Key Points
Theres little in common between Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen apart from the fact that they are all classic Bengali textbook auteurs who are highly respected and studied by cinephiles and students in film schools around the world..
One of the most influential Bengali masters whose birth centenary today deserves to be celebrated with the same enthusiasm as his contemporary Rays was in 2021 Sen is the conjurer of politically bold and rebellious films that challenged conventional mainstream philosophies..
Despite being labeled as a political filmmaker, perhaps due to his iconic Calcutta trilogy (Padatik, Interview and Calcutta 71), which he made during the early 1970s amidst great social and political turmoil in his hometown, Mrinal-da as he was affectionately addressed by family and fans remains best known in the Hindi speaking regions of India for Bhuvan Shome..
It is fair to say that Bhuvan Shome has achieved a cult following among Hindi cinema viewers, partly because of the unexpected presence (or, shall we say, the unexpected absence?) of Amitabh Bachchan in the film..
Between 1986-87 he helmed the popular TV series Kabhi Door Kabhi Paas which was later restored by the filmmakers son Kunal Sen. Kunal, who used to call his father Bondhu and has even penned a memoir bearing that title, has been spearheading Mrinal Sens centenary celebrations from Kolkata of late..
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