Suchitra Sen's Beginning and End: How She Became a Legend

The Dhaka Times Desk Legendary actress Mahanayika Suchitra Sen was cremated yesterday. But there is no end to the research about him. He stayed away from society for a total of 35 years. Still he is a legend of Bengali cinema. This report analyzes how he rose to prominence.

Suchitra Sen's departure may be normal. But why he lived in obscurity for 35 years is very easy to understand. Scientists are researching that there are many reasons for this. However, this is not usually the case. She was separated from her husband. But that's why he never thought of getting married even though he was in a relationship with Uttam Kumar.

What history says

The story of becoming the legendary heroine Suchitra Sen is quite fascinating. Suchitra Sen was born on 6th April 1931 in Pabna. He was the eldest of eight siblings. Father Karunamay Dasgupta was the headmaster of a local school. Suchitra Sen was a big fan of father. Early childhood education is also in Pabna. He also stayed at his uncle's house in Patna for some time. There a Naga monk saw the three-year-old little Rama and said, the girl is Sulakshmana. When he grows up, his name will be called. It finally came true. Suchitra Sen went to India during partition. However, father left Pabna permanently after his merciful retirement to India. Went up to Bhubandanga next to Santiniketan.

She was married to Dibanath Sen, the son of prominent Kolkata industrialist Priyanath Sen, at the age of 16 due to her extraordinary beauty. He got married with a lot of insistence. But that marriage did not last long. However, it took time to remove the dark cloud of unrest. Finally, in 1963, Suchitra Sen got divorced while filming 'Saat Pake Bandha'. This picture was a reflection of that period of his life. In one scene in the film, Suchitra tears off Soumitra's clothes in anger. This incident took place at his house on the day of the shooting. She tore her husband's clothes due to a quarrel and went straight to the shooting. Suchitra entered cinema but not by her own will. It was Swami Dibanath who insisted that Suchitra act. It is heard that while giving the first test for the movie, the great actress Suchitra Sen failed. Of course, he was still Rama Sen. By that time, stubbornness is suppressed. Will be an actress. Later, however, he went down to the screen test. His film acting career began.

Suchitra Sen's first film in 1952 was Shesh Kheer. But that film was not released. The first film to be released was 1953's 'Prisoner Seven'. It was in this film that Rama Sen changed to Suchitra Sen. Nitish Roy, assistant to director Sukumar Dasgupta, gave this new name. But the first one with Uttam Kumar's 'seventy-four' brought the break. Since then, Suchitra Sen became the queen of Bengali hearts through her persistence and perseverance.

In 1953, she played the role of Vishnupriya in the film 'Bhagavan Sri Krishna Chaitanya'. And this film changed his life. Suchitra told a close friend of hers, 'Bhagavan Sri Krishna Chaitanya' changed my life. I played the role of Vishnupriya. Since then I am fearless, no one can drive me from within.

Between 1953-1978, he made a series of sensational films. Even his mannerism was adopted by Bengalis. Suchitra Sen's performances in numerous films such as Oara Haile Odhare, Agnipriksha, Uttara Falguni, Shapmochan, Chilpi, Deep Jhale Jaye, Lost Sur, Satpake Bandha, Agnipriksha, Surya Toran, Sagarika, Saptapadi, etc., surpassed her time and captured the hearts of people. That's why she easily became a legendary heroine. Uttam Kumar, Soumitra Chattopadhyay, Bikash Roy, Vasant Chowdhury - despite acting opposite to everyone, in the 30 films she did with Uttam Kumar, the romance of the Suchitra-Uttam pair was so natural and comfortable that it never seemed like acting to anyone. And because of this chemistry between the two, even daughter Munmun Sen once told her mother, Mother you should have married Uttam Kumar. Suchitra Sen just laughed. In fact, the strong understanding between Suchitra and Uttam, which has been translated into a film, has never happened before, at least in the history of cinema. And so even Satyajit Ray said, there are very few couples in the world whose bond is so magical. But the highly sophisticated Suchitra Sen was very stubborn. When you decide to do something, it is said that you have done it. He forced the producers to write his name over Uttam Kumar's. Everyone accepted it. And so instead of Uttam-Suchitra pair it became Suchitra-Uttam pair.

Suchitra acted in Bengali films as well as Hindi films. Devdas did in 1955. 'Bombay Ka Babu' and 'Sarhad' with Devanand. And her performance as Indira Gandhi in 'Andhi' directed by Gulzar impressed everyone. He was never seen to be undignified for a moment. And so he returned Satyajit Ray, even Raj Kapoor.

In that story, it is known that Suchitra was willing to film with Satyajit Ray. But as long as Satyajith worked with him, he made a condition that he would not work in another film. Suchitra said in reply that those who made him Suchitra Sen should not be left out. But he promised to give more time for Satyajit Babu. But the next day when the producer brought the draft of the contract, Suchitra immediately threw it away after seeing the word exclusive artist written on it. Directly returned to the producer.

On the other hand, there was another story behind Rajkapur's rejection of the proposal. Rajkapur even went so far as to propose to Suchitra. One day, Raj Kapoor came to Ballygunge Place house with a movie offer. With a white suit, a white necktie and a bunch of red roses in his hand, he sat at Suchitra's feet and asked to work in a film produced by him. Suchitra immediately told him no. He said to those close to him that Suchitra did not do this, 'My anger was burning. Are men sitting at the feet of women? And I did not hesitate to say no.'

But Suchitra was extremely aware of herself. And so in 1978, the film 'Pranoy Pasha' was not well received by the audience. Suchitra Sen did not hesitate for a moment to say bye bye to the movie. He was convinced that he could no longer meet the expectations of the public. And since then he has gone under the public eye. However, it is heard that he wanted to play the role of Damini in Rabindranath's 'Chaturanga'. Once the talk was ripe. But the producer suddenly committed suicide and that film was not made. He regretted this one thing till the end of his life.

In 1978, the 25-year career of an actress ended because she became an inner-city dweller, after which she never appeared in the public eye. And it's not that he didn't go out. He went shopping. But it had to be read with various ironies. Once he went to the book fair in 1984 with huge black glasses covering his face. But after being informed, he escaped. However, Uttam chose the darkness of night to pay his respects to Kumar's dead body. This great heroine was very close to Uttam Kumar with garlands of flowers for some time.

However, as many stories as there are, the life history of the heroine is a different story. She has always been an exceptional heroine. And so even after he left, various researches are being done on him. It is very important for today's heroines to be inspired by her principles and ideals. He never bowed down to anyone and even put his own love above everything else. The proof of which he has left in this world.