Karuna Banerjee
ActingAbout Karuna Banerjee
Karuna Banerjee (Bengali: করুণা ব্যানার্জী) was a Bengali actress best known for her role in Satyajit Ray's The Apu Trilogy (1955–1959) as the long suffering mother, Sarbajaya. She was nominated for Best Actress at the 1959 BAFTA Awards for her performance in Aparajito (1956), the second part of The Apu Trilogy. She appeared in a number of other films after that, including Ray's Devi (1960) and Kanchenjungha (1962). She graduated from the Jogamaya Devi College, an affiliated women's college of the University of Calcutta. Banerjee's acting career expanded over more than two decades in Bengali cinema and theatre. She is best known for her memorable performance as Sarbajaya, the mother in the first two parts of Satyajit Ray's The Apu Trilogy: Pather Panchali (1955) and Aparajito (1956). Her performance in the latter earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 1959 BAFTA Awards. She acted in a few more films, including two more by Ray, two by Mrinal Sen, and one by Ritwik Ghatak that was never officially released.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Karuna Banerjee reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 12 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Karuna Banerjee's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 50% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Karuna Banerjee remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Aparajito, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Karuna Banerjee Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Karuna Banerjee's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Karuna Banerjee.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Apur Panchali | (Archive Footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Calcutta 71 | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Interview | - | Hit | Similar → |
| N/A | The Apu Trilogy | Sarbojaya Ray | Flop | Similar → |
| N/A | Shubha Bibaha | Meja-boudi | Flop | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Creative Person: Satyajit Ray | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1962 | Kanchenjungha | Labanya Roy Chaudhuri | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Devi | Harasundari | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Headmaster | Labanya | Flop | Similar → |
| 1958 | Manmoyee Girls' School | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1956 | Aparajito | Sarbojaya Ray | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Pather Panchali | Sarbojaya Ray | Super Hit | Similar → |
Karuna Banerjee - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Karuna Banerjee?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Karuna Banerjee is "Aparajito" with a rating of 7.9/10.
How many movies has Karuna Banerjee acted in?
Karuna Banerjee has been featured in at least 12 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Karuna Banerjee?
Other notable films include "The Apu Trilogy", "Calcutta 71", and "Pather Panchali".