SUCHITRA SEN
The sweetest smiles hold the darkest secrets, they say. Her eyes enthralled everyone. Her smile left one and all in awe. She has conquered soul after soul. From roadside beggars to veteran film stars, few haven’t been bowled over by her beauty. She probably excelled in whatever she did because she dared to cross barriers, to transcend boundaries. She was the one person whom the entire industry bowed down to. Suchitra Sen, the legendary Bengali actress was not only a messiah in cinema in Bengal but was also an industry by herself. She was the then heart-throb of the city and amazingly remains so till this day, even after her death. She owned the beauty that every teenage girl dreams of. She was far ahead of everyone else in the industry. She dared to sport dresses that few of her time would think of, and she did so so gracefully that she earned herself compliments everytime she tried something new.
Known for her films Aandhi and Devdas, the actress revered for her acting and was considered the greatest actress of her era. Her works with the famous Bengali actor Uttam Kumar are the most famous ones. She had been awarded the Padma Shree by the Indian Government for her immense contribution in the Bengali film industry. She was the first Indian actress to be awarded an international film award, which she rightfully earned for her work in Saat Paake Badha at the Moscow film festival.
She was regarded highly by all her colleagues from the Bengali and hindi industries probably because she knew how to distance herself from the masses,to stay above the rest. As age got the better of the generation, while her colleagues were mostly offered roles of old insignificant grandparents in the industry, she chose to seclude herself from public life completely. She has lived in seclusion all these years and except doctors and very close relatives, few have been able to get a glance of the great actress. There are rumours galore as to why she refused to appear before anyone in public, let alone being a part of the film industry. These, however, remain rumours and none of us know the real reason for her isolation.
However, as they rightly say, certain things are better left unknown and mysterious. We never had the great fortune of getting to see her on the colour screen and we don’t know if she was fair or dark. And, we never will. Even though we have not seen her for over three decades, she remains so integral a part of our lives, even after her death. Although her mortal body has left us and it is true that no one will ever get to see her again, her works remain and the legacy that she has left lives on. Sen has sure left for her heavenly abode but Brown- Rina Brown lives on..
