Raja Sen, award-winning Bengali filmmaker, dies in Kolkata

Veteran Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen has passed away at the age of 70 or 71 at a state-run hospital in Kolkata. Sen, a three-time National Film Award winner, died on Sunday following a period of critical illness.

His health complications reportedly began with a lower back injury, which eventually led to further issues involving his lungs, heart, and kidneys. He was receiving treatment at SSKM Hospital and was on ventilator support at the time of his death. His wife, Papiya Sen, noted that he suffered a cardiac arrest and experienced multi-organ failure.

Sen was highly regarded in the Bengali film, television, and documentary industries. He made his feature film debut in 1996 with ‘Damu’, which won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film. His notable works include ‘Atmiyo Swajan’, ‘Desh’, ‘Debipaksha’, and ‘Maya Mridanga’. He also directed documentaries on cultural figures such as Rabindra Sangeet exponent Suchitra Mitra. His passing has drawn tributes from industry figures, including actor Prosenjit Chatterjee.