Kolkata, Aug 31 (IANS): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led the state in paying homage to film maker Rituparno Ghosh, whose 50th birth anniversary was celebrated Saturday by his countless fans.

Television channels and radio stations aired special programmes, while wishes poured on social networking sites, as the film aficionados remembered the master story teller who had brought back the educated middle and upper middle class people to the theatres to watch Bengali movies.

"Today I remember Rituparno Ghosh very much. Every year, on this date, I used to greet Ritu on his birthday. Today, for the first time, I am missing him. Wherever he is, may he rest in peace," said Banerjee who garlanded a picture of Ghosh at the secretariat to mark the occasion.

Bengali movie channels screened some of the best known works of Ghosh including "Raincoat" and "Chokher Bali", while FM channels played songs from his movies through the day.

Social networking sites were replete with birthday messages as fan of the acclaimed filmmaker and actor celebrated his first birth anniversary after his sudden demise May 30, due to cardiac arrest.