Today marks the 95th birth anniversary of legendary Bengali actress Suchitra Sen. Born on 6 April 1931 in Pabna, Suchitra was a versatile artiste in Indian cinema who worked in Bengali and Hindi cinema simultaneously. The movies in which she paired up with Uttam Kumar became classics in the history of Bengali cinema.
Her unforgettable performances in a series of popular Bengali films such as “Sharey Chuattor”, “Deep Jwele Jaai”, “Uttar Falguni”, “Saat Paake Badha” and “Pathe Holo Deri” made her a legend in Bengali cinema.
Suchitra made her debut in a film with “Shesh Kothay” in 1952. But it was never released. The following year saw her work opposite Uttam Kumar, another legend of Bengali film in “Sharey Chuattor” directed by Nirmal Dey.
“Sharey Chuattor” was a box-office hit and is remembered for her outstanding performance with Uttam as a leading pair. The pair went on to rule Bengali cinemas for more than 20 years.
Suchitra was the first Bengali actress to get awarded at an international film festival at the Moscow Film festival in 1963 - as best actress for her role in “Saat Paake Badha”.
She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 by the Indian government. Notably; she refused the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest cinematic award in India, to stay out of the public eye in 2005.
The legend was awarded with West Bengal government’s highest award Banga Bibhushan for her lifetime contribution to Bengali cinema in 2012.
The iconic actor, who remained a mystery to her fans and even close ones for most of her life, breathed her last in Kolkata on 17 January 2014 at the age of 82.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
