Renowned Bengali art film maker Mrinal Sen dies at 95

Kolkata, December 30 (Indian Express): One of the most prolific filmmakers in the country and the pioneer of new wave cinema in India, Mrinal Sen passed away on Sunday morning due to age-related ailments. He was 95. He reportedly died of heart attack at around 10:30 am at his residence in Bhowanipore. His wife passed away last year and is survived by his son Kunal Sen who stays in Chicago.

The caretaker who was looking after him informed the media about his death. “A doctor called was in after his health deteriorated. The doctor pronounced him dead. He suffered a cardio respiratory failure. As per his wish, his body will not be kept anywhere. His body will be kept in a mortuary and we will await the return of his son. Further decisions will be taken after Kunal’s return,” the caretaker told reporters outside Sen’s residence.

The National Award-winning director and recipient of Padma Bhushan award was not keeping well for some years and had withdrawn from public life. He had also been conferred with Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2003, besides receiving awards from several film festivals across the world for his films.

Along with his contemporaries Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak, he is considered to be one of the greatest ambassadors of Bengali parallel cinema on the global stage.

Dhritiman Chatterjee and Simi Garewal in Mrinal Sen’s “Padatik”

Sen was born on 14 May 1923, in the town of Faridpur, now in Bangladesh. After finishing high school there, he left home to come to Calcutta as a student. He studied physics at Scottish Church College and subsequently earned a postgraduate degree at the University of Calcutta. As a student, he got involved with the cultural wing of the Communist Party of India. Although he never became a member of the party, his association with the socialist Indian People’s Theatre Association brought him close to a number of like-minded culturally associated people.

Mrinal Sen made his first feature film, Raat Bhore, in 1955. After making five more films, he made a film with a shoe-string budget provided by the Government of India. This film, Bhuvan Shome (Mr. Shome), finally launched him as a major filmmaker, both nationally and internationally. Bhuvan Shome also initiated the “New Cinema” film movement in India.