Mrinal Sen

Mrinal was born into a Hindu family in Faridpur district, East Bengal—now Bangladesh. His father, Dineshchandra Sen, was a lawyer who supported Indian freedom fighters. His mother was Saraju Sen.{{Cite news |last=Bergan |first=Ronald |date=2019-01-07 |title=Mrinal Sen obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jan/07/mrinal-sen-obituary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710224001/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jan/07/mrinal-sen-obituary |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In the early 1940s, Mrinal moved to Kolkata to study physics at Scottish Church College.{{Cite news |last=Genzlinger |first=Neil |date=2019-01-03 |title=Mrinal Sen, One of India's Leading Directors, Dies at 95 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/obituaries/mrinal-sen-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813112943/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/obituaries/mrinal-sen-dead.html |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |access-date=2025-04-04 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Like many middle-class students of the time, he was drawn to student politics, public theatre, and the struggle to find work. After Partition in 1947, his family settled in Kolkata permanently.{{Cite journal |last=মুখোপাধ্যায় |first=সঞ্জয় |date=January 17, 2019 |title=সময়ের আয়না ও মৃণাল সেন |journal=Desh |issue=6 |pages=22–23}}

A voracious reader, he spent hours at the National Library of India (then the Imperial Library), reading books amid the political unrest of the time. In the evenings, he worked as a private tutor. One day, he came across Rudolf Arnheim’s Film as Art, followed by Vladimir Nilsen's The Cinema as a Graphic Art—books that profoundly influenced his journey into filmmaking.{{Cite web |last=Ghosh |first=Devarsi |title=One Hundred Years of Mrinal Sen |url=https://jacobin.com/2023/06/mrinal-sen-india-filmmaker-politics-communism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250111024630/https://jacobin.com/2023/06/mrinal-sen-india-filmmaker-politics-communism |archive-date=January 11, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Jacobin |language=en-US}}

He became involved with the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), backed by the Communist Party of India.{{Cite news |last=Obituaries |first=Telegraph |date=2019-03-11 |title=Mrinal Sen, film director whose work was fuelled by his radical politics – obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/03/11/mrinal-sen-film-director-whose-work-fuelled-radical-politics/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} He and his friends—Ritwik Ghatak, Salil Chowdhury, Tapan Sinha, and occasionally Bijan Bhattacharya—spent hours in adda, a Bengali tradition of intense, freewheeling discussions on art, politics, and life. Their favorite meeting place was a restaurant near Basusree Cinemahall, where, in 1955, they first watched Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali.

Around this time, Mrinal met Geeta Shome (née Sen), whom he married in 1953. As a token of his affection, the first gift he gave her was Notes from the Gallows by Julius Fučík.

Mrinal Sen directed Bhuvan Shome (Mr. Shome, 1969) which initiated the "New Wave Cinema Movement" in India.{{cite book |title= The New Indian Cinema |last= Vasudev|first= Aruna|year= 1986|publisher=Macmillan India |isbn=0-333-90928-3 }}

The films that he made next were essentially political, and earned him the reputation as a Marxist artist.{{cite book |title= Cinemas of India|last=Thorval |first= Yves|year=2000 |publisher=Macmillan India|isbn= 0-333-93410-5|pages= 280–282}} This was also the time of large-scale political unrest throughout India. Particularly in and around Calcutta, this period underwent what is now known as the Naxalite movement. This phase was immediately followed by a series of films where he shifted his focus, and instead of looking for enemies outside, he looked for the enemy within his own middle class society. This was arguably his most creative phase.

In many Mrinal Sen movies from Punascha (1961) to Mahaprithivi (1992), Kolkata features prominently. He has shown Kolkata as a character, and as an inspiration. He has beautifully woven the people, value system, class difference and the roads of the city into his movies and coming of age for Kolkata, his El-Dorado.{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Mousumi |date=2018-12-31 |title=Mrinal Sen the Unpredictable Maverick |url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/indian-cinema/mrinal-sen-unpredictable-maverick |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}

In 1982 he was a member of the jury at the 32nd Berlin International Film Festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1982/04_jury_1982/04_Jury_1982.html |title=Berlinale 1982: Juries |access-date=2 September 2010 |work=berlinale.de |archive-date=23 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023125209/http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1982/04_jury_1982/04_Jury_1982.html |url-status=live }} In 1983 he was a member of the jury at the 13th Moscow International Film Festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1983 |title=13th Moscow International Film Festival (1983) |access-date=28 January 2013 |work=MIFF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107141111/http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1983 |archive-date=7 November 2013 }} In 1997 Sen became the member of the jury at the 20th Moscow International Film Festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1997 |title=20th Moscow International Film Festival (1997) |access-date=22 March 2013 |work=MIFF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322163106/http://moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1997 |archive-date=22 March 2013 }}

On 24 July 2012, Sen was not invited to the function organised by Government of West Bengal to felicitate film personalities from the State. As per reports, his political views are believed to be the reason for his omission from the function.{{cite news| url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/article3679675.ece| title= Omission of Mrinal Sen from West Bengal film awards triggers controversy| date= 25 July 2012| access-date= 25 July 2012| archive-date= 27 July 2012| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120727041644/http://www.thehindu.com/news/article3679675.ece| url-status= live}}

Sen had age-related ailments for many years. He died on 30 December 2018 at the age of 95 at his home in Bhawanipore, Kolkata.{{Cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/people/bengali-filmmaker-mrinal-sen-dies-at-95-2166800.html|title=Bengali filmmaker Mrinal Sen dies at 95|date=30 December 2018|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101143352/http://zeenews.india.com/people/bengali-filmmaker-mrinal-sen-dies-at-95-2166800.html|url-status=live}} The cause was a heart attack.{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/mrinal-sen-dead-5515743/|title=Mrinal Sen, legendary filmmaker and Phalke awardee, passes away at 95|date=30 December 2018|publisher=Indian Express|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101143406/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/mrinal-sen-dead-5515743/|url-status=live}}

Best Feature Film

• 1969: Bhuvan Shome
• 1974: Chorus
• 1976: Mrigayaa
• 1980: Akaler Sandhane

Second Best Feature Film

• 1972: Calcutta 71
• 1980: Kharij

Best Direction

• 1969: Bhuvan Shome
• 1979: Ek Din Pratidin
• 1980: Akaler Sandhane
• 1984: Khandhar

Best Screenplay

• 1974: Padatik
• 1983: Akaler Sandhane
• 1984: Kharij

Special Mention

• 1978: Parashuram

Best Feature Film in Bengali

• 1961: Punascha
• 1965: Akash Kusum
• 1993: Antareen

Best Feature Film in Telugu

• 1977: Oka Oori Katha

:{{Awards|Critics Award for Best Film|1976|Mrigayaa}} {{Awards|Best Screenplay|1984|Khandhar}} {{Awards|Best Director - Bengali|1982|Akaler Shandhaney}} {{Awards|Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award|2017|Bengali Cinema}}

:4th International Film Festival of India - Jury Prize - Bhuvan Shome - 1969{{cite web|url=https://pickle.co.in/markets/iffi-a-trip-down-the-memory-lane/|title=4th IFFI|date=23 November 2019 |publisher=|access-date=16 September 2022|archive-date=20 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920163530/https://pickle.co.in/markets/iffi-a-trip-down-the-memory-lane/|url-status=live}}

:{{Awards|Moscow International Film Festival - Silver Prize|1975|Chorus{{cite web |url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1975 |title=9th Moscow International Film Festival (1975) |access-date=5 January 2013 |work=MIFF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116194905/http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1975 |archive-date=16 January 2013 }}|1979|Parashuram{{cite web |url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1979 |title=11th Moscow International Film Festival (1979) |access-date=19 January 2013 |work=MIFF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116210417/http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1979 |archive-date=16 January 2013 }}}}

:{{Awards|Karlovy Vary International Film Festival - Special Jury Prize|1977|Oka Oori Katha}}

:Berlin International Film Festival
{{Awards|Interfilm Award|1979|Parashuram|||1981|Akaler Sandhane}} {{Awards|Grand Jury Prize{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1981/03_preistr_ger_1981/03_Preistraeger_1981.html |title=Berlinale 1981: Prize Winners |access-date=22 August 2010 |work=berlinale.de |archive-date=12 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012044531/http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1981/03_preistr_ger_1981/03_Preistraeger_1981.html |url-status=live }}|1981|Akaler Sandhane}}

:{{Awards|Cannes Film Festival - Jury Prize|1983|Kharij}}

:{{Awards|Valladolid International Film Festival - Golden Spike|1983|Kharij}}

:{{Awards|Chicago International Film Festival - Gold Hugo|1984|Khandhar}}

:{{Awards|Montreal World Film Festival - Special Prize of the Jury|1984|Khandhar}}

:{{Awards|Venice Film Festival - OCIC Award - Honorable Mention|1989|Ek Din Achanak}}

:{{Awards|Cairo International Film Festival - Silver Pyramid for Best Director|2002|Aamar Bhuban}}

• In 1979, he was awarded the Nehru Soviet Land Award by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for his contribution to world cinema.
• In 1981, the Government of India awarded Sen with the Padma Bhushan.{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | access-date=21 July 2015 | archive-date=15 October 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | url-status=dead }}
• In 1985, President François Mitterrand, the President of France, awarded him the Commandeur de Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters){{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sR4Ch1dMe8IC&q=%22Ordre%20des%20Arts%20et%20des%20Lettres%22%20Mrinal&pg=PA1518 |title=The International Who's Who 2004 |isbn=9781857432176 |access-date=17 June 2022 |archive-date=17 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617033025/https://books.google.com/books?id=sR4Ch1dMe8IC&pg=PA1518&q=%22Ordre%20des%20Arts%20et%20des%20Lettres%22%20Mrinal |url-status=live |last1=Publications |first1=Europa |date=27 October 2023 |publisher=Psychology Press }}
• In 1993, he was awarded an honorary D.Litt. by the University of Burdwan.
• In 1996, he was awarded an honorary D.Litt. by Jadavpur University.
• In 1999, he was awarded an honorary D.Litt. by Rabindra Bharati University.{{Cite web |url=http://www.stellarpublishers.com/authors.html |title=Stellar Publishers |access-date=26 October 2013 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195305/http://www.stellarpublishers.com/authors.html |url-status=live }}
• Between 1998 and 2003, he was made an Honorary Member of the Indian Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
• In 2000, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation honored him with the Order of Friendship.
• In 2005, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honor given to an Indian filmmaker, was awarded to him by the Government of India for the year 2003.{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/51st_nff_2004.pdf|title=51st National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=15 March 2012|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234942/http://dff.nic.in/2011/51st_nff_2004.pdf|url-status=live}}
• In 2009, he was awarded an honorary D. Litt., by the University of Calcutta.{{cite web|title=Annual Convocation|url=http://www.caluniv.ac.in/convocation-2012/hony_degrees.htm|publisher=University of Calcutta|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528004638/http://caluniv.ac.in/convocation-2012/hony_degrees.htm|archive-date=28 May 2012}}
• In 2017, he was inducted as a member of the Oscar Academy{{cite web|title=Academy invites record 774 new members; 39 percent female, 30 percent people color|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/academy-invites-record-774-new-members-39-percent-female-30-percent-people-color-1017318|date=29 June 2017|access-date=29 June 2017|archive-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629145440/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/academy-invites-record-774-new-members-39-percent-female-30-percent-people-color-1017318|url-status=live}}

• Raat Bhore (The Dawn) (1955)
• Neel Akasher Neechey (Under the Blue Sky) (1959)
• Baishe Shravana (Wedding Day) (1960)
• Punascha (Over Again) (1961)
• Abasheshe (And at Last) (1963)
• Pratinidhi (The Representative) (1964)
• Akash Kusum (Up in the Clouds) (1965)
• Matira Manisha (Man of the Soil) (Odia film) (1966)
• Bhuvan Shome (Mr. Bhuvan Shome) (1969)
• Ichhapuran (1970)
• Interview (1971)
• Ek Adhuri Kahani (An Unfinished Story) (1971)
• Calcutta 71 (1972)
• Padatik (The Guerilla Fighter) (1973)
• Chorus (1974)
• Mrigaya (The Royal Hunt) (1976)
• Oka Oori Katha (The Outsiders) (1977)
• Parashuram (The Man with the Axe) (1978)
• Ek Din Pratidin (And Quiet Rolls the Dawn) (1979)
• Akaler Shandhaney (In Search of Famine) (1980)
• Chalchitra (The Kaleidoscope) (1981)
• Kharij (The Case Is Closed) (1982)
• Khandhar (The Ruins) (1983)
• Genesis (1986)
• Kabhi Door Kabhi Paas (1986–87) (12 short films made for television broadcast)
• Ek Din Achanak (Suddenly, One Day) (1989)
• Mahaprithibi (World Within, World Without) (1991)
• Antareen (The Confined) (1993)
• Amar Bhuvan (This, My Land) (2002)

• Nabyendu Chatterjee
• Sekhar Das
• Anjan Dutt
• Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury
• Nandita Das

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Internet Archive author}}
• {{IMDb name|0784019}}
• {{official website|http://mrinalsen.org/|Mrinal Sen – official website}}
• [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mrinal-Sen Mrinal Sen] at the Encyclopædia Britannica

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{{Mrinal Sen}}

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Category:1923 births

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