The legend in her lifetime.
The name invokes nostalgia. Beauty. Talent. Histrionics. Wishful thinking....
One lazy weekend i decided to watch Aandhi. Mom, who is of senti types said - Aah! Aandhi is a boring movie... The poignancy of Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi Shikawah edged me on... And What-A-Movie that was !!
I was blown away by the Gulzar, Sanjeev Kumar, RD Burman & Aandhi (1975)... But I realized:
My new found musey had arrived! Suchitra Sen !!
Forced my best friend to watch it who hated Suchitra Sen & the movie & had a diametrically opposite view of mine. But hey this is my blog & you'll get to hear my version :)
The movie stood out for its SUBTLETY : the one adjective which i'd like to everything in life to be...
When Sanjeev Kumar & Suchitra Sen meet after years, they realize the love hasn't vanished & all the bickerings of the past seem frivolous. Their longing for each other is depicted so subtlely that I sometimes wish ....
What also stands out is Suchitra Sen's style & grace. She was nearing the end of her career & she had carved out a unique style in her mannerisms & activities which becomes so much more evident in Aandhi where she is portraying the leader of the country.
One amazing trivia that is missed by most people: Suchitra Sen was in her 40s when she shot forAandhi !! In 'Iss Mod Se Jate Hain' & 'Tum Aagaye Ho' she still looks a million bucks. Her grand daughters Raima & Riya can't manage that oomph even in their 20s !
But she was dignity personified in Aandhi. The character of Arti Devi will remain a fav: she had to sacrifice her love & relationship for a higher duty. My friend admonished this theory. Thatsworse than jilting, she concurred. But i can only say: hats off...
Another favourite of Suchitra Sen is Asit Sen directed Uttar Falguni(1963-in bengali) which was re made in hindi as Mamta(1966).. What a stunning performance in a double role! The epic sacrificing suffering mother & the vivacious hip beautiful daughter.. I read somewhere thatSuchitra Sen had mastered the art of projecting the epic sacrificing suffering woman : and it shows, especially in the original bengali version. Her hindi was always accented & Uttar Falgunibrought out the best of her histrionics. 'Mamta'had its poignant moments - Ashok Kumar shows why he was such an amazing actor. The platonic relationship with its moments of oneness between Suchitra Sen & Ashok Kumar is so touching. It doesn't even need a background score to bring in the "feeling". Wonder why Asit Sen didn't make more such movies with her..
No actor/director in these times can achieve to show that kind of emotion on screen.
Suchitra Sen on screen created an awe with her beauty & talent. But what intrigued me more was her decision to move from one end of the spectrum to another.
1979 she withdrew herself completely from the world & became a complete recluse. Nobody other than her family & 1st circle of friends got to hear or see her after that. She also dedicated herself to the Ramkrishna Mission at Belur Math. Even when she was reigning as the super star, she commanded an awe inspiring enigma: THE Mrs.Sen who had very few 'close' associates in the industry.
How could a woman who has been used to endless attention & spotlight for close to 3 decades suddenly give it all up? No explanations given. No after thoughts shared. Just a complete good bye without saying one. What all games would the mind have played? How could she manage to reign it? People today can go to any extent for their 15 seconds of fame under the sun. But here was a lady who had it all going for her but gave it up completely. Not for academic purposes but for my own spiritual evolution I'd like to know how she managed her small mind.
Today as she is a ripe old grandmother, I can only wish her peace, health & happiness.
And love for my current musey, the legendary Suchitra Sen :-)
