GRACEFUL ACTRESS-FILMMAKER APARNA SEN..70+!

Recently there was..72nd Birthday of our famous Bengali actress & renowned filmmaker Aparna Sen!

Aparna Sen in Ray's 'Samapti' (1961).

Soumitra Chatterjee & Aparna Sen in 'Akash Kusum' (1965).

Beautiful actress Aparna (Dasgupta) appeared on screen in 1961 with renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray's Bengali movie 'Teen Kanya'..Her tomboyish teenager Mrinmoyee in it's 'Samapti' was cute! Then from Mrinal Sen's 'Akash Kusum' (1965) to Ray's 'Aranyer Din Ratri' (1970) Aparna Sen established herself as a leading actress of Bengali Cinema..And acted with leading actors of that time like..with Uttam Kumar in 'Joy Jayanti' (1971) & with Soumitra Chatterjee in 'Basant Bilap' (1973).

Uttam Kumar & Aparna Sen in 'Joy Jayanti' (1971).

She also acted in English films like Merchant-Ivory's 'Bombay Talkie' (1970). Then in 1977 she acted in Hindi movies like 'Iman Dharam' with Amitabh Bachchan & Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 'Kotwal Saab' with Shatrughna Sinha! 


She got critical acclaim for her performances in films like 'Indira' (1984) and Mrinal Sen's 'Ek Din Achanak' (1989) & 'Mahaprithibi' (1991).

Collage of Aparna Sen directed films!

Aparna Sen shooting the film!

In 1981 Aparna Sen became director with Shashi Kapoor's (Jennifer Kendal acted) film '36 Chowringhee Lane' & won national award! Then with strong social 'Sati' (1989), 'Paromitar Ek Din' (2000) to 'The Japanese Wife' & 'Iti Mrinalini' (2010)..she got international recognition!

I remember first interacting with Aparna Sen during my 'B.C.J. in 1987..that time she directed & Rakhee acted 'Paroma' screened in the film society, Pune..After that in our 'International Film Festival of India' at New Delhi in 1996..She acted & Rituparno Ghosh directed film 'Unishe April' was in it's 'Indian Panorama'! Then during she directed films like 'Mr. & Mrs. Iyer' (2001) & '15 Park Avenue' (2005) shows in film festivals..always had nice meetings & conversations! Her interview published in my film magazine 'Chitrasrushti's special issue! 

Aparna Sen with father Chidanand Dasgupta!

Aparna Sen with daughter-actress Konkana Sen-Sharma!

I also remember meeting her father (late) film critic & historian Chidanand Dasgupta in film societies event at Pune! And also met her daughter actress Konkana Sen Sharma in 'IFFI'. Both acted 'Titli' (2002) was notable!

She won eight 'BFJA' awards, three National Awards and nine international film festivals awards!..And in 1987 she was awarded the 'Padma Shri'!!

Best wishes to this..one of the favourite actress-filmmakers!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]