Ek Hasina Thi, Mardaani editor Sanjib Kumar Dutta passes away at 54

A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Sanjib edited over 80 films in Hindi and Bengali

Indian film editor Sanjib Kumar Dutta, who has assembled films like Dor, Ek Hasina Thi and Mardaani, passed away aged 54 on Sunday. Sanjib was based in Kolkata and reportedly suffered multiple organ failure at a city hospital.

A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Sanjib edited over 80 films in Hindi and Bengali. He was a frequent collaborator of Nagesh Kukunoor, having worked with the director on 13 films.

Sanjib assisted late film editor Renu Saluja in his initial career. He landed his big break with the 1998 film Bade Din. He won a Zee Cine Award for Ek Hasina Thi in 2004 and a Screen Award for Mardaani in 2014. Sanjib served as a jury member for the 63rd National Film Awards in 2016.

Editor-screenwriter Apurva Asrani mourned his demise on Twitter.

Shocked to hear about the passing of Sanjib Datta. He was a fine editor whose work was synonymous with the best films of Nagesh Kukunoor. Sanjib & I shared editing credits on Aashayein & Tasveer 8x10, and I will always remember him as a mature craftsman & a thorough gentleman.
— Apurva (@Apurvasrani) September 15, 2019