Mahanayaki Suchitra Sen. -cinema, romance, songs -Rohit Kumar Parmar
- rohitkparmar
- Jan 17
- 5 min read
Mahanayaki Suchitra Sen- cinema, romance, songs
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
Indian cinema (चलचित्र, chalchitra) with Dadasaheb Phalke’s Raja Harishchandra, in 1913, embarked upon a journey of entertainment, encompassing various genres, from musical to art films. Indian cinema evolved from silent to talkie, naming movie halls as talkies; from black-and-white to colour; from 35 mm to 70 mm films and now digital, sans film rolls.
For little over two and a half decades, the মহানায়কী महानायकी (Mahanayaki, Great actress), Suchitra Sen alongwith several co-stars, became part of the journey of Indian, including Bangla Cinema.
She paired with Uttam Kumar in around 30 films, with on-screen chemistry, naturally romantic, unmatched for times to come. Their first film was Sharey Chuattor (1953), meaning `seventy four and a half’. They also had spectacular individual performances in other films.
Roma Dasgupta aka Suchitra Sen (April 6, 1931 to January 17, 2014) made her debut with Shesh Kothaay (1952), meaning `where does it end’, which was never released.
Suchitra Sen’s last film was Priyo Bandhabi (1975), meaning `dear lady friend’, in which she acted with Uttam Kumar. She had lead roles in Hindi films like Devdas (1955), Bombai ka Babu (1960), and Aandhi (1975).
Suchitra Sen’s Bangla melodramas and romances, especially with Uttam Kumar, became classics, and made her the most famous Bangla actress ever.
Suchitra Sen retreated from public life in 1979, and shunned all forms of public contact.
Suchitra Sen won the Silver Prize for Best Actress for `Saat Pake Bandha’, meaning tied in seven bounds, at the 1963 Moscow International Film Festival. In 2005, she refused the Dadasaheb Phalke, the highest cinematic award in India.
The on-screen pairing of Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen created an enduring legacy, making them a famous and loved romantic couple in Bangla cinema. The on-screen chemistry of the duo, remains immortalized in the history of romance and Bangla cinema. In today’s words they were individually `the Bangla crush’, and the `ideal romantic couple’.
Bangla films of Suchitra Sen
Saptapadi (1961)
The duo’s films, on romantic themes, wrapped in melodious music, also covered social issues in Saptapadi (1961), meaning `seven steps taken round the holy fire to complete marriage rituals’ based on the popular Bangla novel by Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay.
The song `এই পথ যদি না শেষ হয় ‘ (Ei poth jodi na sesh hoy), meaning `if this path never ends’ in Saptapadi (1961), sung by Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay and Sandhya Mukherjee, picturising a motorcycle ride, with intimate moments, and romance of a young couple, on a country road, alongside a canal, mirroring rural Bengal, is loved even today.
Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar in Saptapadi (1961), Ei poth jodi na sesh hoy [2]
The songs relate to a period when romance was soft, gentle, emotions were subtle, but there was depth and commitment, which Sandhya Mukherjee’s voice, in many, captured them.
The reader is advised to listen to all/ some of the songs, as s/he reads this piece, to add to her/ his enjoyment. Links to the songs are not shared to avoid promoting any source, but can easily be found on the internet.
Agnipariksha (1955)
Agnipariksha (1955), based on the novel of Asha Purna Devi, has the song `কে তুমি আমার ডাকো’ (Ke Tumi Amare Dako) sung by Sandhya Mukherjee, and picturised on Suchitra Sen, with Uttam Kumar listening.
Suchitra Sen in Agnipariksha (1955), `Ke Tumi Amare Dako’
Pathey Holo Deri (1957)
Pathey Holo Deri (1957) meaning `delayed on the path/ way’ has the song ` তুমি না হয় রহিতে কাছে’ (Tumi Na Hoy Rohite Kachhe) is sung by Sandhya Mukherjee, and picturised on Suchitra Sen, expressing her feelings in her romantic world and singing, which Uttam Kumar accidentally listens.
A second song from Pothe Holo Deri (1957) `এ শুধু গানের দিন’ (E Sudhu Ganer Din), also sung by Sandhya Mukherjee, is picturised on Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar.
Suchitra Sen in Pothe Holo Deri (1957), E Sudhu Ganer Din
Indrani (1958)
Indrani (1958) has the romantic duet ` নীড় ছোট ক্ষতি নেই’ (Neer Chhoto Khoti Nei), sung by Hemanta Mukherjee and Geeta Dutt.
Indrani (1958) has a second song ` সুরজো দোবার পালা আসে জোড়ি’ (Surjo Dobar Pala Ase Jodi) sung by Hemanta Mukherjee, when Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar are on a picnic in a picturesque surroundings.
A third song from Indrani (1958) `ঝনক ঝনক কন’ (Jhanok Jhanok Kanok) is sung by Geeta Dutt, and picturised on Suchitra Sen.
A final song from Indrani (1958) ওগো সুন্দর জানো নাকি (Ogo Sundar Jano Naki) is sung by Geeta Dutt, and picturised on Suchitra Sen with Uttam Kumar.
Bipasha (1962)
Bipasha (1962), based on the novel by Sri Tarashankar Bandyopadhay, has the song `আমি স্বপ্নে তোমায় দেখেছি‘ (Ami Swapne Tomay Dekhechhi), sung by Sandhya Mukherjee, and picturised on Suchitra Sen, romancing her love,
Suchitra Sen in Bipasha (1962), Ami Swapne Tomay Dekhechhi
Hindi films of Suchitra Sen
Bombai ka Babu (1960)
Some of the songs from Bombai ka Babu (1960), in which Suchitra Sen acted are `Chal Ri Sajni’ sung by S D Burman; and `Dekhne Mein Bhola Hai’ sung by Asha Bhonsle.
In `Chal Ri Sajni’, Nazir Hussain as father bids `bidhai’ (the emotional and sentimental farewell when the bride leaves her parental home for her marital home) to Suchitra Sen, as Dev Anand her lover, looks helplessly, having failed to take his love to the next stage.
Suchitra Sen in Bombai ka Babu (1960), Chal Ri Sajni
`Dekhne Mein Bhola Hai’, is a playful mischievous song, with Suchitra Sen and her friends teasing Dev Anand.
Aandhi (1975)
Aandhi (1975) has several songs `Is Mod Se Jaate Hain’ sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar; and `Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi Shikwa To Nahin’ by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar.
`Is Mod Se Jaate Hain’, is a walk down memory lane, capturing the romance of Suchitra Sen and Sanjeev Kumar, in younger days, in beautiful settings.
Suchitra Sen with Sanjeev Kumar in Aandhi (1975), Is Mod Se Jaate Hain
Suchitra Sen and Sanjeev Kumar who chose independent paths in respective lives, meet later, and continue to express their love in `Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi Shikwa To Nahin’, which plays in the background.
[1] Author, Economics, Law, Consumer Issues, Content Creator, Data Analysist, Performance Evaluator. Indian Economic Service, Senior Economic Adviser (Retired), Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site),
YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@rohitkparmar),
X (formerly twitter) (https://twitter.com/rohitkparmar?s=09),
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rohit.parmar.5268750/),
been writing/ sharing varied topics and
can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] This and other pictures are sourced from the internet, only for non-commercial use.
Comments