Veteran Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen, a three-time National Award winner, passed away at the age of 70 in Kolkata on August 16 after suffering from heart ailments.
KOLKATA — Raja Sen, a distinguished Bengali film director and three-time National Award winner, passed away at a Kolkata hospital on August 16. He was 70 years old.
Sen was admitted to SSKM Hospital three days prior to his death, where he succumbed to his health issues at 10 a.m. His wife, Papiya Sen, revealed that he had been battling heart ailments and was on a ventilator during his final days.
“He had a cardiac arrest. Gradually, multiple organs were failing. The doctors tried very hard, but he could not be saved,” Papiya Sen told reporters.
Initially, Sen was admitted to a private hospital due to a back injury. However, his condition worsened, leading to complications with his lungs, heart, and kidneys.
Sen is survived by his wife, Papiya Sen, and their two daughters, Subhasree Sen and Sreyoshi Sen.
Born in Kolkata on November 10, 1955, Sen began his career in Bengali television before transitioning to feature films.
His feature-film debut, “Damu,” was released in 1996 and won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film. The film featured performances by Raghuvir Yadav, Satya Banerjee, and Sabyasachi Chakrabarty.
Following this success, he directed “Atmiyo Swajan,” which earned the National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare.
Sen’s filmography also includes notable works such as “Chakrabyuha,” “Desh,” and “Debipaksha.”
In addition to feature films, Sen directed several documentaries. His documentary on the renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent Suchitra Mitra won the National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film.
He also chronicled the lives of prominent figures in Bengal’s cultural landscape, including filmmakers Tapan Sinha and Sombhu Mitra, as well as poet Subhas Mukhopadhyay.
Sen’s final feature film, “Bhalobasar Golpo,” was released in 2019. His contributions to Bengali cinema have left a lasting impact, and he will be remembered for his artistic legacy.
According to IANS, Raja Sen’s passing marks a significant loss for the Bengali film industry.