Sombhu Mitra (22 August 1915 – 19 May 1997) was an Indian film and stage actor, director, playwright, reciter and an Indian theatre personality, known especially for his involvement in Bengali theatre, where he is considered a pioneer.

​

He started his schooling in Chakraberia Middle English School, Calcutta and later continued in the Ballygunge Government High School, Calcutta, where he developed interest reading Bengali plays and became active in school dramatics. He joined St. Xavier's College of the University of Calcutta in 1931, and soon started attending the local theatre.

​

His first appearance in Bengali theatre was in Rangmahal Theatre in north Kolkata in 1939, thereafter he moved to the Minerva, Natyaniketan and Srirangam theatres.

In 1943, he joined Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). In 1944, several old theatrical conventions were broken when the play Nabanna written by Bijon Bhattacharya and co-directed by Sombhu Mitra for IPTA was staged. In 1948, Sombhu Mitra formed a new theatre group, Bohurupee in Kolkata, which ushered in the group-theatre movement in West Bengal.

​

Under Sombhu Mitra's direction, the Bohurupee staged several successful productions. In December 1950, the Bohurupee presented three plays in the New Empire theatre – Tulsi Lahiri's Pathik and Chenda Tar and Sombhu Mitra's own creation, Ulukhagra. In 1954, Rabindranath Tagore's Rakta Karabi was staged by the Bohurupee, followed by his Bisarjan, Raja and Char Adhyay. Other notable productions include Bidhyak Bhattacharya's Tahar Namti Ranjana and Kanchanranga. Under his direction, this group also presented the Bengali adaptations of several well-known dramas from the world stage. Henrik Ibsen's Putul Khela (Doll's House), Dashachakra (An Enemy of the People) and Sophocles' Raja Oidipaus (Oedipus Rex) are notable amongst them.

He also acted in 'The Life of Galileo' by Bertolt Brecht, directed by Fritz Bennewitz, in the title role.

​

Filmography:

• Dharti Ke Lal (1946) (Hindi)

• Pathik (1953) (Bengali)

• Bou Thakuranir Haat (1953) (Bengali)

• Maraner Pare (1954) (Bengali)

• Manik (1961) (Bengali)

• Jagte Raho (1956) (Bengali): Story writing, screenplay and co-direction

​

Major works:

• Abhinay Natak Mancha (in Bengali) (1957)

• Sanmarga-Saparya (in Bengali)

• Natak Raktakarabi (in Bengali)

• Chandbaniker Pala (in Bengali)

​

Honours and awards:

• Crystal Globe for Jagte Raho at the 1957 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

• Desikottama from Visva Bharati University in 1989

• Honorary D. Litt. from both Rabindra Bharati University and Jadavpur University in Kolkata

• The Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1976 for journalism, literature and creative communication arts

• The Padmabhushan in 1976

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1966

• Grand-Prix Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

• Kalidas Samman (1982–83) by Madhya Pradesh Government

• National Film Award in 1956 – Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Bengali – Ek Din Ratre