**Swapan Mukherjee** was an Indian actor, celebrated for his career in Bengali cinema. He is remembered primarily for his prolific collaboration with the legendary director Satyajit Ray.

His most iconic and internationally recognized role was that of Harihar, Apu's father, in the neorealist masterpiece *Pather Panchali* (1955), a film that also marked his cinematic debut and the beginning of the famous "Apu Trilogy". He reprised the role in *Aparajito* (1956) and made a brief appearance in *Apur Sansar* (1959), completing the trilogy.

Mukherjee also appeared in other notable Ray films, such as *Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne* (1969) and *Hirak Rajar Deshe* (1980), where he portrayed the King of Halla. His acting style was characterized by a naturalistic and restrained performance. He often embodied ordinary characters, from the dignified common man to the bureaucrat, imbuing them with depth and authenticity, even in supporting roles. His ability to express complexity with subtlety made him a valuable performer for auteur cinema.