Legendary film maker, Mrinal Sen passed away in Kolkata on December 30. He was 95.
Sen was born on May 14, 1923 in Faridpur, now in Bangladesh. After completing high school, he left home to go to Kolkata for studying physics. During his student days, Sen was involved with the cultural wing of the Communist party, though he never became a member of the party.
His first feature film was Raat Bhore, made in 1955. His next film Neel Akasher Niche, earned him recognition, but his third film, Baishey Shraban, which he made in 1960, earned him critical acclaim and international renown.
His other major films are Bhuvan Shome, Interview, Akash Kusum, Protinidhi, Calcutta 71, Chorus, Mrigaya, Ekdin Pratidin, Akaler Shandhaney, Kharij, Khandahar, Genesis, Ekdin Achanak, Mahaprithibi, and so on. Sen had made his last feature film, Aamar Bhuban, in 2003, at the age of eighty. He also made several short films and documentaries.
Sen’s films received awards from almost all major film festivals – Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Moscow, Karlovy Vary, Montreal, Chicago, and Cairo.
He received the Padma Bhushan, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He was also an honorary Member of the Indian Parliament from 1998 to 2003. The French government awarded him the Commandeur de l’ordre des Arts et letters (Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters), the highest honor conferred by the country. In 2001 The Russian government honoured him with the Order of Friendship.
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