Curtain down on the golden era of cinema

DARING STALWART Ina career spanning four decades, Sen’s repertoire highlighted the ongoing socio-political scenario affecting human race

NEW DELHI: Legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen breathed his last in Kolkata on Sunday. The 95-year-old Dadasaheb Phalke and Padma Bhushan awardee was suffering from age-related ailments. He is survived by his son Kunal. His health condition deteriorated after he lost his wife, Gita Sen, who died in 2017. With him gone, Indian cinema lost a daring stalwart who never compromised with truth, nor feared speaking his mind.

Born in 1923 in undivided Bengal in Faridpur (now in Bangladesh), Sen declared his entry into the world of cinema with Raat Bhore (1955). In a career spanning four decades, Sen has left his impression in the number of feature films, documentaries and short films that he helmed. His repertoire highlighted the ongoing socio-political scenario affecting the human race. In his unique style, Sen tried to mirror the mindset of people from different social structures.

His hard-hitting approach was intended to evoke reaction. From Baishe Sraban (1960), Bhuvan Shome (1969), Calcutta 71 (1972), Chorus (1974), to Ek Din Pratidin (1979) Khandhar (1984), Antareen (1993), Sen ushered in a new cinema movement in India along with veterans Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak.

Sen, who has received several acclaims both in India and abroad, was known for bringing out the best in his actors.

Mamata Shankar, dancer-actor who worked with Sen in a few films said, “He is the reason why I stepped into the world of cinema... Today I feel the same way I felt when I lost my father (Uday Shankar).”

The filmmaker, as described by people close to him, was jovial, outgoing and well read. He always supported what was right and never compromised. The loss of the auteur means the end of the Golden era in Indian cinema. For many, it is his work that will remain a guiding force. 1961: Punascha

1965: Akash Kusum 1969: Bhuvan Shome 1972: Calcutta 71 1973: Padatik 1974: Chorus 1976: Mrigayaa

1977: Oka Oori Katha 1979: Parashuram 1979: Ek Din Pratidin 1980: Akaler

Sandhane 1982: Kharij 1984: Khandhar 1993: Antareen Won accolades on both national and international stage

He won National Film Award While Oka Oori Katha (1977) Festival for Chorus (1975) for Best Feature Film and won him a National Film and Parashuram (1979).

Best Direction for both Award for Best Feature Film Parashuram also won the Bhuvan Shome (1969) and in Telugu, Parashuram Interfilm award at Berlin

Akaler Sandhane (1980) (1978) won him a National International Film Festival He won two more National Film Award – Special

At 1983 Cannes Film Festival, Awards in the Best Feature Mention (feature film).

Kharij won the Jury Prize Film category for Chorus He won National Film Award

He recieved the Dadasaheb (1974) and Mrigayaa (1976) (Best Screenplay) for Kharij

Phalke award in 2003 and in the Best Direction (1982) and Padatik (1974). category for Ek Din Pratidin In 2017, he was inducted as

He won the Silver Prize at

(1979) and Khandhar (1984). member of Oscar academy

Moscow International Film