Mamata Banerjee pays tribute with gun salute.
By Prabhav Hiremath
MUMBAI: The year has begun on a sad note for Tollywood. Legendary actor Rama Dasgupta, famously known as Suchitra Sen (82), bid adieu to the world.
For close to one month, she was in the news for her ill health and being in critical condition. She was admitted to Belle Vue Clinic in Kolkata on December 23rd, 2013, where she breathed her last on January 17th at 8:25 a.m. IST, following a massive cardiac arrest. She was kept in the private intensive care unit at the hospital for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
She is survived by her only actress daughter, Moon Moon Sen and grand-daughters, Riya and Raima Sen.
The Bengali beauty was compared to Hollywood icon Greta Garbo, a Swedish film actress and an international star during Hollywood’s silent and classic periods. Sen was given the title of the Greta Garbo of Bengali Cinema. She shone to fame with her memorable performances in films like ‘Agnipariksha (1954)’, ‘Devdas (Hindi – 1955)’, ‘Aandhi (1975)’, ‘Saat Paake Bandha (1963)’ and ‘Deep Jwele Jaai (1959).’
In her later life, fans and the general public were kept in dark about her looks as she hardly came out in public for the past 35 years. Post her death, the car carrying her body to the Keoratala crematorium in South Kolkata, was covered with white flowers and black-tinted glass. The public were not allowed to pay their respects at the funeral. The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a gun salute at the funeral.
Sen’s death was condoled by Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India and Dr. Manmohan Singh, India’s Prime Minister.
The actress made her debut in Bengali films with ‘Shesh Kothaay’ (1952), which however, didn’t release. Her pairing opposite Uttam Kumar in ‘’Sharey Chuattor’ (1953) gave her recognition in the industry; the pair became a hit with the audience for the next 20 years.
However, after the 1978 film ‘Pronoy Pasha’ with Soumitra Chatterjee flopped, Sen decided to become enigmatic. The ethereal beauty also refused to accept the highest cinematic award in India, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, in 2005, in order to remain isolated from public.
Sen was the first Indian actress to be honoured with Silver Prize for Best Actress Award for her film ‘Saat Paake Bandha’ at the 1963 Moscow film festival. In 2012, the West Bengal government conferred the title of ‘Banga Bibhushan’ for her contribution to Bengali cinema.
As she acted in seven Hindi films, Bollywood stars didn’t fail to pay a tribute in their own words and took to Twitter, mourning her loss. This is what they had to say:
Amitabh Bachchan: Suchitra Sen – beauty, talent, enigmatic – she adorned film world of Bengal with exquisite performances, graced Hindi films too!
Madhuri Dixit: RIP Suchitra Sen. Indian cinema will miss you.
Bipasha Basu: RIP Suchitra Sen! Real beauty. Strength to the family
Shoojit Sircar: RIP Suchitra Sen… Real inspiration… how to detach yourself from the stardom and film world… spiritual power…
Madhur Bhandarkar: Suchitra Sen will always be remembered for her remarkable performances in Devdas, Aandhi, Mamta and immense contribution to Bengali cinema. RIP.
Sridevi: Actor par excellence, a divine beauty, a legend, an icon who will inspire generations to come. RIP Suchitra Sen.
Manoj Bajpayee: RIP Suchitra Sen! There is so much to learn from your life and your work! You will be missed.
Tusshar Kapoor: An icon departs! RIP Suchitra Sen!
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