one man many lives soumitra chatterjee maybe an actor par excellence but there are several facets to him not only is he a theatre personality and elocutionist soumitra has several books to his credit and is also a painter above all he is a family man who is a friend to those half his age his close associates talk about the qualities that make him excel in the many roles that he has effortlessly donned all his lifetheatre connects him to people keeps him vibranti think it is the ability to communicate with a lot of people directly that my father bapi loves when he is doing theatre so many youngsters are around him i think it all adds up and helps bapi feel young and vibrant when he is on stage he can connect with a lot of people and he is excited every time he is supposed to perform live these days we dont want him to travel long distance for shows we try to keep the working conditions conducive so that he can feel comfortable people ask me how he at this age is still able to do some physically strenuous roles or remember the lines i can only say that it is a godgifted quality while we often want to give up and say ore aar parchhi na bapi is always ready to take the plunge poulami bose theatre personalityconnecting with readers through writing keeps him agileage is a mental subject there are various possibilities in a person if a person really wants to and is aided by his genes they can spread themself in various directions despite all the setbacks soumitrada loves life soumitrada has a lot of readers and he connects with them through his pen he also recites very well both writing and reciting are modes of communication with an audience i think these keep him going besides people continue to appreciate and respond to his writings the warmth that he receives from people around him also keeps him agile pabitra sarkar linguisthe is the happiest between action and cutfrom action to cut it is pure bliss for him that time span revitalises him rejuvenates him like anything it keeps alive and kicking his lust for performance and life itself if its a critical shot he has nervous tension just before the camera rolls so common among all brilliant actors irrespective of age and experience the mounting pressure of extra energy and added dose of concentration put into the system at that moment anything disturbing his poise leaves him hyper but as the shot ends satisfactorily he is sweetest man in the world asking everyone around if he managed to do justice to the shot and quite often ending up with a gentle call to the spot boy ektu cha ki hobe atanu ghosh directorhis brush strokes keep him forever agilei am 91 and soumitra is six years younger to me i have known his family since my childhood from very