Living A Legend

While its plain coincidence that Mrinal Sens biography was unveiled in the city as the state battles its worst peoples uprising in a long time,author Dipankar Mukhopadhyay pointed out that Sens cinematic concerns seem more relevant now,than ever before.

Written by EXPRESS FEATURES SERVICE
June 24, 2009 04:16 AM IST

3 min read

While its plain coincidence that Mrinal Sens biography was unveiled in the city as the state battles its worst peoples uprising in a long time,author Dipankar Mukhopadhyay pointed out that Sens cinematic concerns seem more relevant now,than ever before. Arent we faced with the same sort of dilemmas,the same uncertainties today,that Sumit was in Padatik? asks Mukhopadhyay,at Oxford Bookstore in the city,for the launch of Mrinal Sen: Sixty Years in search of Cinema. Its difficult for the author to recollect exactly when he was introduced to Sen,the filmmaker,as his tryst with the latters works is longer than his association with the person himself. However,it was probably during his stint with the Directorate of Film Festivals as the deputy director,that Mukhopadhyay came to know of the person,and not just the icon,behind the camera.

While the emotional core of his cinema cannot be restricted by a timeline,it is also true that very few people have chronicled the reality of their times the way Mrinal da has, says Mukhopadhyay.

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The authors preoccupation with Sen goes back long in time,when he had penned Kathapurush,a book based on his conversations with the filmmaker. And the reverence,that he like most of Sens beguiled viewers nurses in his heart,probably didnt come in the way of an honest account of the filmmakers chequered career. Therefore,while the book explores the Indian Peoples Theatre Associations influence on Sens worldview,it also talks about the stumbling blocks that he encountered,the frustrations he lived with. Mukhopadhyay also tries tracing Sens transformation as a filmmaker from a brooding,restive and sharply opinionated chronicler of the socio-political unrest of the 1970s to a mellowed,introspective participant in the dichotomies of contemporary middle class living.

Its obvious that I have analysed his films,but I have also mentioned the films that he wanted to make,but couldnt make eventually, says Mukhopadhyay. Sens views on cinema also finds place in the book published by HarperCollins India,like the authors opinions on the imperfections in Sens art. His flaws are equally important in understanding his art,as his talents, adds Mukhopadhay.

Sen himself,on the occasion of the launch,looked thoroughly enthralled by the encomiums directed at him but all the adulation didnt seem to overwhelm his crisp sense of humour. The way people keep addressing me as Mrinal da,there were times I feared my only son would also start calling me Mrinal da, he laughed about the publishers representative,the author,the hostess of the evening constantly referring to him by the name. To me good cinema is something that provokes a response from its viewers. That is what I have tried to remain true to throughout my career,with some success I hope, he adds.