Mrinal Sen
Encyclopedia
Mrinal Sen is a Bengal
i India
n filmmaker. He was born on 14 May 1923, in the town of Faridpur
, now in Bangladesh
in a Hindu
family. After finishing his high school there, he left home to come to Calcutta as a student and studied physics
at the well-known Scottish Church College and at the University of Calcutta
. As a student, he got involved with the cultural wing of the Communist party
. Although he never became a member of the party, his association with the socialist Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA
) brought him close to a number of like-minded culturally associated people.
(Under the Blue Sky), earned him local recognition, while his third film, Baishey Shravan (the day when rabindranath tagore died) was his first film that gave him international exposure.
. This film, Bhuvan Shome
(Mr. Shome), finally launched him as a major filmmaker, both nationally and internationally. Bhuvan Shome also initiated the "New Cinema" film movement in 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.
, surrealism
, Marxism
, German expressionism
, French
Nouvelle Vague and Italian neorealism
, in their stylistic nuances, these films often parallel the cinema of Woody Allen
. Like Allen's cinema, Sen's cinema for the most, do not provide a happy ending or a definitive conclusion (unlike many of the films of Sen's better known contemporary Satyajit Ray
). In many of Sen's later films, the audience becomes a participant in the process of the development of the plot. The director invites and provokes the audience into a shared process of forming multiple conclusions, that are at the same time unique and different. The director does not play the role of god, his audience does. It is not really surprising that unlike Allen who has a steady niche audience in the Western literati and aficionados, Sen's experimentation with parallel cinema had significantly cost him much of a devoted audience composing of largely the Calcutta based westernized intelligentsia.
In 1982, he was a member of the jury at the 32nd Berlin International Film Festival
.
Mrinal Sen never stopped experimenting with his medium. In his later films he tried to move away from the narrative structure and worked with very thin story lines. After a long gap of eight years, at the age of eighty, he made his latest film, Aamaar Bhuvan, in 2002.
During his career, Mrinal Sen's film have received awards from almost all major film festivals, including (Cannes
, Berlin
, Venice
, Moscow
, Karlovy Vary
, Montreal
, Chicago
, and Cairo
). Retrospectives of his films have been shown in almost all major cities of the world. He has also received a number of honorary doctorate degrees (D.Litt Honoris Causa) from various universities. Mrinal Sen was also elected as the president of the International Federation of the Film Societies. He received the Taj Enlighten Tareef Award which is given for a lifetime contribution to the world of cinema in 2008. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th edition of the Osian's Cinefest Film Festival
2008.
Filmfare Awards
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Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
i India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n filmmaker. He was born on 14 May 1923, in the town of Faridpur
Faridpur District
Faridpur is a district in central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division. Faridpur District has a population of over 1.7 million people and is situated on the banks of the Padma river . It is bordered by Madaripur, Narail, Rajbari, Magura, Shariatpur, Gopalgonj, Dhaka and Manikganj...
, now in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
family. After finishing his high school there, he left home to come to Calcutta as a student and studied physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at the well-known Scottish Church College and at the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
. As a student, he got involved with the cultural wing of the Communist party
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
. Although he never became a member of the party, his association with the socialist Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA
Ipta
IPTA can refer to:* Indian People's Theatre Association* International Pulsar Timing Array...
) brought him close to a number of like-minded culturally associated people.
Early life
His interest in films started after he stumbled upon a book on film aesthetics. However his interest remained mostly intellectual, and he was forced to take up the job of a medical representative, which took him away from Calcutta. This did not last very long, and he came back to the city and eventually took a job of an audio technician in a Calcutta film studio, which eventually launched his film career.His directorial debut
Mrinal Sen made his first feature film, Raatbhor, in 1955. It had iconic Uttam Kumar who wasn't a star then.The movie was a let-down. His next film, Neel Akasher NeecheyNeel Akasher Neechey
Neel Akasher Neechey is a 1959 Bengali language film directed by Mrinal Sen, starring Kali Bannerjee, Manju Dey, Bikash Roy and others....
(Under the Blue Sky), earned him local recognition, while his third film, Baishey Shravan (the day when rabindranath tagore died) was his first film that gave him international exposure.
Sen and New Cinema in India
After making five more films, he made a film with a shoe-string budget provided by the Government of IndiaGovernment of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. This film, Bhuvan Shome
Bhuvan Shome
Bhuvan Shome is a 1969 Hindi film directed by Mrinal Sen. The cast includes Utpal Dutt and Suhasini Mulay...
(Mr. Shome), finally launched him as a major filmmaker, both nationally and internationally. Bhuvan Shome also initiated the "New Cinema" film movement in India.
Social context and its political influence
The films that he made next were overtly political, and earned him the reputation as a Marxist artist. This was also the time of large-scale political unrest throughout IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Particularly in and around Calcutta, this period underwent what is now known as the Naxalite
Naxalite
The word Naxal, Naxalite or Naksalvadi is a generic term used to refer to various militant Communist groups operating in different parts of India under different organizational envelopes...
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
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
society. This was arguably his most creative phase.
Depiction of Kolkata
In many Mrinal Sen movies from Punascha to Mahaprithibi, 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.Experimentation, recognition and acclaim
During this period, he won a large number of international awards. It could be argued that although his films show the development of ideas from existentialismExistentialism
Existentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...
, surrealism
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
, Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
, German expressionism
German Expressionism
German Expressionism refers to a number of related creative movements beginning in Germany before the First World War that reached a peak in Berlin, during the 1920s...
, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Nouvelle Vague and Italian neorealism
Italian neorealism
Italian neorealism is a style of film characterized by stories set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location, frequently using nonprofessional actors...
, in their stylistic nuances, these films often parallel the cinema of Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
. Like Allen's cinema, Sen's cinema for the most, do not provide a happy ending or a definitive conclusion (unlike many of the films of Sen's better known contemporary Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
). In many of Sen's later films, the audience becomes a participant in the process of the development of the plot. The director invites and provokes the audience into a shared process of forming multiple conclusions, that are at the same time unique and different. The director does not play the role of god, his audience does. It is not really surprising that unlike Allen who has a steady niche audience in the Western literati and aficionados, Sen's experimentation with parallel cinema had significantly cost him much of a devoted audience composing of largely the Calcutta based westernized intelligentsia.
In 1982, he was a member of the jury at the 32nd Berlin International Film Festival
32nd Berlin International Film Festival
The 32nd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from February 12 to February 23, 1982.-Jury:* Joan Fontaine * Vladimir Baskakov* Brigitte Fossey* Joe Hembus* László Lugossy* Gian Luigi Rondi* Helma Sanders-Brahms...
.
Mrinal Sen never stopped experimenting with his medium. In his later films he tried to move away from the narrative structure and worked with very thin story lines. After a long gap of eight years, at the age of eighty, he made his latest film, Aamaar Bhuvan, in 2002.
During his career, Mrinal Sen's film have received awards from almost all major film festivals, including (Cannes
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is a spa city situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately west of Prague . It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
). Retrospectives of his films have been shown in almost all major cities of the world. He has also received a number of honorary doctorate degrees (D.Litt Honoris Causa) from various universities. Mrinal Sen was also elected as the president of the International Federation of the Film Societies. He received the Taj Enlighten Tareef Award which is given for a lifetime contribution to the world of cinema in 2008. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th edition of the Osian's Cinefest Film Festival
Osian's Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema
Osian's-Cinefan, the largest film-festival devoted to Asian and Arab cinema, is part of Osian's Film House Division. The festival celebrated its 10th anniversary in July 2008.-History:...
2008.
National awards
National Film AwardsNational Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
Filmfare Awards
Filmfare Awards
The Filmfare Awards are presented annually by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Hindi language film industry of India. The Filmfare ceremony is one of the oldest and most prominent film events given for Hindi films in India. The awards were...
International awards
Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
State honours
He is also the recipient of many state-awarded honors.- In 1981, the Government of IndiaGovernment of IndiaThe Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
awarded him with the Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
. - In 1985, President François MitterrandFrançois MitterrandFrançois Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
, the President of France awarded him the Commandeur de Ordre des Arts et des LettresOrdre des Arts et des LettresThe Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
(Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters), the highest civilian honour conferred by that country, in recognition of significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields. - In 2005, the Dadasaheb Phalke AwardDadasaheb Phalke AwardThe Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. It was instituted in 1969, the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered as the father of Indian cinema.The award for a particular year is...
, the highest honor given to an Indian filmmaker was awarded to him by the Government of IndiaGovernment of IndiaThe Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. - He was made an Honorary Member of the Indian Parliament from 1998 to 2003.
- In 2000, President Vladimir PutinVladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
of the Russian federation honored him with the Order of FriendshipOrder of FriendshipThe Order of Friendship is a state decoration of Russia established by decree # 442 of March 2, 1994 of the President of the Russian Federation....
.
Trivia
- He is a friend of Gabriel García MárquezGabriel García MárquezGabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
and had often been invited as a judge in international film festivals. - In 2004, Mrinal Sen completed his autobiographical book, Always Being Born.
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Quotations
- As you walk into the world, after having been groomed by a film institute, I sincerely wish you a very tough time.
- All film makers have to be social scientists.
- You have to see a lot of things...You just have to keep improvising...In Akaler SandhaneAkaler SandhaneAkaler Sandhane is a 1980 Indian Bengali film directed by Mrinal Sen.- Plot :In September 1980, a film crew comes to a village to make a film about a famine, which killed five million Bengalees in 1943. It was a man made famine, a side- product of the war, and the film crew will create the tragedy...
,almost 60% of the final script is improvised. - You have to fight for everything...Usually all film makers say they are realists when they really are fantasizing all the time.
- I like it when my film is appreciated. If it is liked by the masses, it becomes commercially viable. If it doesn't, you either collapse like I do or you say that "I don't care'". That is a defence mechanism.
- A film has to be an experience that has to be felt, it cannot be merely be argued over.
Feature Films
- Raatbhor (The Dawn) (1955)
- Neel Akasher NeecheyNeel Akasher NeecheyNeel Akasher Neechey is a 1959 Bengali language film directed by Mrinal Sen, starring Kali Bannerjee, Manju Dey, Bikash Roy and others....
(Under the Blue Sky) (1958) - Baishey Sravan (Wedding Day) (1960)
- Punascha (Over Again) (1961)
- Abasheshe (And at Last) (1963)
- Pratinidhi (The Representative) (1964)
- Akash KusumAkash KusumAkash Kusum was a 1965 Bengali film directed by noted Indian art film director Mrinal Sen.-Plot:It is the story of the longings of a middle class executive to rise in stature and greater social acceptability. The young man still trying to find a place in the corporate world puts up an innocent...
(Up in the Clouds) (1965) - Matira ManishaMatira ManishaMatira Manisha is a 1966 Oriya film, from India, directed by Mrinal Sen.Based on the novel by Kalindi Charan Panigrahi of the same name, the film contrasts traditional and modern values as exemplified by the different attitudes of two brothers towards their inherited family land...
(Man of the Soil) (1966) - Bhuvan ShomeBhuvan ShomeBhuvan Shome is a 1969 Hindi film directed by Mrinal Sen. The cast includes Utpal Dutt and Suhasini Mulay...
(Mr. Bhuvan Shome) (1969) - Interview (1971 film)Interview (1971 film)Interview was a 1973 Bengali film directed by noted Indian art film director Mrinal Sen. A path-breaking film in terms of the narrative innovation and cinematic technique, it was a commercial success went to run for six weeks amidst gushing admiration and accolades, when it was screened first. It...
(1971) - Ek Adhuri KahaniEk Adhuri KahaniEk Adhuri Kahani is 1972 Hindi language movie directed by Mrinal Sen and starring Utpal Dutt, Shekhar Chatterjee, Vivek Chatterjee, Aarti Bhattacharya, Shyam, Shobha Sen. It was based on a Bengali story, Gotranta by Subodh Ghosh....
(An Unfinished Story) (1971) - Calcutta 71Calcutta 71Calcutta 71 iss a 1972 Bengali film directed by noted Indian art film director Mrinal Sen. This film is considered to be the second film of Mrinal Sen's Calcutta trilogy, the others being Interview, and Padatik.-External links:**...
(1972) - PadatikPadatikPadatik is a 1973 Bengali film directed by noted Indian art film director Mrinal Sen.This film is considered to be the third film of Mrinal Sen's Calcutta trilogy, the others being Interview, and Calcutta 71....
(The Guerilla Fighter) (1973) - Chorus (1974 film)Chorus (1974 film)Chorus was a 1974 Bengali film directed by noted Indian art film director Mrinal Sen.-Awards:*National Film Award for Best Film*National Film Award for Best Music Direction - Ananda Shankar-External links:*...
(1974) - MrigayaaMrigayaaMrigayaa is an Indian film in Hindi, directed by Mrinal Sen and produced by Kishor Bagri was released in 1976. Kishor currently is working with Balaji Telefilms.The film stars Mithun Chakraborty in his debut film which also won him the prestigious National Film Award for Best Actor...
(The Royal Hunt) (1976) - Oka Oori KathaOka Oori KathaOka Oori Katha is a 1977 Telugu film directed by Mrinal Sen. It is based on the story Kafan by Munshi Premchand. It is one of the few Art films made in Telugu language.-The plot:...
(The Outsiders) (1977) - Parasuram (The Man With the Axe) (1978)
- Ek Din PratidinEk Din PratidinEk Din Pratidin is a 1979 Bengali movie directed by Mrinal Sen. The film stars Mamata Shankar, Gita Sen and Sreela Majumdar, among others...
(And Quiet Rolls the Dawn) (1979) - Akaler SandhaneAkaler SandhaneAkaler Sandhane is a 1980 Indian Bengali film directed by Mrinal Sen.- Plot :In September 1980, a film crew comes to a village to make a film about a famine, which killed five million Bengalees in 1943. It was a man made famine, a side- product of the war, and the film crew will create the tragedy...
(In Search of Famine) (1980) - Chalchitra (The Kaleidoscope) (1981)
- KharijKharijKharij, sometimes translated as The Case is Closed, is a 1982 Bengali film by Mrinal Sen. It is based on a novel by Ramapada Chowdhury. It tells the story of a middle class family whose child servant is found dead, and their efforts to pacify his grieving father.-Cast:* Anjan Dutt - Anjan Sen*...
(The Case is Closed) (1982) - KhandharKhandharKhandahar is a 1984 Hindi movie directed by Mrinal Sen, based on a Bengali novel, Telenapota Abishkar by Premendra Mitra. The film stars Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapoor...
(The Ruins) (1983) - GenesisGenesis (1986 film)Genesis is a 1986 Hindi-language movie directed by Mrinal Sen. The film stars Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri. It was entered into the 1986 Cannes Film Festival.- Plot :...
(1986) - Ek Din AchanakEk Din AchanakEk Din Achanak is a 1989 art film directed by Mrinal Sen, based on a Bengali novel, Beej by Ramapada Chowdhury..- Synopsis :...
(Suddenly, One Day) (1989) - Mahaprithivi (World Within, World Without)(1991)
- Antareen (The Confined)(1993)
- Aamaar Bhuvan (This, My Land)(2002)
Short Films
- Ichhapuran (The Wish Fulfillment) (1970)
- Tasveer Apni Apni (Portrait of an Average Man) (1984)
- Aparajit (Unvanquished) (1986–87)
- Kabhi Door Kabhi Paas (Sometimes Far, Sometimes Near) (1986–87)
- Swamvar (The Courtship) (1986–87)
- Aina (The Mirror) (1986–87)
- Ravivar (Sunday) (1986–87)
- Aajkaal (These Days) (1986–87)
- Do Bahene (Two Sisters) (1986–87)
- Jit (Win) (1986–87)
- Saalgira (Anniversary) (1986–87)
- Shawl (1986–87)
- Ajnabi (The Stranger) (1986–87)
- Das Saal Baad (Ten Years Later) (1986–87)
Documentaries
- Moving Perspectives (1967)
- Tripura Prasanga (1982)
- City Life - Calcutta My El Dorado (1989)
- And the Show Goes On - Indian Chapter (1999)
Films on Mrinal Sen
- Ten Days in Calcutta - A Portrait of Mrinal Sen (Directed by Reinhard Hauff) (1984)
- With Mrinal Sen (Directed by Sanjay Bhattacharya and Rahul Bose) (1989)
- Portrait of a Filmmaker (Directed by Romesh Sharma) (1999)