Mrinal Sen

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Mrinal Sen

Role / Field:

Pioneering Bengali filmmaker, key figure in India's parallel and New Wave cinema.

Born:

1923-05-14

Died:

2018-12-30

Century / Era:

1923s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Mrinal Sen (Bengali: [mɾinal ʃen] ; 14 May 1923 – 30 December 2018) was an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his work primarily in Bengali, and a few Hindi and Telugu language films. Regarded as one of the finest Indian filmmakers, along with his contemporaries Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, and Tapan Sinha, Sen played a major role in India's parallel cinema movement, which offered a realistic, socially aware counterpoint to splashy Bollywood films, as well as in the country's New Wave cinema. He also served as the President of FTII from 1984 to 1986. Sen received various national and international honors including eighteen Indian National Film Awards.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan, and the Government of France honored him with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, while Russian Government honored him with the Order of Friendship. Sen was also awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award for filmmakers in India. He was one of the few Indian filmmakers to have won awards at the big three film festivals viz., Cannes, Venice and the Berlinale. Sen was a self described "private Marxist". Mrinal was born into a Hindu family...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1923 (1923-05-14): Birth of Mrinal Sen — Pioneering Bengali filmmaker, key figure in India's parallel and New Wave cinema.
2. 1984: 1984 Milestone — He also served as the President of FTII from 1984 to 1986.
3. 2018 (2018-12-30): Passing & Historical Legacy — Mrinal Sen passed away on 2018-12-30, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Mrinal Sen

True or False: “Mrinal Sen was the only Indian filmmaker to win awards at the big three film festivals (Cannes, Venice, and Berlinale).”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The text states he was one of the few Indian filmmakers to have won awards at the big three festivals, not the only one.

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• 1923 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1923
• May 14 (05-14) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 14
• 2018 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2018
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Frequently Asked Questions about Mrinal Sen