The Bengali film industry was left stunned on Wednesday following the sudden death of filmmaker Anik Dutta, who reportedly died after falling from the terrace of his wife’s residence near Gariahat in South Kolkata.

Dutta was taken to a private hospital near Dhakuria in critical condition after the fall, but doctors declared him dead on arrival, according to news agency PTI.

News of his death quickly drew members of the Bengali film fraternity to the hospital, including actors Sreelekha Mitra, Rudranil Ghosh and Arindam Sil, who gathered to pay their final respects.

Senior officers from the homicide wing later visited the residence and sealed off the area for investigation. Reports stated that a handwritten note was recovered from the house carrying the message, “No one is responsible for this.”

Police, however, have not officially commented on the contents of the note, which has been sent for forensic examination.

Born into a prominent business family, Dutta was the grandson of Narendra Chandra Dutta, founder of United Bank of India. He entered filmmaking with the 2012 satirical fantasy film Bhooter Bhabishyat, which earned him widespread recognition in Bengali cinema.

Over the years, he directed several acclaimed films including Borunbabur Bondhu and Aparajito. His latest work, Joto Kando Kolkatatei, featured actors Abir Chatterjee, Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed and Dulal Lahiri in important roles.

Known for his outspoken political views, Dutta was regarded as a left-leaning filmmaker and a vocal critic of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In 2019, controversy erupted after his film Bhobishyoter Bhoot faced obstacles in theatrical screenings across the state.

A passionate admirer of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, Dutta’s cinema frequently reflected Ray’s storytelling sensibilities and visual style. His films blended satire, nostalgia and social commentary, making him one of the distinct voices in contemporary Bengali cinema.