Suchitra Sen: A legendary heroine of Bengali film

Suchitra Sen, a legendary heroine of Bengali film, was born on April 6 in 1931. She breathed her last on January 17 in 2014 in Kolkata. Her family name was Roma Das Gupta. Suchitra Sen is her filmy name. Roma spent her child and adolescent period in Pabna district of this country (Bangladesh). She was married to Engineer Dibanath Sen who was the son of a distinguished Sen Family of Kolkata. Dibanath Sen's forefathers were the residents of Gandaria in Dhaka. Even today the Dinonath Road is bearing their tradition in the name of his grandfather. From childhood Roma had fascination for singing. Her singing voice was sweet. She came to the film world for being selected as a singer in 1951, but Sukumar Das Gupta, an eminent filmmaker proposed her to act in film. She did not become a singer, but her journey started as a heroine. And she created history in the acting world. Roma Das Gupta became a legendary actress in the guise of Suchitra Sen.
After the period of actress Kanan Devi (1916-1992) who is long remembered by the cinema viewers was the period of actress Suchitra Sen. Kanan Devi created people's attention to the film following accurate direction of the film directors. And in Suchitra Sen, the film world got an artiste who, taking her own specialty, attracted the people of all classes to the box office. Since long in the judgment of many Suchitra Sen is second to none and she is legendary in outstanding depiction of numerable characters. Style of her dialogue, emotions in her eyes and her exquisitely beautiful smile on her face made altogether an aristocratic beauty. Suchitra Sen had engrossed the Bangalee viewers in an indivisible attraction. Besides, she came to the pleasant field of the Bengali film at the beginning of 1953 and after some days she appeared with extraordinary glamour as Suchitra Sen in the filmdom. Roma, a simple house-wife, being adorned with the name of Suchitra, came to the cinema screen and the cinema viewers of Bengal could understand the real meaning of glamour.
Suchitra Sen acted in fifty-three Bengali and seven Hindi films. Her outstanding acting with the great hero of Bengali film Uttam Kumar created memorable and successful films one by one. Pathe Holo Deri, Agnipariksha, Harano Sur, Saptopodi, Shapmochon, Sabar Upore, Sagorika, Shilpi, Bipasha, Ora Thake Odharay, Grihodaho, Indrani, Alo Amar Alo etc are the remarkable films of this pair.
Though 'Shat Number Koedi' (1953) was Suchitra Sen's first released film, 'Sare Chuattar' (1953) was a film where she, taking her own specialty, appeared to a short extent. Though she is the heroine, she played a small role. Uttam Kumar played the main role of the movie. Once Uttam Kumar said, "When I performed with Roma, I felt that my heroine has come. I could never be Uttam if Suchitra Sen was not there. I have become Uttam for her, only for her". There is a rumour that in 'Sare Chuattar' Suchitra dressed as a bride of marriage in the way which was similar to her own marriage dress in 1947. In real sense 'Agnipariksha' (1954) was a crucial test in making the career of Suchitra. She had, in one hand, social binding for marriage in adolescence, but on the other, having the trace of a beloved person in youth she fell in love with him. What did she get out of it? Suchitra Sen had given an artistic shape to this indecision and conflict in this film. Impressive songs in Suchitra's lips in the 'Agnipariksha' created an infatuating obsession which will remain evergreen in the spectators' minds for long, especially, the picturesque Darjeeling hills filmed in the songs create an emotional atmosphere for lovers of all times. With her own specialty Suchitra Sen acted in Shapmochon (1955), Sobar Upore (1955), Sagorika (1956) etc where spectators enjoyed her personality and impressive acting.
Though the last part of 'Shilpi' (1956) was tragic, it was really a seriously romantic film. The intimate love of Anjana (Suchitra) and Dhiman (Uttam) in this film was not artificial. Suchitra Sen got award of best actress for outstanding acting in 'Saat Pake Bandha' (1963) in the Moscow International Film Festival in 1963. It was learnt that almost everyday Suchitra had discord with her husband in the house about some matters during this film's shooting. One day they both had severe quarrel in the house. Having failed to bear humiliation she tore off her husband's shirt that he wore with two hands. We can understand easily why a wife could do such an act. Suchitra Sen, coming to the shooting spot and taking director's permission, tore off the hero Soumitro Mukherjee's shirt on that day. This was the best scene of 'Saat Pake Bandha'. 'Pathe Holo Deri' (1957), 'Indrani' (1958), 'Hospital' (1960), 'Bipasha' (1962), 'Grihodaho' (1967) are also some of the remarkable films in which Suchitra Sen performed as an actress. These films will never be forgotten only because of Suchitra's glamour and outstanding acting.
Madhobi Mukharjee, a renowned heroine of Bengali film of the fifties and sixties, said: "Suchitra Sen came with a style in the Bengali film which was never seen before. Her style was so attractive that the viewers remained fascinated with her day after day and and year after year. Her way of looking, way of opening eyes, walking and personality is charming and different from others".
Sweet-voiced Sandha Mukharjee, another living legend, sang innumerable songs in Suchitra's lips which even today have a profound influence on our minds. These immortal songs include: 'Gane more indrodhonu' and 'Ke tumi amare dako' of 'Agnipariksha', 'Nupurero chhande bonopath utala/Fulsaje srimoti avisare jai' of 'Shilpi', 'Ami swapone tumai dekhechhi/More basor sajai/Mon bole bhalobesechhi/Akhi balte parini ta lajjai'of 'Bipasha', 'Sono nako ami ke/Bujhi nako tumi kar/Sundaro jano nako tumi ke ami kar' of 'Indrani'. Once upon a time Sandha Mukharjee said, "I have sung most songs in Suchitra's lips. She had an uncommon power to give to her lips. My songs have had so popularity because of her lipsing correctly. It seems that Suchitra herself is singing'.
Suchitra Sen acted with many heroes and those films had also got popularity; but Suchitra-Uttam was such a pair that made crores (tens of millions) of Bangali cinema-goers laugh and weep for long. It also inspired them to dream as well as learn to love each other - men and women - more deeply. The impact of the duo in Bangalee life is so momentous that it is not possible to avoid their unimpeded attraction by any means.
Email: [email protected]