14 DAY TRIAL // The Indian actress Suchitra Sen, one of the most iconic and popular stars of Bengali cinema, passed away on January 16, in a hospital in Kolkota, India. She was said to suffer from respiratory problems for some time and lately they were aggravated.
Known as the “Greta Garbo of India,” Sen went into curious seclusion back in 1978. She abruptly left the film industry and refused to meet people outside her family. She chose to lead a reclusive life since then, even going as far as rejecting an award when it meant she had to travel to another city.
She became famous after her performance in “Share chuattar” (74 and a Half) from 1953 when she was paired with Uttam Kumar. Later, the couple would go on appearing in movies together for the next twenty years.
Among their most memorable performances are “Sagarika” (1956), “Harano Sur” (1957) and “Saptapadi” (1961). She would go on to play in other movies, while at the same time competing with important figures of the Indian cinematography.
Her entry into acting was quite unusual for Indian women at the time. She became an actress at the age of 16 after getting married. Throughout the years, her marriage would deteriorate, but she used that experience when working on “Saptapadi,” for which she received much praise.
In 1975, she would go to play the role of a politician who is reunited with her husband for a short period of time. The film was called “Aandhi” and back in 1975 when it was released, it had very strong parallels with then-prime minister Indira Gandhi.
After her death, the Indian movie industry has begun showing signs of grievance, with actors and directors offering their condolences. Director Aparna Sen told the Hindustan Times, that with Sen's death “An era has ended.”
Sen is survived by her daughter, Moon Moon, and her two granddaughters. All of them are currently actresses.