Suchitra Sen: the ‘great heroine’ who remained absent for 36 years, did not show her face even in death

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The ‘Dada Saheb Phalke Award’ obtained from the Authorities of India for his contribution to cinema has a really excessive standing. Whoever is chosen for this award, which is given by the president of the nation, turns into an icon of Indian cinema in itself. Hindi film star Amitabh Bachchan, who known as ‘Huge Hero’, obtained this award in 2019.

14 years earlier than her, in 2005, this award was additionally provided to one of the well-known actresses in Indian cinema. It’s mentioned {that a} Bengali movie of this actress was going to be made in Hindi with the memorable couple of Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha. However after watching the unique movie, Mr. Bachchan mentioned with folded palms in full respect: ‘Yeh mujhe nahi hoga.’

Suchitra Sen (Credit: Twitter)

When the award was provided to that legendary actress, a particular observe was despatched that you’ll have to come and obtain the award your self. Reviews say that Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, who was then the Minister of Info and Broadcasting, needed this actress to go herself to obtain the award from her. However the actress selected to stay in seclusion, removed from the general public eye, apart from India’s most prestigious movie honour. This was the ‘nice hero’ Suchitra Sen. Suchitra, born on April 6, 1931, is often known as the ‘legendary hero’.

One of the iconic actresses, Suchitra was 47 years outdated when she final appeared in public. There have been positively some indicators of growing older on her face. However her id was the identical magnificence that had compelled audiences to maintain watching, unblinking, in a 25-year profession. When she Suchitra mentioned goodbye to the world in 2014, she was 82 years outdated. However folks nonetheless bear in mind her probably the most from her at 47 years outdated, as a result of after that folks by no means obtained to see her head to head. Not even on her final journey! Let’s discuss in regards to the ‘legend’ Suchitra Sen…

Suchitra – the start of a fantasy

Suchitra Sen (Credit: Twitter)

The good nobleman of Calcutta, Adinath Sen, was in search of a lady for the wedding of his son Dibanath. On this regard, he discovered a household who got here to West Bengal from the Pabna district of japanese Pakistan (now Bangladesh) through the 1947 partition. Nobody is aware of what Adinath noticed in 16-year-old Rama Dasgupta that made him a his daughter in legislation However the tales say that after the arrival of Rama, the lifetime of Adinath’s son, Dibanath, modified, and he started to develop into hooked on events, alcohol and playing.

The next yr of marriage, Rama additionally had a daughter named Moon Moon Sen, who made movies in lots of languages ​​in India and have become an important actress. However earlier than this, Munmun’s mom, Rama herself, had turned out to be a film icon. It was a giant deal for a married mom with a toddler to get into performing within the Fifties. However Rama took this massive step and on display screen she was referred to as Suchitra Sen. The primary Bengali movie of hers was Shesh Kothay (1952), nevertheless it was by no means launched. However what occurred subsequent modified the destiny of Suchitra.

Probably the most iconic couple in cinema

Suchitra Sen, Uttam Kumar (Credit: social networks)

The title of Suchitra’s first movie launched in theaters was ‘Seven Quantity Prisoner’ (1953). This movie flopped badly, after which Suchitra labored in a background or ‘additional’ function in Tarun Mukherjee’s movie ‘Atom Bomb’. This film was made in 1951 however launched in 1954. However earlier than this, in 1953, his film ‘Sharey Chuattor’ (Seven and a Half) began doing nicely in theaters.

On this movie, Suchitra first appeared with Uttam Kumar, who’s often known as the ‘superhero’ of Bengali cinema. This film grew to become an enormous hit after which the Uttam-Suchitra couple grew to become so well-liked that this couple was repeated quite a bit in motion pictures by totally different administrators for nearly 20 years. Reviews counsel that out of 60 movies in her profession, Suchitra made 30 with Uttam Kumar.

Hottest stoppage of ‘Devdas’
Bimal Roy’s Nationwide Award-winning movie ‘Devdas’ (1955) was Suchitra’s first Hindi movie. Roy had beforehand approached Meena Kumari for the function of her, however her husband Kamal Amrohi put in some circumstances that weren’t acceptable to her. By then, Suchitra had provide you with a blockbuster movie like ‘Agnipariksha’ (1954) in Bengali with Uttam Kumar. It’s mentioned that it was from right here that Suchitra was approached by Bimal da for the function of Paro. Vyjayanthimala was provided the Nationwide ‘Finest Actress’ Award for the function of Chandramukhi in ‘Devdas’ however she declined the award saying Suchitra and her function within the movie have been the identical.

Suchitra Sen, Dilip Kumar in ‘Devdas’ (Credit: Twitter)

British movie critic Derek Malcolm has mentioned in a single place that he doesn’t discover Suchitra’s “performing” expertise to be very spectacular. Relatively, in response to him, Suchitra had a ‘everlasting expression’ on her face that gave her characters a distinct shade. Actor Soumitra Chatterjee, who labored with Suchitra in ‘Saat Paake Bandha’, has additionally mentioned that she ‘she was lovely, however I do not take into account her one of the best actress’. Suchitra used to play her characters that manner, which in right this moment’s cinema known as ‘understatement’. In Hindi, Suchitra labored in a complete of seven movies. A few of these have been successes, some failures. However her character all the time remained totally different from different actresses.

Highly effective character and extra charges than hero.
In ‘Saptapadi’, Suchitra was an alcoholic Anglo-Indian soldier. In ‘Uttar Falguni’, she performed the double function of a prostitute and the daughter of her lawyer. In ‘Deep Jelle Jaye’, she performed the function of a nurse who poses as his spouse to assist the mentally challenged hero. Within the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties, enjoying such characters on display screen was vital in itself.

Suchitra not solely performed robust characters on display screen, but in addition created a powerful id for herself off display screen. Reviews counsel that Suchitra took Rs 1 lakh as a charge for the 1962 movie ‘Bipasha’. This was the primary time {that a} Bengali actor had charged such a charge. Additionally it is mentioned that for a lot of of her movies, Suchitra had collected extra charges than the movie’s hero. And never solely was he undeserved, I am positive folks flocked to see him on display screen in such a manner that his presence within the movie had develop into a subject of dialogue in itself.

a storm’
Whether or not viewers of Hindi cinema acknowledge Suchitra from another character or not, they may positively bear in mind Gulzar’s 1975 movie ‘Aandhi’. On this movie, Suchitra performed the function of a political girl. The story of the movie and this character have been mentioned to have been impressed by Indira Gandhi who was the Prime Minister of India on the time. However truly solely Suchitra’s character’s look was impressed by her.

Suchitra Sen in ‘Aandhi’ (Credit: Twitter)

One of many on-screen qualities Suchitra is remembered for is her track performing. Even in ‘Aandhi’, ‘Tere Bina Zindagi Se’ and ‘Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa Gaya Hai’ have been very iconic. Each songs are highly regarded even right this moment.

Rejected Motion pictures From High Filmmakers
Within the historical past of Indian cinema, the title of Satyajit Ray can also be listed among the many so-called legendary filmmakers. Even in overseas nations, even right this moment, nice filmmakers admit to being impressed by Satyajit. It was Satyajit Ray who determined to make a movie on the Bengali novel ‘Devi Chaudharani’ within the Nineteen Sixties and approached Suchitra for the lead function. Suchitra, who as soon as made headlines for engaged on 20 motion pictures in two years, advised Ray that he wouldn’t be engaged on another motion pictures throughout his film.

Suchitra Sen (Credit: Twitter)

Reviews counsel that Satyajit Ray additionally needed Suchitra to alter her look for her movie. However Suchitra didn’t settle for each and flatly refused. Satyajit was additionally so specific about his movie that after Suchitra refused, he stopped the venture and by no means made this movie. Equally, Suchitra as soon as turned down Raj Kapoor for the movie as nicely. It’s mentioned that when she disagreed, Raj Saheb got here to Kolkata to satisfy her. Raj Kapoor, recognized for her jovial humor, knelt down and gave Suchitra a bunch of flowers.

Suchitra is claimed to have disliked his ‘filmic’ type. Reviews counsel that Suchitra, after turning down the movie, advised one in all his males: “What want does a person must bow right down to a girl like that!” Gopal Krishna Roy, who wrote Suchitra’s biography, says: ‘She was very moody and he or she all the time used to stroll in response to her temper. However as an individual, she was very glad and charming.

Disenchantment and seclusion of the screens
In 1978, Suchitra’s movie ‘Pranay Pasha’ was launched and flopped. After this he was by no means seen on display screen once more. He distanced himself from the general public eye and commenced to stay in a secluded place. When she determined to keep away from the display screen, work had began on her movie ‘Nati Bandini’ with Rajesh Khanna, however as a consequence of Suchitra’s determination, she needed to cease midway.

Additionally it is mentioned that after the dying of his well-known display screen accomplice, Uttam Kumar in 1980, he had largely distanced himself from the general public eye. Reviews counsel that Uttam Kumar had known as Suchitra earlier than bidding farewell to the world and expressed his need to satisfy her. However Suchitra advised him ‘I’m busy, we’ll meet later’.

Ramlal Nandi, whom Suchitra thought-about her son, mentioned in a later interview: “In the future in 1978, she mentioned: now I can’t go to the studio.” So I used to be not good sufficient to grasp the worth of this assertion. Nandi’s uncle Asit Chowdhary used to run Chhayabani Manufacturing Firm and was very near Suchitra. It was Asit who launched Suchitra to Bharat Maharaj, the president of Ramakrishna Mission, her initiation guru.

In her later days, away from the general public eye, Suchitra used to spend time with the Ramakrishna Mission and frolicked gardening, finding out, and so on. His biographer, Roy, mentioned in an interview: “He did this to maintain his youthful picture within the hearts of his numerous followers.” Devanand, who had labored along with her on two movies, wrote in her biography that he tried to satisfy Suchitra, however these near her refused, saying “she would not know anybody.”

Final journey out of sight
In December 2013, Suchitra was admitted to hospital with a criticism of lung an infection. There have been stories within the first week of January that her situation was enhancing. However his well being once more deteriorated and Suchitra handed away on January 17, 2014. Even throughout his remedy, she took nice care to make sure privateness was maintained. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee additionally secretly got here to the hospital to satisfy him.

When Suchitra’s physique was taken for final rites at a crematorium in south Kolkata, her physique was transported in a car that was lined in white flowers and had blackened home windows. The folks standing on the highway, the cameras of the information channels and nobody who got here to listen to the information of his passing might see what Suchitra regarded like in his final moments. Her physique was taken from the automobile in a coffin and positioned on a pyre in a location that was hidden from public view.

It’s well-known about Suchitra that she as soon as mentioned, ‘I’m an actress and will solely be seen on display screen.’ Till the final second, her household additionally made positive that Suchitra was remembered by folks whereas she was seen on the display screen!

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