'I don't think legends like Shombu Mitra can ever be forgotten'

Amol Palekar remembers Shombu Mitra, the colossus of Indian theatre.

It's the end of an era.

I was fortunate to be close to Shombuda. In fact, whenever he came to Bombay, he would send a message and I would meet him. Whenever I went to Calcutta, I had to spend time with Shombuda.

The last time when his daughter Saoli was to perform her one woman show, Nathwathi-Anathwath, Shombuda sent a special message and requested me to present Saoli to Bombay's theatre enthusiasts. Just 15 days ago I spoke to him over the telephone. His death has come as a total shock.

Performances of Shombuda are fresh in the minds of theatre lovers of my generation. His memory will always be cherished by theatre lovers, not only in Bengal but from all over the country.

He was very quiet and an introvert. He choose his company very selectively. I feel priviliged, because although I am from a much younger generation, I was so close to him.

Three years ago I was doing Badal Sarcar's Pagla Ghoda in Calcutta at the Nandikar festival -- Shombuda came especially for the performance, although he was not keeping well. He stayed after the performance, discussing the subtleties and nuances with me and Chitra (Palekar's wife), particularly because he had done that play long, long ago in Bengali.

I don't think legends like Shombu Mitra can ever be forgotten, whether in theatre or in films.

As told to Suparn Verma