Soma Dey
Director Archan Chakraborty found her photograph in a photo studio and approached her to play the lead in his film. She gave up her ambition of a singer and took to acting. Beginning her career with Manik Bandopadhyay's story ‘Jiboner Jatilata’ directed by Archan Chakraborti in 1972, Her first released film however was “Haray Khunji” directed by Swadesh Sirkar in 1974. Year 1976 was a landmark year of her career with 4 films casting her as a lead heroine - Bilwa Mangal, Shankhobish, Sudur Niharika, Bondi Bidhata and Janma Bhoomi. Consequently followed, Shohor Theke Dure (1981), Mayer Ashirbaad (1982), Sagar Balaka (1984), Priyojon (1999) Bastir Meye Radha (2000), Manik (2005) Eri Naam Prem (2006), Prem By Chance (2010) and more than 40 marked films.

Little is known that she left her family for the sake of her career and lived in YWCA boarding until her first film released and hit the box office as a super hit film.

She won the best actress award for Sohor Theke Dure directed by Tarun Mazumdar, She has acted in more than 60 movies and several television serials.

A graduate from Scottish Church College in Political Science, she was inclined to Rabindra Sangeet, literature, poetry as well as painting. From 1984 to August 1994 she was off from cinema. As a theatre artist, she has worked with legendary actors like Robi Ghosh, Soumitra Chatterjee, Ranjit Mallick and has won the best debut award (Notun Pragati Award for Drama) for Sabash Peto Pachu.

She has worked in over 30 Television Serials in the later of her career. Her role as Rani Rashmoni in Ramkrishna bestowed her with the best actress award for her apt portrayal of the character of Rashmoni. Soma Dey retired after her benchmark role in Mahanayak playing the role of Uttam Kumar’s (Prasenjit Chattopadhyay) mother.

Dr Lakshmi Ramaswamy
Hailing from Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, Dr Lakshmi Ramaswamy is a revered name in the list of knowledgeable and thinking Bharatanatyam dancers today. She is India’s First Fulbright Fellow in Bharatanatyam (2000), a ‘TOP’ Grade Artist of Doordarshan, a Guest Faculty at Madras University for MA Bharatanatyam and a Senior Fellow at the Ministry of Culture, India. She is also an empanelled artist of ICCR (India Centre for Cultural Relations) and the SZCC (South Zone Cultural Centre).

A senior disciple of Padmasri Chitra Visweswaran, Dr Lakshmi has also served as a teacher in her Guru's institute for many years. She is also trained in Karanas under Dr Padma Subrahmanyam, Abhinaya from Smt Kalanidhi Narayan and Tamil texts from Dr S Raghuraman.

She has to her credit numerous solos and group performances in National and International festivals and in prestigious sabhas. Dr Lakshmi was awarded the ‘Acharya Kala Vipanchee’ in 2015, has also received the title of ‘Acharya Kala Bharati’ in Dec 2016 from Bharat Kalachar, Yuva Kala Bharathi from Bharat Kalachar, ‘Best Guru’ award (with title, ‘KalāchāryaSirōmaņi’) by VDS Arts Academy and many more awards and titles.

Her institute Sri Mudhraalaya blossoms independent teachers, marked performers, Doordarshan Graded artistes and government scholarship holders. She has also authored and translated books on dance.

Having choreographed more than 280 solo items and 20 dance productions, Dr Lakshmi Ramaswamy continues to research, teach, perform, choreograph and play the role of a mentor for all her students.