There is no shortage of talent in Bengali cinema; the industry has always been home to many gifted actors and directors. However, not everyone is destined to sustain that brilliance for long. You might be surprised to learn about a director who created just one film in his entire career—a classic that won two National Film Awards—only to pass away on the day the award was announced.
The director of this award-winning classic was Avtar Krishna Kaul. The film, titled *27 Down*, was released in 1974 and proved to be a milestone in the world of cinema. It starred Rakhee Gulzar and M.K. Raina in lead roles, with the music composed by Hariprasad Chaurasia.
Based on a novel by Ramesh Bakshi, *27 Down* secured two National Film Awards: one for Best Feature Film in Hindi and another for Best Cinematography—a truly remarkable achievement.
Tragedy struck Avtar just months after the film's release. On July 20, 1974, he jumped into the waters at Walkeshwar, Mumbai, in a heroic attempt to save a drowning girl. Tragically, he lost his own life in the process. He was only 34 years old at the time of his death. His courageous final act left the film industry in shock. To this day, *27 Down* remains remembered as both his first and last film.