NFAI tweets rare pic of acclaimed late Bengali actor Suchitra Sen as birthday tribute

The picture shows her playing the role of Parvati or Paro in the 1955 Hindi movie Devdas.

Suchitra Sen (April 6, 1931 – January 17, 2014), born as Roma Dasgupta in Pabna, now in Bangladesh, virtually ruled the Bengali cinema for nearly 25 years, her acting prowess rising to legendary heights.

According to film chronicles, she made her film debut in 1952 in the movie Shesh Kothay but it was never released.

The following year she was cast against Uttam Kumar in the movie Share Chuattor. A romantic comedy, the film launched them as the most preferred leading pair of Bengali cinema for more than two decades.

Some of her most famous films with Uttam Kumar are Agnipariksha, Harano Sur, Saptapadi, Pathey Holo Deri, Kamal Lata, Chaawa Paawa, Bipasha, Rajlakshmi Srikanto, Har Mana Har, etc.

She also was also cast with another famous Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee. Some of her famous films with Chatterjee include Saat Paake Bandha, Datta, and Pranay Pasha.

Sen enthralled cinema-goers with her poignant acting in in Deep Jwele Jaai (1959), where she played the role of a hospital nurse. On the other hand, as the lead character of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's famous novel Devi Chaudhurani, she essayed her enigmatic power with poise and grace.

Although she acted in a few Hindi films, her role as Parvati in Devdas (1955) where Dilip Kumar was in the eponymous role and as Aarti devi in Aandhi (1975) against Sanjeev Kumar were highly acclaimed.

Sen however removed herself from public glare after completing nearly 25 years in the film industry and led a reclusive life, surrounded by her immediate family, until her death.

Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, tweeted, "Remembering the greatest actress of Bengali Cinema, Suchitra Sen, on her birth anniversary."

Image: NFAI/Twitter