Bengali screen goddess Suchitra Sen cremated

Risingbd Desk, KOLKATA, Jan 17:  Much like her life after movies, the final journey of legendary actress Suchitra Sen too was a quiet affair with the administration taking measures honouring her wish of keeping her face away from public gaze.

The body of Sen, who died Friday following cardiac arrest at a city nursing home, was carried to her Ballygunge residence in a coffin inside a hearse fitted with dark glasses and covered with floral wreaths.

The ‘Mahanayika’ remained virtually invisible to the public during the entire process.

Adequate security measures were put in place to ensure that her body was smoothly taken out of Belle Vue Clinic as hundreds of fans gathered around the medical facility hoping to get a glimpse of the screen-goddess who has been an enigma after she shunned the arclights and went into reclusion.

Even her house was cordoned off with heavy deployment of security personnel and only a chosen few — including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a few of her ministerial colleagues besides the actress’s family members — could pay their last respects.

Banerjee, who rushed to the nursing home soon after getting the news and accompanied the hearse to the actress’s home, appealed to the masses to respect the wishes of the family to have peaceful and quiet final rites.

“Her family decided to perform her last rites peacefully and quietly. They have requested me to request all of you to remain quiet and peaceful. They seek your support and cooperation,” said Banerjee.

Inconsolable yet curious fans assembled outside Sen’s house hoping to get a glimpse of the face which had captivated generations for years, but they had to remain content with paying homage from outside as a security ring was thrown around to prevent any access.

 

The Keoratola crematorium where her body was consigned to flames was turned into a virtual fortress as a large number of people from all walks of life, including celebrities, had gathered there to pay homage.
Among all these, clad in a white shawl, Banerjee continued to manage things issuing orders to the police and others as she constantly consoled the bereaved family, including Sen’s daughter Moon Moon and grand daughters Riya and Raima.

 

The coffin-encased body was brought into the crematorium amid booming of gun shots as the iconic actress was given a 21-gun salute on her final journey.

 

There was some anticipation among the fans and the public when the body was to be brought out of the coffin for putting it on the pyre.

 

But a strong presence of police officers, who had thrown a ring around the pyre, prevented any view as the body was mounted on the pyre and covered with wooden logs as Moon Moon performed the rituals.

 

Stars and technicians from the Bengali cinema world including the likes of Prosenjit Chatterjee, June Maliah and yesteryear Bollywood actor Biswajit, politicians, senior police officials and doctors who treated her — all were present at the crematorium where the actress’s body was consigned to the flames as teary-eyed fans looked on.

 

Legendary Bengali actress Suchitra Sen, who was undergoing treatment for respiratory problems, passed away at a hospital in Kolkata on Friday morning. She was 82.

Actress Suchitra Sen suffered a massive heart attack after which her condition had turned very critical, doctors attending on her said.

After having stabilized for the last 2-3 days, the condition of the 82-year-old actress had started deteriorating since last night and in the morning she suffered a heart attack, the doctors said.

Sen was admitted to Belle Vue Clinic on December 23 following a respiratory tract infection. Later, she was treated in a private intensive treatment unit for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
 
Ms Sen began her career with the Bengali film ‘Shesh Kothay’ in 1952 and is known for her role in Bimal Roy’s ‘Devdas’ (1955) and ‘Aandhi’ (1975).

Ms Sen was also the first Indian actress to be awarded at an international film festival – Best Actress award for ‘Saptapadi’ at the Moscow film festival in 1963.

She also acted in a number of Bollywood films such as Devdas and Aandhi.

Sen teamed up with Bengali star Uttam Kumar to form a popular pair that delivered a series of hits in Bengali cinema for over two decades.

But she quit films in 1978 and led a hermit-like existence, reportedly refusing to meet people outside her own family. She had not been seen in public or photographed in the past three decades.

"As one half of one of Indian cinema`s most popular and abiding screen pairs, Suchitra Sen redefined stardom in a way that few actors have done," film critic Saibal Chatterjee siad.

"While she and Uttam Kumar reigned over Bengali films for over two decades, her Garbo-esque retreat from the public life after her retirement only strengthened her allure."

Mr Chatterjee said Sen "combined understated sensuality, feminine charm and emotive force and a no-nonsense gravitas to carve out a persona that has never been matched, let alone surpassed in Indian cinema".

Sen made her debut in 1953 with the hugely popular comedy Share Chuattar (Seventy-four-and-a-half), which was also her first film with Kumar.

Her performance as a nurse hired by a psychiatrist to develop personal relationships with male patients in the 1959 film Deep Jwele Jaai was hailed as one of her best.

The late Bollywood star Dev Anand, who acted with her, once described Sen as "the doe-eyed, dusky beauty and immensely popular star of Bengal".

Sen is survived by her actress daughter Moon Moon Sen. her grand daughters, Riya and Raima Sen, are also actresses.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have expressed deep shock at the death of legendary actress Suchitra Sen.

In a message of condolence, the President said the death of legendary actress is an end of era of Bengali cinema.

Suchitra Sen was also an asset of the country as her native home is in Pabna and she had millions of fans in Bangladesh, he said.

The President said Bengali people have lost a charismatic figure of classical Bengali cinema at her death. "Suchitra Sen will remain ever as an inspiration for making classic cinemas on true Bengali culture," he said.

In a message of condolence, the Prime Minister said, Suchitra Sen, Greta Garbo of Bengali movies, is one of the most favourite actresses, who she admired most.

“Bengali people have lost a distinctive figure of classical Bengali daughter, wife and caring mother at her death,” she said.

The Prime Minister said, Suchitra Sen, who in her career mainly focused on the regions of Bengal and Bangladesh, will remain ever remember as an inspiration for making ameliorative cinemas on Bengali literature and culture.

Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim and Cultural Minister Asaduzzaman Noor also expressed deep shock at the death of veteran actress Suchitra Sen.

risingbd/mukul/HA