Aparna Sen is an Indian director, screenwriter and actor who predominantly works in the Bengali film industry. He has won nine National Film Awards and nine International Film Festival Awards for his acting and filmmaking skills. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1987.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Aparna Sen was born as Aparna Dasgupta on Thursday, 25 October 1945 (age 77 years; as of 2022) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. She did her schooling from South Point School, Kolkata and Modern High School for Girls, Kolkata. Aparna’s childhood was spent in Kolkata and Hazaribagh (Jharkhand). He studied Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Presidency College, Kolkata.
An old picture of Aparna Sen
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 6″
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Eye colour: black
Family
Aparna Sen belongs to a Baidya family of Bengal.
parents and siblings
His father, Chidananda Dasgupta, was a veteran critic, film producer and one of the founders of the Calcutta Film Society along with Satyajit Ray in 1947. His father died on 22 May 2011 at the age of 89. In 1944, he married Supriya. Dasgupta, who was a costume designer. In 1995, when Supriya Dasgupta was 73, she earned the National Film Award for Best Costume Design for her husband’s directorial debut ‘Amodini’.
A photograph of Aparna Sen’s parents, Chidananda Dasgupta and Supriya Dasgupta
husband and children
Aparna Dasgupta married Sanjay Sen at a very young age, but this marriage did not last long. She then married Mukul Sharma, a science writer and journalist; However, they divorced in 1985. Mukul died on 1 March 2019.
Aparna Sen’s ex-husband Mukul Sharma with Konkona Sen Sharma
Aparna is married to Kalyan Ray, an English author and professor at County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey (USA).
Aparna Sen with her husband Kalyan Ray
Aparna Sen has two daughters named Kamalini Chatterjee and Konkona Sen from her former husband Mukul Sharma.
Aparna Sen’s elder daughter, Kamalini, during the premiere of Aparna’s film ‘Sonata’ (1970)
Aparna Sen and her younger daughter Konkona Sen Sharma
other relatives
Aparna Sen is a relative of Bengali poet Jibanananda Das.
religious viewpoint
Aparna considers herself a secular and liberal person.
Jamaat gathering was a dangerous and criminal act and should not be spared! Yes, I am a secular and liberal, but I cannot support any act that goes against the laws of my country, be it Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jew, Sikh, atheist, agnostic or anyone else!
– Aparna Sen (@senaparna) 3 April 2020
signature/autograph
Aparna Sen’s autograph
livelihood
actor
Bengali
In 1961, at the age of 16, Aparna made her acting debut in the Bengali film ‘Teen Kanya’, in which she played the role of Mrinmayee.
Aparna Sen in a scene from the 1961 film ‘Teen Kanya’
Later, he worked in several Bengali films, including Aranyer Din Ratri (1970), Jan Aranya (1976), Piku (1980), and Antheen (2009).
Hindi
Aparna Sen appeared in the Hindi film Imaan Dharam (1977), in which she starred alongside actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha.
Aparna Sen as Shyamali in a scene from the film Imman Dharam (1977)
Aparna continued to appear in Hindi films including ‘Ek Din Achanak’ (1989) and ‘Ghaat’ (2000).
director
In 1981, Aparna made her directorial debut with the Bengali film ’36 Chowringhee Lane’, produced by Shashi Kapoor. Aparna’s elder daughter Kamalini Chatterjee also played a role in this film. Aparna directed several Bengali films including Iti Mrinalini (2009), Goynar Baksho (2013) and 15 Park Avenue (2005). In 2022, he directed a Hindi film titled ‘The Rapist’ starring his daughter Konkona Sen Sharma and actor Arjun Rampal.
Poster of the film The Rapist (2022) directed by Aparna Sen
Editor
From 1986 to 2005, Aparna was associated with the Bengali women’s magazine ‘Sanand’ as an editor. He worked as Creative Director at Kolkata TV, a Bengali 24×7 infotainment channel, for a year. In 2011, she became editor of Paroma magazine. The company closed down after the financial scam of Saradha Group. In 2013, Aparna and the editorial team of Paroma Magazine launched a new magazine ‘Prothoma Akhon’.
Author
Apart from directing, Aparna Sen also wrote the films ‘The Rapist’ (2022) and ‘Sonata’ (2017).
controversies
Saradha Group Financial Scam 2013
In 2013, when the Saradha Group financial scam occurred, Patrika Paroma was one of the 200 private companies that incurred losses and closed down. Reportedly, Paroma magazine editor Aparna Sen was questioned by ED officials for more than five hours, during which she was asked questions regarding her financial transactions. The Enforcement Directorate accused Aparna of receiving Rs 75 lakh as remuneration from Saradha. Paroma finally closed on 14 April 2013.
FIR by Kalyan Chabey
In September 2022, BJP North Kolkata district president Kalyan Choubey had filed an FIR against Aparna Sen for making statements like calling BSF personnel ‘rapists’ and ‘killers’, claiming that the army was given more power than it Is as much as he should get.
letter to pm
On 23 July 2019, around 49 celebrities from across India wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi expressing their concern about intolerance in the country. The letter claimed that the slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ have become a war cry, thereby creating communal tension in the society. He also requested the Prime Minister to pay attention to the tragic incidents including the killing of Dalits, Muslims and other minorities in the country. Aparna Sen joined the campaign and was criticized a lot after she was asked several questions by live TV, during which she remained silent.
‘Intolerance’ lobby back: Anurag Kashyap, Aparna Sen and 47 others write letter to PM Modi; Claim ‘Jai Shri Ram now a provocative battle cry’https://t.co/cy3fJNz9Yy
– Republic (@republic) 24 July 2019
Awards, Honors, Achievements
Padma Shri – 1987
national film awards
- Best Direction for 36 Chowringhee Lane, 1981
- Best Feature Film in English for 36 Chowringhee Lane, 1981
- Best Feature Film in Bengali for Paroma in 1984
- Best Feature Film in Bengali for Yugant in 1995
- Best Feature Film in Bengali for Paromitar Ek Din in 2000
- Best Direction for Mr. and Mrs. Iyer in 2002
- Best Screenplay for Mr. and Mrs. Iyer in 2002
- Best Feature Film in English for 15 Park Avenue in 2005
- Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for Mr. and Mrs. Iyer in 2002
Nargis Dutt Award
- Best Feature Film on National Integration for Mr. and Mrs. Iyer in 2002
- Best Actress Award for Sujatha in 1974
- Best Actress Award for Asmaya in 1976
- Best Actress Award for Bijoyini in 1982
- Best Actress Award for Indira in 1983
- Best Director Award for Parma in 1985
BFJA Awards
- Best Actress Award for Aparachito in 1970
- Sujatha Best Actress Award in 1975
- Best Director Award for Parma in 1986
- Best Screenplay Award for Parma in 1986
- Best Actress Award for Ekanto Apna in 1988
- Best Supporting Actress Award for Mahaprithibi in 1992
- Best Actress Award for Swet Patherer Thala in 1993
- Best Supporting Actress Award for Unishar April in 1997
- Babulal Chaukhani Memorial Trophy for Original Story-Yugant in 1997
- Best Actress Award for Parmitar Ek Din in 2001
- Babulal Choukhani Memorial Trophy for Original Story and Screenplay for Parmitar Ek Din in 2001
- Most Outstanding Work of the Year for Mr. and Mrs. Iyer in 2003
other awards
- Best Director Award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne for The Rapist in 2022
- Life Time Achievement Award in 2013
Favorite
- Indian singers: Ustad Amir Khan, late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, and Ustad Rashid Khan
- English Singers: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Leonard Cohen and Mozart
- Sitarist: Nikhil Bandopadhyay
- Authors: Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Roald Dahl, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- Novel: The Family Mosque, by Isaac Bashevis Singer
- Film: Y tu mama también (2001) (a Mexican road film)
- Filmmaker: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Facts/General Knowledge
- In 1960, New Zealand photographer Brain Break was working on a photo series on the monsoon and the people affected by it. He captured Aparna Sen, then 14, on the terrace of her house with her eyes closed, enjoying the rain on her face. The water was coming from the garden hose. The following year, Aparna’s photo was published as the cover picture in Life magazine.
Aparna Sen, Monsoon Girl (1960), shot by Brian Brake for Life Magazine
- In an interview, Aparna had said that she had once read the Mahabharata and found Krishna very attractive.
- Iti Mrinalini’s script has been given as an assignment to screenwriting students at the Mumbai-based film school Whistling Woods International.
- In an interview, Aparna once said that she loved reading every night before sleeping since childhood.
- Out of the 12 films in which Aparna Sen and actor Uttan Kumar were seen together, 10 were appreciated by critics and proved to be hits at the box office. The 1972 film ‘Memsahab’ is considered one of his best works.
- Shashi Kapoor fondly called Aparna Coppola.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn