National award-winning art director Tarun Ghosh dies at 73

Tarun Ghosh, a National Film Award-winning art director and noted painter, died late Wednesday (April 8) night at the age of 73.

The news was confirmed to media by filmmaker N Rashed Chowdhury. Ghosh reportedly suffered a cardiac complication following asthma-related health issues.

Born on August 20, 1953, in Rajbari, Ghosh completed his undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, in 1977. He later earned a postgraduate degree from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in India in 1986.

Ghosh began his academic career in 1979 as a faculty member at the Fine Arts department of Rajshahi University, where he was among the founding teachers. Between 1985 and 1987, he worked under a folk painting research and documentation programme at MS University in Baroda.

In 1989, he joined the Bangladesh National Museum, where he served for over two decades before retiring in 2012 as a Keeper. He continued working as an independent artist thereafter.

Alongside painting, Ghosh made significant contributions to film as an art director. He won the National Film Award for his work on “Kittonkhola”, directed by Abu Sayeed and produced by Impress Telefilm.

He also served as art director on several notable projects, including “Matir Moina” by Tareque Masud, the short film “Norshunder”, and “Chandrabati Kotha” by N Rashed Chowdhury.

His most recent work includes art direction for the upcoming film “Sokhi Rongomala”, also directed by N Rashed Chowdhury.

As a painter, Ghosh’s work frequently drew on Bengali folk traditions, mythology, and history, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. His acclaimed “Behula” series received wide recognition, including the Asian Art Award.

Over the years, he worked across themes ranging from the Liberation War to nature, birds, portraits, and personal expression, leaving behind a diverse and influential body of work.