Suchitra Sen
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| Suchitra Sen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6th April, 1931 |
| Spouse(s) | Dibanath Sen |
Suchitra Sen (April 6, 1929) or April 6, 1931[1] (Bangla: সুচিত্রা সেন) or Roma Dasgupta is a Bengali actress who has attained legendary status because of her performances in Bengali cinema. In particular, the movies in which she paired opposite another legend in Bangala films, Uttam Kumar, are all-time classics in Bengali cinema. She now lives a life of a recluse rarely making any public appearances. When she left movies, she was slowly but steadily losing the position of leading lady of Bengali silver screen.
She is the first Indian actress to be awarded in an international film festival (Best Actress award for the movie Saat Paake Bandha in 1963 Moscow film festival).
Her films with Uttam Kumar are still shown as re-runs on Bengali TV channels such as ETV Bangla, Aakash Bangla,DD7 Bangla and so forth; many of them are available on video CD. Notably, she allegedly refused the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (the Indian equivalent of a lifetime Oscar) in 2005, preferring to live in seclusion out of the public eye.
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[edit] Early life
She was born Roma Dasgupta in Pabna district in Bangladesh 1931. She married Dibanath Sen, son of a wealthy Bengali industrialist, in 1947 and had one child, Moon Moon Sen, who went on to become an actress. Her father Karunamoy Dasgupta was the head master of the local school and her mother's name was Indira Dasgupta. She was their fifth child and third daughter. Roma had formal education in Pabna.
[edit] Career
Suchitra made her debut in films with Shesh Kothai in 1952, but the film was unreleased.
The following year saw her act opposite Uttam Kumar in Sharey Chuattor. The film became a box-office hit and it was remembered for launching Uttam-Suchitra as a leading pair. They went on to become the icons for Bengali melodramas for more than 20 years, becoming almost a genre to themselves.
She received a Best Actress Award for the film Devdas (1955), which was her first Hindi movie. Her patented Bengali melodramas and romances especially with Uttam Kumar, made her the most famous Bengali actress ever. Her films ran through the 1960s and the 1970s. Her husband passed away, but she continued to act in films, such as the Hindi hit film Aandhi (1974), where she played a politician. Aandhi was inspired by India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Sen received a Filmfare nomination as Best Actress, while Sanjeev Kumar, who essayed the role of her husband, won the Filmfare as Best Actor.
She retired from the screen in 1978 after a career of over 25 years to a life of quiet seclusion. She has avoided the public gaze after her retirement and has devoted her time to the Ramkrishna Mission.[2] Suchitra Sen was a contender for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2005, provided she was ready to accept it in person. Her refusal to go to Delhi and personally receive the award from the President of India deprived her of that award.
Her daughter Moonmoon Sen also acted in a few films in Hindi and Bengali. Moonmoon Sen's daughters Riya and Raima are also actresses.
[edit] Selected Bengali filmography
- Sharé Chuyattor (1953)
- Ora Thaaké Odharé (1954)
- Agniporikkha (1954)
- Shapmochan (1955)
- Sobar Uporé (1955)
- Shagorika (1956)
- Pathé Holo Deri (1957)
- Harano Sur (1957)
- Deep Jwélé Jaai (1959)
- Shaptapadi (1961)
- Bipasha (1962)
- Chaaoa-Paaoa
- Shaat-Paké Bandha (1963), for which she won the best actress award at the Moscow International Film Festival.
- Hospital
- Shilpi (1965)
- Indrani (1958)
- Rajlokkhi O Srikanto (1958)
- Surjotoron, or Surya Toran (1958)
- Uttor Falguni (1963) (remade in Hindi as Mamta)
- Grihodaho (1967)
- Fariaad
- Debi Choudharani (1974)
- Dotta (1976)
- Pranay Paasha
- Priyo Bandhobi
- Alo Aamar Alo
- Chokher Bali
- Annapurnar Mandir
[edit] Selected Hindi filmography
- Devdas (1955)
- Musafir (1957)
- Champakali (1957)
- Bombay ka Babu (1960)
- Mamta (1966) (a remake of her Bengali film Uttor Falguni)
- Aandhi (1975), co-starring Sanjeev Kumar; this film was banned for a while, because it was felt to portray Indira Gandhi[3]
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AnnaPurnar Mandir
[edit] Biographies
1. Suchitra Sen : A Legend in Her Lifetime byShoma A. Chatterji. New Delhi, Rupa & Co., 2002, 80 p., photographs, ISBN 81-7167998-6.[1]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Suchitra Sen at the Internet Movie Database
- A Biography
- Calcuttaweb
- Suchitra Sen biographical profile from a Tripura website
