Ruma Guha Thakurta breathes her last at 85

Kolkata: Renowned singer-actor Ruma Guha Thakurta passed away at her South Kolkata residence on Monday morning. She was 85-years-old and suffering from age related ailments.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went to her residence to pay respects to the departed soul. She was cremated at the Keoratala crematorium with state honours. Minister of state for Information and Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen also went to her residence to pay his last respects.

Later, Banerjee tweeted: "Saddened at the passing away of Ruma Guha Thakurta. Her contributions to the field of music will always be remembered. My condolences to her family and her admirers."

Born to Satyen Ghosh and singer Sita Devi, Ruma got initial training in music from her parents. She married Kishore Kumar in 1951 and the couple had their son Amit Kumar from this marriage. They got divorced in 1958 and she later married Arup Guha Thakurta. From her second marriage, she had a son Ayan and daughter Sromona.

Her acting debut came in Amiya Chakraborty's Jwar Bhata in 1944. She acted in the film alongside Dilip Kumar, which was his inaugural role as well. She had also acted in Nitin Bose's Mashaal in 1944.

She had acted in two films directed by Satyajit Ray, namely Abhijan and Ganashatru. She did playback in Tin Kanya, which was also directed by Ray. Some other well known films where Ruma was the playback singer, include Joradighir Chowdhury paribar, Baksha Badal, Jodi Jantem and Amrita Kumbher Sandhane.