The iconic director had passed away in his sleep.

Filmmaker and screenwriter Basu Chatterjee passed away aged 93 in Mumbai today after battling a prolonged illness. His notable creations as director were such as Choti Si Baat, Rajnigandha, Baaton Baaton Mein, Ek Ruka Hua Faisla, and Chameli Ki Shaadi among others. He won the National Film Award under Best Family Welfare Film for his film Durga in 1992. The iconic director had passed away in his sleep, according to PTI news agency quoting Ashoke Pandit, President, IFTDA,

Indian Film & TV Directors’ Association president and a prominent filmmaker Ashoke Pandit tweeted to inform the world of the sad news. He expressed grief on the demise of ‘legendary filmmaker Basu Chatterjee ji.’ He also revealed that Chatterjee’s last rites will be performed today, June 4 at Santacruz cremation at 2 pm.

I am extremely grieved to inform you all of the demise of Legendary Filmmaker #BasuChatterjee ji. His last rites will be performed today at Santacruz crematorium at 2 pm.

It’s a great loss to the industry. Will miss you Sir. #RIPBasuChaterjee pic.twitter.com/5s0wKkpeDB

— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) June 4, 2020

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also expressed condolences to his family, fans, and the film fraternity. “Saddened at the demise of legendary film director and screenwriter Basu Chatterjee. He gave us gems like ‘Chhoti Si Baat’, ‘Chitchor’, ‘Rajanigandha’, ‘Byomkesh Bakshi’, ‘Rajni’ among others. Condolences to his family, friends, fans & the entire film fraternity.”, she wrote on his Twitter timeline.

Saddened at the demise of legendary film director and screenwriter Basu Chatterjee. He gave us gems like 'Chhoti Si Baat', 'Chitchor', 'Rajanigandha', 'Byomkesh Bakshi', 'Rajni' among others. Condolences to his family, friends, fans & the entire film fraternity

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 4, 2020

Chatterjee has worked both in Hindi and in the Bengali cinema. His films, considered more realistic, stood out because the 1970s was the era of the ‘angry young man’ and action movies. Basu Chatterjee was a pioneer of middle-of-the-road cinema along with filmmakers such as Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Bhattacharya.

Basu Chatterjee worked with the superstars of his era and presented them in never-seen-before roles. Amitabh Bachchan in Manzil, Rajesh Khanna in Chakravyuh, Dev Anand in Man Pasand, Mithun Chakraborty in Shaukeen and Pasand Apni Apni were some of his finest works with the superstars of that generation. His film Ek Ruka Hua Faisla which was released in 1986 was an adaptation of Twelve Angry Men. He has also collaborated with Amol Palekar among others on films such as Choti Si Baat, Rajnigandha, and Chitchor.

Celebrities and actors who have worked with him or are aware of his legacies have expressed their sorrows on the microblogging site.