Veteran Bengali filmmaker Mrinal Sen passed away on Sunday. He was 95.
Political leaders from across the country and those from the film fraternity expressed their condolences at his demise.
"The quality of his output varied, as does any filmmakers’ but what he never let go of was his convictions about the kind of film he wanted to make," says actor Naseeruddin Shah .
"He needed to believe in what he was filming he never went into a project because someone asked him to. He’s probably in a better place now than he was in the last few years but his mark will stay indelible and his example will always be there to emulate.
"His special qualities were his interest in others, his compassion, kindness and his wicked sense of humour. I gave him a hard time during the filming of Genesis and even made some intemperate statements about it but he didn’t hold it against me and I enjoyed his affections till the end. He knew how to take criticism as well as praise in his stride. He leaves a Mrinal da sized hole behind," he says.
"I am very sad and sorry to hear the news," says filmmaker, writer-director and host Simi Garewal . "Mrinal Sen was a lovely human being and it was a wonderful experience to have worked with him in 'Padatik' in the lead role. He pampered me, spoilt me, treated me like a queen. After the film we kept in touch and wrote letters to each other and slowly it tapered off and petered down."
"Mrinal Sen lived a long life, one in which he saw a lot of success. He created the work he wanted and got the opportunity to do that. I feel sad not for him but for us to not have him around. A wonderful, colourful genius and a true intellectual. We may have a lot of filmmakers but very of them can claim to be intellectuals. He was one," she adds.
"I am deeply saddened by his loss," writes actor Shabana Azmi who has collaborated with Sen multiple times.
Mrinal Sen with Shabana Azmi
"Mrinal da was a very important filmmaker because he had a maverick streak in him that made his films edgy and unpredictable. He was deeply invested in the society around him and did not hesitate to question his own frailties through his films — that is what made his such a strong voice," writes Azmi.
"He was a man of contradictions, strong but gentle , urbane but rustic, both a creator and an iconoclast who was deeply sensitive and very human. I loved working with him in all 3 films — 'Khandhar', 'Genesis' and 'Ek Din Achanak' — and consider 'Khandar' to be the film in which I have made the least number of mistakes. Undoubtedly, he will live on through his films. My deepest condolences to Kunal and Nisha [Sen's son and daughter-in-law]," she adds.
Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan mourned Mr. Sen's passing and recalled that he had done his first ever voice over in Mr. Sen's film Bhuvan Shome.
" Mrinal Sen no more .. a most amiable, distinguished creative cinematic mind , contemporary of Satyajit Ray and Rithik Ghatak.. I did my first ever voice over in his film BHUVAN SHOME .. prayers and condolences," he tweeted.
Actor and filmmaker Nandita Das writes:
"I dreaded the day I would have to write about Mrinalda in past tense. But I knew it was coming. Today there is a vacuum that no-one can fill -- not in Indian cinema, not in the world of artists whose conscience made sure there was no dissonance between their life and work," Nandita Das writes in The Hindu.
CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted: "Mrinal Sen’s passing away is a big loss not only to Cinema but to the world of Culture & India's civilisational values. Mrinal da radicalised Cinematography by his people-centric humanistic narrative. Deepest condolences."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee conveyed her condolences to his family. "Saddened at the passing away of Mrinal Sen. A great loss to the film industry. My condolences to his family," she tweeted.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said Mr. Sen's passing marked the end of an era.
"The passing of noted filmmaker and Padma Bhushan, Mr. Mrinal Sen marks the end of an era. A Dada Sahib Phalke Awardee, his extraordinary storytelling made his films defining pieces of cinema. A great loss to the Indian film fraternity. My condolences to the family," she tweeted.
President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted that Mr. Sen was a fine chronicler of our times:
"Sad to learn of the passing of acclaimed film-maker Mrinal Sen. From Bhuvan Shome to the Calcutta trilogy, his penetrating and sensitive portrayal of social realities made him a fine chronicler of our times. A loss to Bengal, to India and to the world of cinema #PresidentKovind"
Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore tweeted his films were beautiful depictions of social realities on the silver screen:
"Saddened by the demise of veteran filmmaker Mrinal Sen. From Bhuvan Shome to Mrigayaa, his films were beautiful depictions of social realities on the silver screen. His passing away is the end of an era, and an irreparable loss for the Indian film industry."
Actor Parambrata Chatterjee tweeted, “End of an era... an epoch... legends never die... bhalo thakben (stay well).”
Prosenjit Chatterjee said, “At the end of the year receiving news like demise of the legend Mrinal Sen saddens and shocks us. Mrinal jethu gave a new perspective to Indian Cinema. It’s a huge loss for all of us. May his soul rest in peace.”
Manish Tewari, national spokesperson of the Indian National Congress , tweeted: "Condole the sad demise of the legend of Indian Cinema Mrinal Sen. In his passing way the film Industry has lost one of it’s doyens."
West Bengal's Minister-in-Charge for Tourism, Gautam Deb tweeted: "Deeply saddened at the demise of the great filmmaker Mrinal Sen. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace."
Filmmaker Onir , best known films like for I Am and My Brother... Nikhil , said Mr. Sen will forever be celebrated in the history of cinema. "What an amazing beautiful life span decorated with so many precious films. Mrinal Sen will remain forever celebrated in the history of World Cinema , Indian Cinema and Bengali Cinema," he tweeted.
