|||
2017 |
Asamapta |
|||
Samantaral |
||||
Char Diker Galpo |
||||
Red Oliender's Roktokorobi |
||||
2018 |
Antar Satta |
Bihaan Sen |
||
Kuasha Jakhon |
||||
Ami Rajneeti Chaina |
Simanta Chatterjee |
|||
Shobdo Kolpo Droom |
||||
Pornomochi |
||||
2019 |
Sakhhii |
|||
2021 |
Sohorer Upokotha |
|||
2022 |
Bijoya Dashami |
|||
60 Er Pore |
||||
Kaali 2 |
||||
2023 |
Tarokar Mrityu |
|||
2024 |
Crave |
Souvik Dey & K. Ahamed |
||
Carcat |
||||
2025 |
Joto Kando Kolkatatei |
|||
The Academy of Fine Arts |
Television
Year |
Title |
Channel |
Role |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 |
Singha Lagna |
Star Jalsa |
actor |
Theatre
Key productions
- Lash Ghuura Jauk (Dir. Biswanath Banerjee)
- Putul Nacher Itikotha (Dir. Arun Mukhopadhyay)
Upcoming Projects
- Bish – Feature film adaptation of a theatre production
- Khur – Completed filming (release platform undecided)
- Untitled Robert Browning adaptation – Planned short film
Other Work
Banerjee curates a global anthology of poems by Syrian writers in exile, stating:
"The intersection of political turmoil and artistic expression fascinates me deeply."