Happy Birthday, Aparna Sen!
Aparna Sen, an illustrious filmmaker, screenwriter and actress is now 72. She is mainly known for her work in Bengali cinema. A leading actress of late 1960s,1970s, she went behind the camera in early 80s. Aparna Sen received eight “BFJA Award”, five for best actress, two for best supporting actress and one for lifetime achievement award. She is the winner of three National Film Awards and nine international film festival awards for her direction in films. She was awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India in 1987.
Aparna Sen was born on 25 October 1945 in Calcutta to a Bengali family, originally from Jessore District, Bangladesh. Aparna Sen made her film debut at the age of 15, when she played the role of Mrinmoyee in the Samapti portion of the 1961 film Teen Kanya directed by Satyajit Ray. She went on to establish herself as a leading actress of Bengali Cinema with the films Aparichito (1969), Aranyer Din Ratri (1970), Ekhane Pinjar (1971), Jay Jayanti (1971), Memshaheb (1972), Jiban Saikate (1972), Basanta Bilap (1973), Sonar Khancha (1973), Sujata (1974), Alor Thikana (1974), Kajallata (1975), Raag Anuraag (1975), Jana Aranya (1976), Ajasra Dhanyobad (1977), Proxy (1977), Mohonar Dike (1984), Ekanto Apon (1987), Swet Patharer Thala (1992). She also garnered critical acclaim for her work in Indira (1984), Kari Diye Kinlam (1989), Ek Din Achanak (1999), Mahaprithibi (1991), Unishe April (1995), Paromitar Ek Din (2000), Titli (2001), Antaheen (2009), Chatushkon (2014).
In addition to acting in films, Sen has also been directing films since 1981, starting with 36 Chowringhee Lane for which she won National Film Award for Best Director. She went on to achieve further success in direction with films Paroma, Sati, Yugant, Paromitar Ek Din, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, 15 Park Avenue, The Japanese Wife, Iti Mrinalini, Goynar Baksho. She won her second National Film Award as a director for Mr. and Mrs. Iyer.
Aparna Sen acted with popular heroes like Uttam Kumar, Soumitra Chatterjee, Victor Banerjee, Ranjit Mallick in the Bengali films. She also acted in Hindi films with Dilip Kumar (Sagina), Amitabh Bachchan (Immaan Dharam) and Shatrughan Sinha (Kotwal Saab). Besides Satyjit Ray, she worked under well-known directors like Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Rituparno Ghosh.
